The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Close to 4,000 people took advantage of an opportunity to have their children photographed and fingerprinted during the New Mexico Sate Fair.
New Mexico State Police, with some help from the New Mexico National Guard, provided the services free of charge.
“We want to assist parents in any way to safeguard their children,” said Sgt. Mike Waring of the state police training bureau.
DNA kits were also provided to parents. They may use the kits to collect and save DNA samples from their children in case the child disappears.
State police say children should be fingerprinted every year until they are over six or seven years old because their fingerprint patterns continue to develop during that time.