pros and cons of fingerprint evidence

C. C. Plato, R. M. Garruto, and B. The steps of the scientific method have been described in different ways, but each description incorporates the same fundamental concepts with some organizational differences. Official websites use .gov Dror, I. E., Pron, A. E., Hind, S.-L., and Charlton, D. When emotions get the better of us: The effect of contextual top-down processing on matching fingerprints, Applied Cognitive Psychology (2005) 19:799809. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). DNA evidence, on the other hand, gets processed almost entirely . Dror, I. E. and Charlton, D. Why experts make errors. Is A Text Message Legally Binding? Documentation of evidence collection should include any items collected for transfer to the laboratory, any items processed at the scene, the processes used at the scene, and any latent print lifts or photographs produced. Many collectors use a cotton swab to collect saliva from the mouth for testing. After becoming certified, examiners would be required to take an annual proficiency examination to maintain their status as certified latent print examiners. Quality assurance and documentation standards in the latent print discipline. Reports should be supported by case documentation and include a summary of the examiners results, to include any conclusions reached and the disposition of the evidence. A general lack of agreement over what constituted sufficiency led to the institution of several different point standards around the world. MacMillan and Co., London, 1892, pp. Laboratories can minimize error by properly training and testing examiners, ensuring that examiners diligently perform their jobs, establishing well-defined protocols, and adhering to the practices inherent in a strong quality assurance program. Friction ridge impressions near the threshold can be considered complex and thus may require additional quality-control measures, such as consultation, before they are determined sufficient or insufficient. Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove, California,1998, p. A-4. The problem? Swain, A. D. and Guttmann, H. E. Handbook of Human Reliability Analysis with Emphasis on Nuclear Power Plant Applications, NUREG/CR-1278/SAND80-0200. Cons of Fingerprint Recognition Technology No technology is without its disadvantages. George Routledge and Sons Ltd., London, 1900, pp. Historically, documentation in the latent print discipline had been minimal when compared to other scientific endeavors. The verifier should sign and date the identification in the case notes as well. ASCLD/LAB International Supplemental requirements for the accreditation of forensic science testing laboratories, which form the basis for the current FBI LPU documentation requirements, define documentation requirements: (1) Documentation must be sufficient so that another analyst could evaluate what was done and determine if the conclusions are supported and (2) Documentation must meet all applicable requirements in Appendix A (latent print-specific documentation requirements) (ASCLD/LAB 2006b). SWGFAST quality assurance guidelines for latent print examiners, version 3.0 [Online]. Pros like exonerating innocent people are a major reason why this biotechnology should keep being used. Ashbaugh, D. R. Ridgeology, Journal of Forensic Identification (1991) 41:1664. When comparing friction ridge impressions, examiners select a starting point from the latent print at their discretion. The prints show persons who were most likely at the crime scene. that contribute to the appearance of friction ridge impressions and, in particular, how each factor affects the quantity and quality of information present in a given impression. Lentinis website Scientific Fire Analysis hosts his breakthrough publications on arson science, including The Lime Street Fire: Another Perspective, [PDF] which contests traditional understandings of burn patterns through a series of tests. According to the National Academies of Sciences, no peer reviewed scientific studies have ever been done to prove the basic assumption that every persons fingerprint is unique. The paths of the ridges passing through this area also require greater scrutiny. ASCLD/LAB. The calculation of error rates for instrument-dependent sciences can be fairly straightforward when one considers only the error of the system (i.e., the error of the instrument); the error rate is most generally defined as the number of errors committed over the total number of experiments/measurements (Wertheim et al. Easily clock in and out. The friction ridge skin is a three-dimensional, pliable surface. If it happens, the prosecutor must: These small characteristics allow us to categorize fingerprints as whorl, arch, or loop. The ridge flow provides the means to quickly orient and correlate the comparable area to the known exemplar. Maceo, A. V. The basis for the uniqueness and persistence of scars in the friction ridge skin, Fingerprint Whorld (2005) 31:147161. SWGFAST training to competency for latent print examiners, version 2.1 [Online]. