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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OCiUTKHKeD5qiNE2rd9Ei4sOC33dhm5Jb8hde+HTdC+CCxv5h+6O8pb+9TyxuqnT
 0xVOJuZhnTrDGG9oOX2uRQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236382-10-000003.txt : 20100202
<SEC-HEADER>0001236382-10-000003.hdr.sgml : 20100202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100202170442
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236382-10-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOLLERAN JOHN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236382

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15757
		FILM NUMBER:		10567673

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10883 THORNMINT ROAD
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92127

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMAGEWARE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941685
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				330224167
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10883 THORNMINT RD
		STREET 2:		619-673-8600
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6196738600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10883 THORNMINT RD
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92127

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IMAGEWARE SOFTWARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000941685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMAGEWARE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IWSY.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236382</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLERAN JOHN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10883 THORNMINT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options shall vest as follows: 2,500 shares on the first anniversary, and 625 shares on each of the next eight quarterly anniversaries thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Wayne G. Wetherell, Attorney in Fact for John L. Holleran</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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