• Analysis
• Comparison
• Evaluation
• Verification

• Right hand thumb is #1
• Left hand thumb is #6

• A transferred impression of friction ridge detail that is not readily visible to the naked eye.
• UNINTENTIONALLY recorded.
• Composed primarily of water with other constituents as well.

• An INTENTIONAL recording of a FP/FRI.
• Known as Tenprints, Known Prints, and Exemplars.

• Interdigital
• Hypothenar
• Thenar
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Joints

• Interdigital
• Hallucal/Ball
• Thenar
• Hypothenar
• Calcar/Heel

• First Level: Overall Pattern
• Second Level: Ridge Path (Bifurcation, Ridge Ending, and Dot)
• Third Level: Ridge Shape

1. Epidermis
2. Dermis
3. Hypodermis

• Provides a protective barrier
• Body temperature regulation
• Sensation
• Excretion
• Immunity
• Blood reservoir
• Synthesis of Vitamin D

• Smooth Skin
• Friction Ridge Skin

• The hands and feet.
• Allows the hands and feet to grasp surfaces.

• Sweat glands
• Highest concentrations and largest are located in FRS.
• Rooted in dermal skin.
• Excrete sweat and waste.

• Stratum Corneum (Horny Layer)
• Stratum Lucidum (Hyalin Layer)
• Stratum Granulosum (Granular Layer)
• Stratum Spinosum (Spinous Layer)
• Stratum Basale (Basal Layer)
• (From outermost to innermost)

• Genetically controlled creases through the location of the VPs.
• Three

• Chemists
• Photographers
• Dishwashers
• Bartenders
• Masons

The junction between the dermis and epidermis strengthening the connection, exchange, and surface area between the two layers.

Dermal Papillae run on either side of a primary ridge making it possible to use the dermis in comparisons.

• Immature ridges that were not fully developed at the time when primary ridge formation was turned off. They appear in the furrows.
• May or may not be recorded on deposition pressure.
• Around 40% of people will have them. More on men and more on the thumbs.
• Increase with age and may become more noticeable with ageing.

• Genetics
• Environmental conditions
• Timing

• Genetics
• Environmental conditions
• Timing components

• Keratinocytes in the basal layer begin to migrate to the edge of the wound.
• Keratinocytes continue migrating & new keratinocytes are produced.
• Migrating keratinocytes meet in the middle of the wound.
• The newly formed basal layer begins dividing to reconstitute the upper layers.
• Keratinocytes undergo differentiation as they are pushed toward the surface.
• Continued differentiation of the keratinocytes.
• New epidermis is completely formed.

Sudoriferous Glands

Sebaceous Glands

• Eccrine Glands
• Apocrine Glands

• Found all over the body, but in the greatest concentration on the hands and feet.
• Largest sweat glands.
• Secretes mainly water.
• Secretes organic compounds.

• Found in the armpits and pubic regions.
• Secretes a thicker fluid.
• Secretes proteins, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and iron.

• Located in the dermis.
• Associated with body hair.
• Not found on the hands and feet.
• Release oil called sebum.
• Protects skin and hair against water, acts as a lubricant, and helps absorb fat soluble substances.

• Visible (Patent) Prints
• Plastic Prints
• Latent Prints

• Pre-transfer
• Transfer
• Post-Transfer

• Porous
• Non-porous
• Semi-porous
• Adhesive
• Difficult substrates

• Materials such as paper, cardboard, unfinished wood, etc.
• Residue from the hands or feet is absorbed by the fibers of the material.
• Amino acids remain relatively stationary when absorbed.
• Less fragile.

1. Visual Search (White Light/ALS)
2. Iodine (no longer used)
3. DFO/ALS, Indanedione/ALS
4. Ninhydrin
5. Physical Developer or Silver Nitrate

• Items such as metal, glass, plastic, painted wood, etc.
• Residue remains on the surface of the item.
• Easily damaged.

1. Visual Search (White Light/ALS)
2. Cyanoacrylate Ester (Superglue Fuming)
3. White Light
4. Dye Stain / ALS
5. Vacuum Metal Deposition (rarely used)
6. Powder

1. Visual Search (White Light/ALS)
2. Cyanoacrylate Ester (Superglue Fuming)
3. White Light
4. Dye Stain (water-based) / ALS
5. Florescent Powder

1. Visual Search (White Light/ALS)
2. Cyanoacrylate Ester (Superglue Fuming)
3. Dye Stains / ALS
4. Sticky-side powder or Crystal Violet

• First noted in 1976.
• Fluorescence that is emitted naturally.
• Produced by Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and Pyridoxin.
• Likely due to luminescent contaminants from the environment and not naturally secreted compounds.

• Reflective Ultra-Violet Imaging System
• Works best after CA fuming on multi-colored, smooth backgrounds.
• The difference in reflection between the (specular/mirror-like) reflection of the background and the (diffuse/many angle) reflection of the LP.

• MBD
• Ardrox P-113D
• Rhodamine 6G
• RAM (R6G, Ardrox, and MBD)
• Basic Yellow
• RAY (R6G, Ardrox, Basic Yellow)
• Basic Red

• Fineness
• Adhesion (Binder)
• Color (Pigment)
• Flow

• Black
• White
• Dual Contrast
• Magnetic (most effective)
• Fluorescent (with an ALS)

• Fiberglass
• Camel Hair
• Feather
• Magnetic (Magna Brush)

• Tape
• Gel/Rubber
• Hinge Lifters
• Casting

• Method used to develop friction ridges on porous surfaces. It reacts with amino acids. It is applied by dipping, brushing, or spraying the item. The application of heat quickens the development, but it is not required. Can be visualized with 515nm-570nm and either an orange or red filter.
• It is considered the single best reagent for paper.
• 46% more LPs were developed with IND than DFO followed by Ninhydrin.