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The guideline covers recommended subject areas by outlining required and supplemental training objectives. 2. J. Almog and E. Springer, Eds. The guideline states that successful students must demonstrate knowledge of required objectives by passing written tests and/or practical exercises and by communicating an understanding of the objectives and underlying principles. However, this plan would likely generate less interest than the other two options, because the majority of undergraduate college programs would focus on a more general course of study. There were immediate legal challenges to the collection and use of DNA evidence, as well as attempts to utilize DNA evidence to exonerate those accused of crimes. And there appears to be no uniform standards on the number of matching features that must be present for an examiner to declare a match. It is an option and not a requirement for the courts to give statements on evidence objections. The quality of the information is as valuable a consideration as the quantity, and the interpretation of information located in areas of distortion must be assessed appropriately. It also would be advantageous to have these examiners become certified instructors through a training program conducted at the federal laboratory. Perspective on errors, bias, and interpretation in the forensic sciences and direction for continuing advancement. 1.1 Conditions that shall be satisfied:1.1.1 Determined by a competent examiner, and 1.1.2 Applied to a common area in both impressions, and1.1.3 Based on the quantity and quality of the friction ridge details, and1.1.4 Absent any discrepancy, and1.1.5 Reproducible conclusion.1.2 Basic principles:1.2.1 There is no scientific basis for requiring that a predetermined number of corresponding friction ridge details be present in two impressions in order to effect individualization.1.2.2 Individualization is supported by the theories of biological uniqueness and permanence, probability modeling, and empirical data gained through more than one hundred years of operational experience. (SWGFAST 2003). Also, no consensus exists as to whether an error rate can or should be discipline-wide, agency-specific, individual-specific, or reported in some other way. With such a difference in the amount of training received, the skill level of latent print examiners varies immensely. This review establishes whether the laboratory has the necessary equipment, expertise, and procedures to meet requests for service. Figure 2 illustrates the information that examiners consider during a determination of the sufficiency or insufficiency of a given latent friction ridge impression. Champod, C., Lennard, C., and Margot, P. Alphonse Bertillon and dactyloscopy, Journal of Forensic Identification (1993) 43:604625. This argument demonstrates a certain navet regarding the disparate nature of the information considered in the various forensic disciplines. The impression on the left is the same latent print shown in Figure 3, and the impression on the right is a known exemplar from a different source finger, an exclusion. Proposal 3: University-Based Latent Print Training. Fingerprinting is method based on the uniqueness of the skin pattern - that is, each person has a completely individual pattern of papillary lines. Moses was one of the four people who incorrectly matched Mayfield to the latent print. The prints are almost invisible to the naked eye. The court then accepts evidence depending on its findings. Furthermore, given the sufficiency of each friction ridge impression individually, this assessment of sufficiency continues through the comparison process as the examiner considers the combined information present in the comparable areas of both impressions (see. The satellite programs would be directed by examiners who have successfully completed the training program at the federal laboratory, because they would be the most familiar with the format and progression of the program. After a few years of conducting this training at the federal level, satellite programs could be initiated at other laboratories. By meeting these requirements, the student demonstrates the ability to consistently render reliable conclusions. Latent prints are undetectable to the naked eye. Court systems set definitive rules governing the use of fingerprints. Champod, C. and Evett, I. W. A probabilistic approach to fingerprint evidence, Commentary. For a work product to be viewed as reliable, the employees who perform the work need to be competent, perform the work properly in specific cases, remain proficient, and stay abreast of changes and updates in their field of expertise. Drug testing is the most frequent forensic function performed by publicly funded crime laboratories, which analyze biological samples for the presence of toxins present in an individual to determine whether the amount of those substances is above a harmful level. In the following paragraphs, we present three proposals for the creation of a nationally standardized training program for latent print examiners. Because DNA can be found in many body fluids and tissues, retrieving materials is a simple and unobtrusive process. According