Document Scanning & Records Conversion for Law Enforcement
CJIS-compliant digitization for police departments, sheriffs, probation offices, prisons, and prosecutors.
Your agency runs on records — criminal records, arrest reports, booking files, fingerprint cards, traffic citations, inmate files, and the cold case boxes nobody wants to dig through. A lot of it is still on paper or trapped on aging microfilm, and getting to the right file takes real time.
We fix that. BMI converts your physical and microfilm records into secure, searchable digital files your team can pull up in seconds — and we do it as a CJIS-listed vendor with the security certifications to handle NIST- and DoJ-classified conversion. You can trust us to handle, process, and store your records — especially criminal justice information — correctly.
Our Law Enforcement Digital Solutions
Most agencies come to us with a mix of paper and microfilm and an old system they’ve outgrown. Here’s how we handle each.
Document Scanning & Record Conversion
For the paper piling up in file rooms and offsite warehouses — everything from a single citation to millions of pages.
- Paper of every kind: handwritten, small, legal, large, notebooks, and photos
- Arrest records, fingerprint cards, inmate records, incident and booking reports, homicide and cold case files, HR records, and traffic and parking citations
- Document capture and data integration with your existing records management system
- Traffic and parking citation processing
- High-volume imaging of records stored on-site or in offsite warehouses
- Court-ready output formats: PDF, PDF/A, JPG, and TIF
- Full indexing and data entry so files are searchable, not just scanned
→ More on our document scanning services.
Microfilm & Microfiche Conversion of Legacy Records
For the case files locked on microfilm and microfiche — the archives that are slow to access and degrading every year.
- Our Digital ReeL application is built for microfilm replacement: an affordable, practical way to bring case files on film into the digital world
- Integration tools that make scanned film accessible through a flexible interface
- Output formats include PDF, PDF/A, JPG, and TIF
- Image enhancement, indexing, and data entry — including adjustable grayscale to rescue older, poor-quality film
→ More on microfilm scanning.
Hosted & On-Site Document Management
For agencies ready to replace, upgrade, or “image-enable” the system they already run.
- Replace, upgrade, or image-enable an existing law enforcement and public safety records management system
- Redact sensitive data on public-facing records: Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, addresses
- Improve cold case access by adding text search to your images
- Protect against physical damage with secure offsite image hosting and disaster recovery
- Host second data copies in a colo data center for immediate retrieval to secure mobile or on-site devices
→ More on our Digital ReeL hosted application.
Not sure where to start? Get a free records assessment and we’ll scope it with you.
How it Works
Four steps from boxes of hard copies to searchable digital files.
- Assess: We review what you have → paper, microfilm, formats, volume, and where it’s stored.
- Scope: We build a clear plan and quote: transport, scanning, indexing, delivery, and timeline.
- Scan & index: We digitize and index your records under a secure, CJIS-compliant chain of custody.
- Deliver: You get files in the formats you need, hosted or handed off to your system.
Want the detail? Here’s the BMI project review process.
Proof: Agencies That Trust BMI
➡️ San Bernardino County Sheriff, CA
“Following a review of several proposals, we determined that Digital ReeL was the best solution due to its practical, price competitive approach to digitally converting our microfilm archives. Digital ReeL’s unique adjustable grayscale image enhancement feature is critical to optimizing the quality of our older, poor quality images.”
— Vicki deJong, Records Manager
Read the San Bernardino County Sheriff case study →
➡️ Hood County Sheriff, TX
“BMI helped us digitize thousands of prison record microfiche files, and the process was far easier than we expected. From the beginning, their team took the time to explain everything clearly and provided samples so we could make informed decisions about image quality. Communication was consistent throughout, and the final files are significantly more readable than our previous process. The improved access supports critical background check requests and has freed up valuable storage space in our office.”
— Jodie McGuire, Support Services Manager
➡️ Los Altos Police Department, CA
“BMI exceeded our expectations throughout the project. The team was communicative, easy to work with, and delivered high-quality scans that honestly look even better than the originals. They digitized 110 boxes of paper records for us, and having everything digitized has made a huge difference — we can now quickly search and access records from our computers instead of digging through physical storage. It’s been a big improvement for our workflow.”
— Jennifer Tannous, Records Supervisor – Court Liaison
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you scan and digitize police and sheriff records?
We handle the whole job, paper, microfilm, microfiche, and data migration, under a secure chain of custody. We pick up your records, scan and index them, and deliver searchable digital files in court-ready formats like PDF, PDF/A, and TIF. For records trapped on microfilm, our Digital ReeL application creates an exact digital replica accessible from your existing workstations. And for those active files you still need daily, scan-on-demand through our BMI Request System (BRS) lets us digitize a file the moment it’s requested, so daily operations never slow down.
Is BMI’s scanning CJIS compliant?
Yes. We’re a CJIS-listed vendor, and our facility, IT environment, and staff carry the certifications needed for NIST- and DoJ-classified conversion.We work with criminal justice information and sensitive records on a daily basis. Here’s more on CJIS and digital scanning.
How much does law enforcement document scanning cost?
It depends on what you have — quantity/volume, media type, condition, indexing needs, and whether you want hosting. That’s why we start with a free assessment: we scope your specific records and give you a clear, itemized quote with no surprises. Agencies like Phoenix PD chose Digital ReeL because it came in roughly 50% below other solutions they reviewed.
Can scanned records integrate with our records management system / document management system (RMS/DMS)?
Yes. We provide document capture and data integration with existing law enforcement records management systems, and we can replace, upgrade, or “image-enable” the system you already run.
What happens to our records after scanning?
That’s your call. We can return your originals, store them, or arrange secure destruction once your digital files are verified and accepted.
Can you redact Social Security and driver’s license numbers?
Yes. We redact sensitive information — Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, addresses — on public-facing or internal records so you stay compliant when records are released or needed.
How do you digitize old case files stored on microfilm?
Our Digital ReeL application is built specifically for microfilm replacement. It’s an affordable way to convert film archives into digital files, with adjustable grayscale enhancement that rescues older, poor-quality images. See how Digital ReeL compares to traditional film conversion.
How long does a law enforcement scanning project take?
It depends on volume and scope, but we give you a clear timeline as part of your quote — and we move millions of images for agencies without disrupting daily operations. We’ll tell you exactly what to expect before you sign anything.
Helpful Resources
Just getting started on your digital conversion? These are good places to learn more about scanning projects:
- BMI blogs — plain-language articles about paper scanning, microfilm conversion, secure processes, and more.
- The Digital Imaging Channel — our YouTube channel that gives you long-form videos and shorts all about digitization projects.
- Project Estimator — before talking to anyone, you can see what your project may cost with our estimator tool. Great as a starting point.
Ready to get your law enforcement records out of the file room?
Get a free records assessment and we’ll build a plan with you.
Clients:
Law enforcement agencies across the country trust BMI with their records.
