Western Identification Network
Western Identification Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium of nine western U.S. state law enforcement agencies that operates a shared ABIS fingerprint identification network with over 14 million records, integrated to federal agencies including the FBI and DEA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersRancho Cordova, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Western Identification Network does
Western Identification Network (WIN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium formed in May 1988 as a cooperative government venture among western U.S. state law enforcement agencies to deliver shared Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) services. Its core product is a multi-state fingerprint identification network serving nine member jurisdictions (Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Alaska), with California connected as an interface member. The system holds over 14 million searchable fingerprint records, is integrated to federal agencies including the FBI (operational September 1997), DEA (operational 1998), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS, and INS, and interfaces with the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. WIN supports both tenprint and latent print matching for criminal and civil identification use cases.
The technology platform is NEC's ABIS 3.0 (Integra ID7) system, delivered through a vendor outsourcing agreement managed by WIN Staff based in Sacramento and Rancho Cordova, California. Functional capabilities include fingerprint digitization, storage, multi-jurisdictional search, transaction editing via Aware's EBTS tooling, hit reporting, and quality assurance referencing ISO 17025 and ISO 27001. Operations are governed by a Board of Directors composed of senior law enforcement managers from each member state, with policy direction executed by 1-10 staff. The organization's legal entity, Western Identification Network, Inc., is incorporated in Nevada.
WIN is funded exclusively through legislative appropriations by member state governments rather than commercial pricing. There is no equity ownership, venture capital, or parent company; the entity is structured as a cooperative government venture with mission focused on accurate, timely, and cost-effective identification services. Strategic technology partners include NEC Corporation of America (core ABIS platform), NLETS (law enforcement telecommunications), Aware (biometric transaction editing), and Mission Critical Partners (integration consulting).
Western Identification Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Western Identification Network
- Legal name
- Western Identification Network, Inc.
- Website
- https://winid.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Western Identification Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium of nine western U.S. state law enforcement agencies that operates a shared ABIS fingerprint identification network with over 14 million records, integrated to federal agencies including the FBI and DEA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Western Identification Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Law Enforcement Biometric Identification Services
- NAICS
- Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Identity, Address & Reference Verification (BPAKAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Western Identification Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rancho Cordova
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Western Identification Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Government Consortium Funding: WIN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded through legislative appropriations by member state governments. Funding was appropriated by legislatures in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to create and maintain the multi-state AFIS network.
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Western Identification Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Western Identification Network operates a shared Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) service bureau that performs fingerprint-based identification searches for member law enforcement agencies. Member agencies submit fingerprint records to WIN, which processes tenprint and latent searches against the shared multi-state biometric database and returns candidate matches. The platform is built on NEC Integra ID technology and interfaces with the FBI CJIS Next Generation Identification system.
Product overview
WIN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium providing a shared ABIS (Automated Biometric Identification System) Service Bureau for western U.S. law enforcement agencies. The core offering is the WIN Biometric System, currently operating on the ABIS 3.0 (Integra ID) platform, which enables member agencies to search and match criminal and civil fingerprint records. The system supports both tenprint (full fingerprint cards) and latent (partial prints from crime scenes) processing. Operational support includes the WIN Operations Committee, training programs, and the WIN Operations Manual. WIN interfaces with FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system and California DOJ for expanded biometric searching capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WIN ABIS Service Bureau Shared Automated Biometric Identification System service bureau that performs tenprint and latent fingerprint searches against a multi-state database for member law enforcement agencies.
- WIN Biometric System (ABIS 3.0 / Integra ID) Searchable biometric identification platform used by criminal justice agencies to submit fingerprint records and retrieve identification results from the shared database.
- Latent Print Processing Services Fingerprint comparison and identification processing for latent prints recovered from crime scenes, performed on behalf of member law enforcement agencies.
- ABIS Training Services Training program covering ABIS 3.0 platform operations and fingerprint identification workflows for law enforcement personnel.