to the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), When associations are made, the significance of the association shall be communicated clearly and qualified properly in the report (ASCLD/LAB 2006a). In this translation, any number of factors, such as pressure or the amount of substance being transferred, may affect the quantity and/or quality of the information contained in the resulting impression. A qualified examiner determines sufficiency based on an educated assessment of the objective information present in the impressions (see Sufficiency section for additional discussion). The scientific method is a formula used to reduce subjectivity in any scientific endeavor. You can imply that someone was at a crime scene. A ridge begins as a single line before spreading out and reconnecting as a continuous line. Like fingerprints and like the right and left ears of one individual, ears of identical twins differ. Delta: A Y-shaped structure formed by the convergence of two ridges. Laboratory accrediting bodies generally dictate minimum requirements for documentation. Standardization Committee report, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (1973) 42(10):78. Individuals prints are unique. Pros- Scholars regard DNA evidence as "probably the greatest forensic advancement since the advent of fingerprinting"; It can prove actual innocence even when other trustworthy evidence plays in the defendant's favor; If handled properly, DNA evidence can be stored for years which is helpful because investigations and criminal court proceedings Pros. Some experts have suggested that the holistic approach, which has been criticized as relying too much on the subjective interpretation of the examiner, would gain an additional measure of objectivity from a calculated sufficiency based upon statistical models of individuality. Irrespective of a numerical error rate, the goal will always be for each laboratory to have the best system in place to minimize the chance of having an error occur in the first place, coupled with every practical method of error detection. About one half of this friction ridge impression has some level of distortion, and consequently, all of the information in these distorted areas (areas of lower quality) requires greater scrutiny than the information in the low-distortion areas (areas of higher quality). Can People Give Legal Notice On The Phone? An individualization conclusion does not relate the significance of this contact or the time frame during which the contact occurred. Henry, E. R. Classification and Uses of Finger Prints. Establish legislation mandating adherence to standards established by SWGFAST or a nationally recognized governing body. Excepting people without fingers or hands, fingerprint technology can be a helpful tool for many, including people with intellectual disabilities or cognitive impairments who struggle with managing passwords. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Birth Defects: Original Article Series. Office of the Inspector General. Evett, I. W. and Williams, R. L. A review of the sixteen points fingerprint standard in England and Wales. Studies that attempted to assign probabilities of human error have been conducted in other applied sciences, such as nuclear safety (Swain 1983), but even in this field, research is ongoing to find the best, most appropriate model, because the assumptions for these models often are flawed or limited. An individualization conclusion conveys that two prints originated from the same source and, by direct inference, that the source was at some time in contact with the particular item(s). A lock ( Because no instrumentation can introduce error independent of the human being, it has been suggested that the ACE-V methodology may be a source of error in latent print examinations. This article outlines everything you want to know about using DNA as evidence. A person's "friction ridge patterns" (the swirled skin on their fingertips) don't change over their lifetimes. Research has shown that arrangements of friction ridge skin are initiated and subsequently develop through a process of differential growth at the interface between the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin, thereby accounting for their infinite variability (i.e., individuality) (Babler 1987, 1991). Standardization Committee report. 3-13-15. Its frighteningly simple, frighteningly easy.. Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology. 