In most states only high priority cases are assured a search. Even then, it often takes weeks or months to get results back. Upgrades to hardware and software for these systems are expensive and slow in coming. A small AFIS running a local database is an extremely powerful investigative tool for many reasons. AFIX Tracker gives departments that ability.
Search results are available within minutes.
Fingerprints from every arrest can be searched. Latents from every crime scene can be searched. The investigative power of the system is focused on one community and in the control of that community's law enforcement agency. This is a very common question. However, the strengths of having a smaller AFIS running a local database are overwhelming.