IWS Law Enforcement (formerly Crime Capture System/CCS) Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import a complete pick list used in another program?
Yes! It must be in a text file, one item per line.
Can I change the Department name and address that appears on the generic print formats?
Yes, this information is listed in the crimes.ini file; please call the customer support line for assistance.
Is it possible for items to be added to a pick list on the fly?
Yes, the pick list needs to be made editable through the IWS Law Enforcement Administration Field Configuration.
Can I change the print format display order so it better suits our operation?
Yes. A user with System Administrator rights can access IWS Law Enforcement Administration and change the order of the print formats.
Is there an easy way to copy the appearance 1 information to the second appearance?
Yes. Click the Copy From button and select the desired appearance number.
Is it important to describe the SMT in the SMT notes field?
Yes, IWS Law Enforcement allows you to search the text field which describes the SMT.
Why should I take a second appearance photo if the suspect wears glasses all of the time?
It is important to have a photo of the suspect without glasses due to contact lenses and the ability to have laser eye surgery. In addition, he may be used in future line ups of people without glasses.
Why is it important to fill in all of the appearance fields when they're not mandatory?
The more appearance information an investigator has on a suspect the better the chances are of finding that person.
Where can I add comments about the suspect during the booking process?
The Notes field in the booking section of the new record is used for this purpose. The Notes field is also searchable by keyword.
What is the purpose of the custom appearance fields?
These fields are customizable by the System Administrator and can be used for capturing additional appearance data such as deformities or information on teeth.
What is the difference between the booking information and the person information?
The booking information is the data acquired at the time of booking; the person information is the true identity of the suspect received after a positive ID has been performed.
Why should a profile picture be taken?
A photo line up can be created on the profile image and in some cases that may be the only view the witness saw.
How can I find out if a suspect has been booked more than once?
From the Search Results screen highlight the booking record in question and click View Bookings.
How can I print more than one print format at a time?
From the print format selection screen, hold the Ctrl key down on your keyboard and select the desired formats. Once you have chosen all necessary formats click the Print button.
When would I use the Person search instead of the Booking search?
When looking for a suspect's record or to view multiple booking records of the same person.
Is there a way to expand the range of a search?
Yes, many of the fields on the search screen have either a right hand arrow (>) or a plus/minus sign (+/-). The > arrow allows you to search for data that sounds like, contains, or starts with the data entered. The +/- options help to increase the range you are searching.
How do I search for SMT's?
There are two ways to search. You can use a keyword search in the SMT Notes field or you can choose actual pick list items from the SMT section on the search screen.
How can I use a photo lineup when the backgrounds have different colors?
There are a couple of ways; you can print the lineup in grayscale/black & white or utilize ImageWare's Lineup ImageSync tool to make the 3 background colors uniform in one click. To acquire Lineup ImageSync, contact ImageWare at sales@iwsinc.com.
Is there a way to exit the Mugbook screen if I misplaced my temporary locking password?
Yes. You have to close the IWS Law Enforcement application by clicking on the X close button in the upper right corner of the screen.
How do I export images for use in another program?
If you have the proper permission, place the mouse pointer over the image you want to export and right-click the mouse. Select Export and direct it to the desired location.
How do I import an image from a digital camera?
In the new record screen press the Capture button, place the mouse pointer over the first empty image frame and right-click the mouse. Select Load and locate the image you wish to import.
When attempting to log into IWS™ Law Enforcement, there is no Department Name to select, the drop-down picklist is empty.
A user must be logged into the Windows® NT domain used by the IWS Law Enforcement Server. If the system uses a Novell network, the SA must ensure that the Novell account can and does simultaneously log into the NT domain. If this is not possible, contact ImageWare support.
I've just logged into (or out of) IWS™ Law Enforcement and I’m getting the message "New software has been automatically downloaded to this workstation and is ready for installation. Do you wish to install this new software now?"
IWS™ Law Enforcement has an AutoUpdate feature that allows updates to executables, print formats or other files to be distributed to all stations automatically. When you see this message, click “Yes” and let it proceed to update your workstation.
I get the message "You have exceeded the number of licenses on this network please try again after another user has finished using one" when I try to use IWS™ Law Enforcement.
You can only run one copy of IWS™ Law Enforcement on a workstation, if you try to open it again, it gives the above error message. Check the Task Bar to see if another copy is already running. If not, then the previous user may not have exited properly. You must click Exit from the IWS Law Enforcement Main Menu and click the Exit door from the Hallway to correctly exit the application.
When searching in IWS Law Enforcement, the Search Results screen has images but the data display grid is empty.
Right-click the mouse anywhere in the grid area. This will bring up a pop-up menu, and select "Edit Display Fields." This will bring up a menu of items to display. Select the desired items and click OK.
While using IWS Law Enforcement, I am suddenly prompted with an "SQL Connection" error.
Most likely this is a lost network connection. Try logging out of IWS™ Law Enforcement and back in. If this doesn't reconnect you, try restarting Windows®. Finally, if you still cannot get connected, try rebooting the machine. If this problem persists contact your Network Administrator.
When performing a IWS Law Enforcement search by name, many matches are found, including some with names that are nothing like the name I was searching for.
Name searches, search not only the booking name, but also the Person name and alias name fields.
I have a record with incorrect information or the wrong photo and I can't change it. How do I get it changed?
Contact your System Administrator. SA's are usually the only ones with edit rights.
I am able to see the photo, but the background of the photo is too dark. What is wrong?
Make sure all three capture lights are lit. If the lightbulbs have been replaced recently, make sure they are those specified for your system. The "standard" IWS™ Law Enforcement install uses Sylvania halogen PAR 38 120 Watt floodlamps, with a 30 degree spread in the center position and 50 degree in the outside positions.
How do I find out what my station name is?
The IWS™ Law Enforcement station name is the name of your computer. It is displayed in the title bar of your IWS Law Enforcement screen, or you may find it by a right-clicking on "Network neighborhood", then choosing properties and identification.