2.1 Conditions that must be satisfied:2.1.1 Determined by a competent examiner, and2.1.2 Applied to all comparable anatomical areas, and2.1.3 Presence of a discrepancy, and2.1.4 Based on sufficient quantity and quality of the friction ridge details, and2.1.5 Reproducible conclusion.2.2 Basic principles:2.2.1 The presence of one discrepancy is sufficient to exclude.2.2.2 Distortion is not a discrepancy and is not a basis for exclusion.2.2.3 Exclusion is supported by the theories of biological uniqueness and permanence, probability modeling, and empirical data gained through more than one hundred years of operational experience. (SWGFAST 2003). At the FBI Laboratory, all forensic examiners have access to an extensive forensic science library and experienced staff to obtain research and continuing education materials. Encourage continuing research into the factors (e.g., pressure, amount of substance being transferred, etc.) Given that most friction ridge impressions can be categorized as having either a wealth or a significant lack of information available, most impressions are easily determined to be sufficient or insufficient for individualization. An individual examiners threshold for sufficiency is predicated on the examiners education, knowledge, experience, and training (i.e., those attributes that constitute expertise). With news outlets facing more censorship and restrictions from the Taliban, Afghans are turning to social media and citizen journalism for information. The pros and cons of employing superglue fuming are many: On the PRO sideit protects fragile latent prints by resisting accidental bumps and scuffs that would damage the ridges, it encapsulates the moisture content of a latent thus preventing vaporization and it is a means of processing large quantities of evidence at one time in all shapes and Wertheim, K., Langenburg, G., and Moenssens, A. Recent studies. An AFIS can also house repositories of latent fingerprints that remain unidentified, typically referred to as an unsolved latent file (ULF). Further, it is inconsistent with the size and shape of an impression made from the lower joint of a finger or a palm. A federal laboratory could be selected to conduct training following a standard curriculum. Probable or possible identification conclusions are outside the acceptable limits of the friction ridge identification science (SWGFAST 2006) (see Statistics and Probability Modeling section for additional discussion). Such metrics could improve the standard for sufficiency by establishing a holistic sufficiency standard that can be applied more objectively and uniformly across the discipline. Names of commercial manufacturers are provided for identification only, and inclusion does not imply endorsement by the FBI. The first step in the testing phase is analysis, which involves gathering all of the information available in a print to determine if sufficient quality and quantity exist for the print to be individualized (see Sufficiency section for additional discussion). The standard for exclusion is disagreement of friction ridge details. Prints can help you compile a list of potential suspects for a crime. Core: They are star print, from which a circle loop may arise. Administrative errors refer to simple clerical errors such as typographical errors. This conclusion does not imply that the source did not have contact with the particular item(s), because it is possible for an individual to touch or handle an item and not leave a latent print suitable for comparison purposes. When explainable differences (i.e., differences due to distortion) or other factors influencing the quality of a latent print are present and their presence could interfere with the proper interpretation of the print, the analysis and resulting conclusion should be considered complex and documented in the case notes and, if possible, on the photographs. Legal Information Vs. Legal Advice: Whats The Difference? Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. Hale, A. R. Morphogenesis of volar skin in the human fetus. The basic premises of persistence and individuality. In a legal case, there are rules on evidence. Given the increased focus by the courts on the scientific foundations of the forensic sciences in general and the push to expand and strengthen these foundations, it is foreseeable that the minimum qualifications for latent print examiner trainees may in the future require a bachelors degree in science, including courses in chemistry, biology, math, and statistics. Investigators and prosecuting attorneys alike greatly value fingerprint evidence and its ability to sway judges and juries toward a conviction. Mayfield later sued the government, which settled for $2 million. Often, however, these fictional CSIs present unrealistic portrayals of the capabilities of forensic science. The evidence they collect and the analysis methods they use can help solve cases and explain suspicious events. 95112. 2. A report of latent print examiner accuracy during comparison training exercises, http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/s0601/final.pdf. For years, forensic hair examiners have testified that physical characteristics of hairs can be identified and used to establish the presence, or absence, of certain people at a crime scene. Because latent print examinations employ no system beyond the examiner, the only error rate that can be provided is the human error rate. Although no model of fingerprint individuality to date has been comprehensive enough for the fingerprint community to accept, the fingerprint discipline has benefited significantly from these studies, which have established general support for the premise of the individuality of friction ridge arrangements. Examiners should not issue reports unless they have participated in the examinations or have