State of Maryland

A Fingerprint Specialist Supervisor is the supervisory level of work examining, classifying and identifying fingerprints; verifying fingerprint matches; and entering pertinent information into the automated fingerprint identification system.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Fingerprint Specialists assigned to the operations of a fingerprint section or office.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Fingerprint Specialist Manager or a designated administrative employee.  Employees in this classification are subject to call-in on a 24 hour basis.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening or night shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be required to travel to field locations to take fingerprint impressions.  This work may be performed in a correctional setting.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Fingerprint Specialist Supervisor is differentiated from Fingerprint Specialist Advanced in that the Fingerprint Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Fingerprint Specialists while the Fingerprint Specialist Advanced performs the advanced level of work examining, classifying, identifying and verifying fingerprint matches which includes making final fingerprint identification decisions and altering official identification records.  The Fingerprint Specialist Supervisor is differentiated from the Fingerprint Specialist Manager in that the Fingerprint Specialist Manager has supervisory responsibility for Fingerprint Specialist Supervisors.

Plans, coordinates, assigns, supervises and evaluates the work of lower-level Fingerprint Specialists;

Trains lower-level Fingerprint Specialists;

Develops, recommends and implements modifications of operations and procedures used in the automated fingerprint identification process;

Ensures work of unit is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures;

Reviews electronic reproductions of fingerprints for criminal and non-criminal records;

Identifies the basic types of fingerprint classification patterns and enters the appropriate information into the automated fingerprint identification system;

Visually inspects inked fingerprints to determine if they are sufficiently legible for identification and timely records checks;

Testifies in court as an expert witness regarding fingerprints;

Reviews potential fingerprint matches generated by the computer and determines if prints are identical;

Makes changes in fingerprint records;

Establishes work priorities and deadlines to meet agency requirements;

Compiles statistics and prepares other reports for administrative review;

Acts as a liaison to field units and other agencies that submit fingerprint impressions in order to solve problems relating to insufficient identification information, poor quality of prints and other issues relating to the fingerprint process;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures by which fingerprints are obtained, examined, classified, verified, stored and retrieved and the process of verifying that particular sets of fingerprints are identical;

Knowledge of sources of computerized information that can assist in the identification and classification of fingerprints;

Knowledge of the automated fingerprinting techniques and systems such as the Maryland Automated Fingerprint Identification System (MAFIS) and Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository;

Knowledge of the safe and efficient use of general office equipment and automated fingerprint identification equipment;

Skill in providing appropriate and accurate information to persons making inquiries about matters pertaining to the fingerprinting process;

Ability to enter and retrieve information from fingerprint scanning devices and computers;

Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of lower-level Fingerprint Specialists;

Ability to observe and recognize minutiae used in the classification, filing and retrieval of fingerprints;

Ability to understand, interpret, explain and apply the policies and procedures governing the fingerprinting process;

Ability to develop, recommend and implement procedures governing the fingerprinting process;

Ability to prepare reports and correspondence;

Ability to communicate effectively with public officials, co-workers, and the general public.

Education :  Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience examining, classifying and identifying fingerprints.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in fingerprint identification classification or fingerprint identification specialty codes in the fingerprint identification field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for this classification are subject to a criminal records check before a permanent appointment can be made. A criminal conviction record may be grounds for rejection of the applicant by the hiring agency.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (excluded by executive order),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.