-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L/vrmALfYuXrCq5ztMo8vJRHV+J0C/iQACc2ya5LTFoK1Xa46J7nmUE65T/6Oo3/
 hiZuuylY3MfpV8NK9jGTlA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236379-10-000002.txt : 20100122
<SEC-HEADER>0001236379-10-000002.hdr.sgml : 20100122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100122144731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236379-10-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WETHERELL WAYNE G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236379

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15757
		FILM NUMBER:		10541642

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-16</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2010-01-20</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236379</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WETHERELL WAYNE G</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The cancelled options provided immediate vesting on 10/28/2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Amended to correct expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On January 16, 2010, the issuer cancelled, pursuant to the issuer's option exchange program, certain options granted to the reporting person on September 12, 2001, May 28, 2003, October 28, 2004, August 16, 2005, September 27, 2005, April 3, 2007, and January 2, 2008.  In exchange for the options cancelled, the reporting person received a grant of 163,560 shares of restricted stock subject to a three-year vesting schedule, vesting one-twelfth on each quarterly anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Wayne G. Wetherell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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