A portable device for the live scanning of 
fingerprint, facial and crime scene images and the 
wireless transmission of said images to a central host 
system for identity 
verification. The portable device has the ability to allow the user to operate the device with a single hand. It can scan and 
record live 
fingerprint slap or roll images (via optical, 
solid state, or 
video sensors). It also includes a baffle that assists with the mechanical alignment of the fingerprints on the 
fingerprint sensor receiving surface and prevents 
bright light sources from interfering with fingerprint scans. The portable device also can scan, display, and 
record latent fingerprint images. It also has other data receiving and transmission functions, such as displaying and recording facial and incident scene images in conditions 
ranging from well lit to total 
darkness, recording and playing back incident scene audio information for incident description and contacting voice recordings for identification. The portable apparatus can also scan, 
record, and interpret magnetic stripe, 
smart card, or bar code information from standard and non-standard cards. It also obtains, displays, and records geographical position for incident description, mapping, and directional instruction to the user. It further provides an emergency transmission for assistance and provides a short-range 
wireless link to a mobile unit or a direct 
wireless link to the 
central site. It also provides for entry by the user of text data for 
demographics or operator use through either keyboard or voice activation.