First Responder Credentials Expedite Access

• NCJ Number: 230004
• Date Published: August 2010
• Length: 2 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-MU-CX-K077
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Issue Overview

Annotation

This paper provides a brief overview of technology used in an emerging Federal credentials program, expediting the identification of essential law enforcement and other first responders.

Abstract

The technology used in the evolving credentials program, known as First Responder Authentication Credentials (FRACS) provides electronically validated identification of first responders, which is interoperable across Federal, State, and local jurisdictions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are encouraging national adoption and operational use of high assurance authentication credentials. The FRAC effort is part of a broader enterprise strategy to leverage investments, innovations, and enhance capabilities of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials being issued to all Federal employees and government contractors. This paper provides a brief overview of this evolving and growing technology, FRACS.