Should I Fingerprint My Kids?

As parents, the safety of our children is always top of mind. You already take precautions to ensure they are protected in every aspect of their lives, and while you do everything you can to shield them from harm, there are still more steps that can be taken to prepare for the unexpected. 

One of these steps is child safety fingerprinting. For decades parents took their kids to police open house events to get their kids’ prints on file. With today’s technology to detect fingerprints, not only is it more beneficial to capture your kids’ prints, you want to modernize this safety measure with digital fingerprints. Here’s a closer look at why fingerprinting kids using My Family ID is a smart and simple safety measure that can make it easier than ever for families to protect their children:

Why Fingerprinting Kids Makes A Difference

Fingerprinting is one of the most effective tools used by law enforcement to help locate missing persons, and children are no exception. In fact, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies recommend that parents fingerprint their children for a number of different reasons. My Family ID offers a simple, touchless fingerprinting solution that helps parents capture clear, reliable fingerprints that can be shared instantly with law enforcement when needed.

Help Law Enforcement Find Your Kids

When law enforcement is trying to locate a missing child, biometric information like fingerprints and facial scans are among the most valuable resources they can have. If your child were to go missing, having a set of fingerprints stored securely on your device could be a lifesaver. If your child’s prints were ever needed, law enforcement can upload and access information quickly and effectively to help find and identify them.

By being your own fingerprint database, you control the speed of information provided to first responders if necessary.  Minutes after you discover your child is missing, you can share that access, which can be cross-referenced across local and national databases.

“You'll have safety and security knowing that important information will be sent off to the police department by the press of your finger.” 

- Chuck Still, Former Detective and My Family ID Creator

Related Article: The App That Helps in the Search for Missing Kids

The Role of Fingerprints in Emergency Situations

In the frightening event of an abduction or if a child goes missing, every second is critical. Parents are in a state of shock, and first responders need accurate information immediately to begin their search. This is where having your child's fingerprints readily available can be a game-changer, providing a powerful tool for quick identification and significantly streamlining communication with the authorities.

When a child is reported missing, law enforcement can enter their fingerprints into national and local databases, like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This creates an instant, silent alert system. As one real-world example illustrates, a 14-year-old runaway named Sara was missing for six months. When she was caught for a minor offense in another state, her fingerprints were taken. Once entered into the system, they were immediately matched to her missing person file, and she was quickly and safely reunited with her family.

This scenario highlights the crucial role fingerprints play. Without them, Sara might have remained another face in the crowd. With them, her identity was confirmed in minutes, allowing authorities to locate the child and bring her home.

In these high-stress emergencies, fumbling for a paper ID kit or trying to recall details for law enforcement can waste precious time. The My Family ID app acts as your personal, secure fingerprint database. With just a few taps, you can send clear, high-quality prints and other vital information directly to law enforcement, ensuring they have the tools they need to act decisively and work toward a safe recovery.

Is It Safe to Fingerprint My Child?

For many parents, the idea of fingerprinting their children brings up valid questions about privacy and data security. You might have seen discussions online or at school about police-sponsored events, leaving you to wonder who has access to your child's information and how it's stored. Concerns about creating a "database for future use by the cops" are common, and many parents feel more comfortable with the idea of an "at-home kit" that they control.

We understand these reservations completely. The thought of your child’s sensitive information being stored indefinitely on a cloud database or in a police file is unsettling. That's why My Family ID was designed to put you, the parent, in absolute control, addressing these privacy concerns head-on.

You Are the Sole Custodian of the Data

Unlike traditional fingerprinting events where you might be unsure if the police keep a copy, My Family ID saves your child's information

only on your personal device. You are not handing over your child's biometrics to any external agency. There is no central database, and you decide if, when, and with whom to share this critical information. In an emergency, you can provide law enforcement with what they need, but until that moment, you are the only one with access. This approach eliminates the "storage and privacy concerns" associated with other methods.

A Modern, Secure "At-Home Kit"

Think of My Family ID as the modern, digital version of an at-home fingerprinting kit. Many parents prefer these kits because they can keep the fingerprint cards securely at home. Our app provides this same level of privacy but with the enhanced benefits of digital technology. Instead of a paper card that can be lost or damaged, your child's fingerprints and other identifying information are encrypted and securely stored within the app on your phone.

Related Article: What is a Child Safety Kit?

Benefits of Fingerprinting Children

Fingerprinting kids is not just a precaution—it’s an investment in their safety. Here’s our take on a few of the many benefits of fingerprinting children:

Related Article: How Digital Identification Can Help Find Missing Persons

Quick Identification During Emergencies

In any emergency situation, time is of the essence. Fingerprinting provides law enforcement with immediate access to critical identifying information, allowing them to quickly verify the child’s identity. This can dramatically speed up the process of locating a missing child, especially if the child’s prints are already stored digitally in a secure system like the My Family ID app on your phone.

With My Family ID, parents can have all of their child’s fingerprint information and biometric facial scans available to law enforcement within moments. This level of preparedness ensures that you have all the necessary tools to act quickly and help get your child back to safety as soon as possible.

“There are hundreds of pages of missing people that never get identified, and never do get found. Having this kind of technology now with this application is huge and it'll help us going forward.”

- Chuck Still, Former Detective and My Family ID Creator

Enhanced Security

As your child grows and participates in activities like school events, sports, summer camps, and more, having a secure and verifiable identity gives you a major leg up in the event that your child goes missing. Unfortunately, kids don’t always stay where they are supposed to be, and it's important to have safeguards like My Family ID in place.

By fingerprinting your child, you create a digital record that can be accessed at a moment’s notice. This digital identification makes it much easier for authorities to verify your child’s identity during a situation where immediate action is required. With My Family ID, parents have the peace of mind knowing that, should an issue arise, their child’s information is ready and available.

Streamline Communication With Law Enforcement

In any missing child scenario, many parents are caught off guard and left scrambling to provide key identifying information to law enforcement in a timely manner. Fingerprinting kids and having them on file removes the need to search for documents or worry about missing details during an already overwhelming time.

By using My Family ID’s convenient mobile app, you can ensure that law enforcement has the accurate and reliable data they need to locate your child as quickly as possible. The ability to share this information instantly through our app makes the entire process smoother and gives you a greater chance of a successful outcome.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected - Fingerprint Your Kids

Our straightforward, secure, and efficient process leaves no room for mistakes during the most important moments of a search scenario. My Family ID takes pride in being the first app specially designed to help identify missing loved ones and return them to their families. Our software leverages cutting-edge technology to ensure your child’s fingerprint data is safe, easily accessible, and ready when it’s needed most.

Download The My Family ID Mobile App Today

Don’t wait for an emergency to take action - download the My Family ID app today and take the first step toward ensuring your child’s safety. With just a few clicks, you can set up your child’s digital ID, giving you peace of mind that your kids will be protected. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your child.

Take the first step now. Download My Family ID from the Apple App Store and Google Play, and gather the critical information that could make all the difference in an emergency.