CHICAGO, IL – MIS, Inc. has completed the successful installation and operation of its PAXcam and PAX-it imaging enterprise solutions at all Illinois State Police (ISP) Forensic Laboratories throughout Illinois. The items were required to manage digital assets related to routine examination of ballistic evidence under comparison microscopes. “More and more forensic labs are seeking a comprehensive way to digitize their casework,” says Adam Babarik, Central Region Sales Manager for MIS. “PAXcam and PAX-it equip them with the necessary tools to do so easily and securely.”
MIS supplied PAXcam CCD digital C-mount cameras for each of ISP’s 40+ comparison microscopes across 6 labs statewide. Additional macro-imaging workstations were supplied for images of larger evidence such as firearms and footprint castings. Each site was outfitted with a shared PAX-it database on a centralized server for securely storing images and case files, making each system a true enterprise solution.
“PAX-it is the glue that ties everything together,” says Mr. Babarik. “With a few simple clicks, you can easily find your images, annotate, and create a report. The PAX-it Extended Security module was of particular interest to the ISP, as its tools allow them to sign/lock images, authenticate them, control user permissions and generate audit trail reports in order to trace actions taken with each digital file. Everything is traceable for transparency and accountability. Most of these features operate in the background, so as not to distract users with unnecessary prompts or commands.” In addition to the PAXcam cameras and PAX-it software, MIS supplied and supports all related computer and server equipment necessary, providing ISP with a complete, single-source enterprise solution for statewide deployment.
This completed installation with the Illinois State Police is the newest addition to the long list of MIS’ forensic imaging clients, including such organizations as California Criminalistics Institute (a division of the California State Dept. of Justice), Michigan State Police, Washington State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, West Virginia State Police, and the FBI, as well as many other independent organizations.