• Method used to develop friction ridges on porous surfaces. It reacts with amino acids. It is applied through dipping, brushing, or spraying. It is heated to 100 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.
• Can be viewed at 495nm-550nm with orange or red goggles.
• Shown to develop 2-3 times more LPs than Ninhydrin alone.

• Method used to develop friction ridges on porous surfaces. Reacts with primary and secondary amines, proteins, & polypeptides to obtain "Ruhemann's Purple" color reaction.
• First used in 1954.
• Can be further developed using Zinc Chloride or a Cadmium metal salt solution.
• Is catalyzed by the addition of heat and humidity (80 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity.
• Viewed at 530nm-590nm with orange or red goggles.

1. Water Pretreatment - Removes dirt and soil.
2. Acid Pretreatment - Reacts with Calcium Carbonate in alkaline paper, causing CO2 release (neutralization of the paper).
3. PD Treatment - Chemical reaction of silver and FP residue (lipids, oils, etc).
4. Water Post-Treatment - Removes excess silver.
5. Drying - Evidence is thoroughly dried.

• Photography after every development with scale.
• Scanning (1,000 ppi)
• Lifting

• Side-by-side comparison of two fingerprints (one latent print and one record print usually) to determine whether the details in the two prints are in agreement based on similarity, sequence, and spatial relationship
• Subjective assessment of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level details
• Examiner establishes a tolerance for variation

• Variations in appearance
• Substrate or surface influence
• Matrix (residues on the skin)
• Environment
• Trauma to the skin
• Processing methods
• Capturing techniques
• Handling, packaging, and storage
• Viewing and enlarging techniques

First Level - Overall Pattern (Pattern type)

Second Level - Ridge Path (Bifurcation, Ridge Ending, Dot)

Third Level - Ridge Shape

• Core
• Delta
• Loops
• Whorls
• Arches

• Ulnar Loop - Ridges flow toward the little finger.
• Radial Loop - Ridges flow toward the thumb.

• Plain Whorl - When a line is drawn between the two deltas, at least one recurving ridge is cut or touched.
• Central Pocket Loop Whorl - When a line is drawn between the two deltas, no recurving line is cut or touched.
• Double Loop Whorl - Two separate loop formations with two separate sets of shoulders and two deltas
• Accidental Whorl - A combo of two different types of patterns (not a plain arch), with two or more deltas, or a pattern which possesses some of the requirements for two or more different types of patterns or a pattern which does not conform to any of the other patterns.

• Plain arch- cannot have a looping ridge, an angle or an upthrust.

• Tented arch-has an angle or upthrust, or two characteristics of a loop.

• Path of a specific ridge.
• Includes the starting position of the ridge, the path the ridge takes, the activity of the ridge, the length of the ridge path, and where the ridge path ends.
• Considered Unique (sufficient for identification).
• There are approximately 150 ridge characteristics in an average fingerprint.

• Ridge Ending
• Bifurcation
• Dot

• Friction ridge formations
• In sequence
• Having sufficient uniqueness
• To individualize

• Discrepancy- The presence of friction ridge detail in
  one impression that does not exist in another.

• Dissimilarity-Difference in appearance.

• Analysis - Information Gathering.
• Comparison.
• Evaluation - Final Conclusion.
• Verification.

• The knowledge and beliefs in uniqueness and persistency of impression evidence

• Bias, pressure, expectations

• Suitability
• Suitable
• Sufficiency
• Sufficient

• Suitability- Latent impressions that have significant quality and quantity of ridge formations that, in the opinion of the examiner, warrant a comparison.

• Suitable- the determination that there is sufficiency in an impression to be of value for further analysis or comparison.

• Sufficiency- the product of the quality and
  quantity of objective data under observation.

• Sufficient- the determination that there is
  sufficiency in a comparison to reach a conclusion at
  the comparison stage.

• Erroneous identification (Bum ID) (You said it was him, but it wasn't.)
• Missed identification (You said it wasn’t him, but it was.)
• Clerical

A fabrication is a print that was never on a surface that it was reported to have come from.

A forgery is a print that existed on a surface but was placed there by someone other than the source.

1. Forged and fabricated prints
2. Dry-benching
3. Intentional erroneous results
4. Mistake cover-ups

1. Testability
2. Peer Review
3. Error Rate
4. Maintenance of Standards
5. General Acceptance
6. Individual Error Rates

1. A motion to suppress evidence.
2. A motion to suppress a confession.

• The truth
• Clear and concise information
• You to be impartial
• They expect your concern
• You to be prepared
• You to look and speak professionally
• You to be accurate

• Witnesses that do not look at them
• Witnesses that talk down to them
• Disrespect for the judge
• Improper speech
• Poor posture
• Wasting time
• Being pompous
• Bias
• Not being prepared
• Being on edge or defensive
• Poor visual displays

Repeatability is when one examiner consistently reaches the same decision for the same prints.

Reproducibility is when two examiners reach the same decision for the same prints.