Quantifiable outcome
- Database grew from 900,000 to over 14 million searchable fingerprint records
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Western Identification Network
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Western Identification Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Western Identification Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System)coreNLETS is a partner providing law enforcement telecommunications connectivity, enabling WIN member agencies to communicate and share biometric data with other law enforcement systems nationwide.
- NEC Corporation of AmericacoreNEC provides the ABIS technology platform for WIN operations, including the Integra ID7/ID7S systems. WIN utilizes NEC ABIS 3.0 platform with technical support provided through NECAM National Support Center. The partnership includes vendor outsourcing agreements managed by WIN Staff.
- Mission Critical PartnerssupportingMission Critical Partners provides consulting and integration services supporting WIN operations and system implementations.
- AwaresupportingAware provides biometric technology solutions that support WIN operations, including transaction editing capabilities for WIN EBTS (Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Western Identification Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HID Global: HID Global (parent of Crossmatch and formerly IDENTOS) provides biometric identification hardware and software for law enforcement and government applications. It competes with NEC and IDEMIA in the AFIS/ABIS market that WIN serves.
- IDEMIA: IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust/Safran Identity & Security) is a leading global provider of biometric identification systems for law enforcement, border management, and civil identification. It supplies AFIS/ABIS platforms to state and federal agencies that compete with WIN's NEC-based service bureau model.
Others
- Aware, Inc. Aware is a biometric software and services provider that supplies WIN with transaction editing for EBTS (Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification). It is a technology partner in the WIN ecosystem and competes in adjacent biometric software markets.
- FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI): The FBI's NGI system is the federal-level biometric identification infrastructure that WIN integrates with. It is the ultimate destination for cross-jurisdictional fingerprint matching and represents the federal incumbent in the broader WIN ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Fujitsu: Fujitsu provides biometric identification systems (including AFIS) for government and law enforcement clients globally. It is a broader incumbent in the same technology category but does not directly serve WIN's regional market.
- NEC Corporation of America: NEC is WIN's core technology partner and supplies the underlying ABIS platform (Integra ID7/ID7S, ABIS 3.0). NEC also sells AFIS systems to state and federal agencies directly (including having acquired 3M Cogent), making it both partner and broader market incumbent.
- Thales Group: Thales (via Gemalto and Thales Digital Identity & Security) provides biometric, identity, and border management solutions for government clients globally. It is a broader incumbent serving overlapping law enforcement and public security markets, though not a direct US state-AFIS competitor.
Regional players
- California Department of Justice (Cal-ID): California DOJ operates the Cal-ID program, which provides AFIS services to California local agencies and interfaces with WIN as an interface member. It is a parallel state-level biometric identification infrastructure serving a different geography but with overlapping functionality.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Western Identification Network social profiles
Digital presenceWestern Identification Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Western Identification Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Western Identification Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Western Identification Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Western Identification Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Western Identification Network
What does Western Identification Network do?
The Western Identification Network operates a shared Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) service bureau that performs fingerprint-based identification searches for member law enforcement agencies. Member agencies submit fingerprint records to WIN, which processes tenprint and latent searches against the shared multi-state biometric database and returns candidate matches. The platform is built on NEC Integra ID technology and interfaces with the FBI CJIS Next Generation Identification system.
Is Western Identification Network a public or private company?
Western Identification Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Western Identification Network founded?
Western Identification Network was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Western Identification Network based?
Western Identification Network is headquartered in Rancho Cordova, United States, in the North America region.
How does Western Identification Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Consortium Funding.
Who are Western Identification Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HID Global and IDEMIA. Others are Aware, Inc. and FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI). Broad incumbents are Fujitsu, NEC Corporation of America and Thales Group. California Department of Justice (Cal-ID) is listed as a regional player.
Does Western Identification Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Western Identification Network.
What industry is Western Identification Network in?
Western Identification Network's product category is Law Enforcement Biometric Identification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAF, IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems, with a secondary code of BPAKAEAJ, Identity, Address & Reference Verification. Its NAICS code is 561611 and its SIC code is 7370.