conducted a thorough review of the case documentation. If the root cause can be determined, then proper corrective steps can be initiated. Fingerprints are not as reliable as was once thought. Scientific Working Group on Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence. The tests for this training also should be standardized with a set minimum passing score. Even though examiners are trained to recognize the factors that may affect the translation of information (Ashbaugh 1999), further study into all of the issues affecting the quality of a latent print, and the effect of quality on sufficiency, is warranted. This experiential approach enables trainees to learn the threshold other qualified examiners apply, thereby maintaining a consensus threshold within a laboratory system. It was determined that sole reliance on ridge characteristicsdefined as ending ridges, bifurcations, and dotsignored a wealth of additional information considered during the analysis and comparison of latent prints. Huber, R. A. 2006). ASCLD/LAB-International Supplemental Requirements for the Accreditation of Forensic Science Testing Laboratories. The uniformity of examiner thresholds is established through training by empirical study, consultation, and verification with experienced, qualified trainers. The remaining two types of errors consist of error stemming from data interpretation. Because of the infinite combinations of friction ridge features and the configuration of these features with respect to the arrangement of the ridges, no predetermined amount of area or quantity of features is prerequisite to reaching an individualization conclusion (International Association of Identification [hereafter IAI] 1973; Margot and German 1995; SWGFAST 2003). If a criminal investigator matches a latent print to a fingerprint in the AFIS, that individual may be linked to the crime under investigation. The arguments arise when people use prints in the legal context. This friction ridge impression is consistent with direct deposition from the end joint of a finger. Recent studies reveal that microscopic hair analysis is not yet a precise science. Oversight and Review Division. Forensic teams use fingerprints to build a list of suspects. The lack of conventional quantification of the sufficiency threshold is mitigated further by the nonconsumptive nature of friction ridge examination. Have latent examiners at all levels of government attend a training program at a federal laboratory. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS manuscript in preparation). They include street drugs such as heroin and ecstasy, and prescription drugs like oxycodone. The extrapolation of statistical models to the calculation of fingerprint probabilities represents a separate issue from the determination of sufficiency (Champod and Evett 2001). What You Need To Know. People can change their character. Securing a just verdict: Evidence is important in securing a fair case outcome. SWGFAST recommends that individuals possess, at a minimum, a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university. One fundamental problem with rearms analysis is the lack of a precisely dened process, the NAS found. Inconclusive decisions typically occur because the corresponding areas of friction ridge detail are absent or not interpretable (Federal Bureau of Investigation [hereafter FBI] 2007). In addition, twin studies have shown that, although there is a higher degree of concordance of pattern classification between twins, each twin has unique fingerprints (Lin et al. Additional requirements include the disposition of any images containing latent prints of value and any images of latent prints that were not analyzed, compared, or evaluated. The existence of such a methodological error would necessitate the existence of an inherent error in the experimental design of ACE-V. A competent examiner is trained to recognize the difference between distortion within the impression and a true discrepancy and will be able to explain this distinction in court (SWGFAST 2002c). Proficiency tests are a critical evaluation of an individuals ability and should be given annually. 2006). These rules apply in the course of proceedings. Spanish officials matched the partial print to an Algerian man named Daoud Ouhnane. This source is a known exemplar. One hypothesis will therefore be that the latent print did originate from the same source as the known print. 2009 study by the National Academy of Sciences, stumbled upon one of our most important forensic tools, cases of people who have been exonerated by DNA evidence, The Lime Street Fire: Another Perspective, Shake-Up Inside Forensic Credentialing Organization, Mississippi Doctor's Autopsies at Center of Wrongful Conviction Filings, Following Carolyn Bryant Donham's Death, Revisit Emmett Till's Life, Murder and Legacy, Amid the Talibans Worsening Crackdown on Journalists, News in Afghanistan Is Forced to Adapt, Humanitarian Needs in Afghanistan Deepen as Taliban Continues Ban on Women Working for NGOs, UN, I Lost My Son A Deeper Look at the Chaos at Kabul Airport When U.S.
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