Essay on Advances in Latent Print Technology

Latent Impression: This type of friction ridge impression is not readily visible. The term 'latent' is commonly applied to all chance or unintentional impressions that are of evidentiary value.

Fingerprint Techniques
Before a friction ridge identification specialist can enhance a print, he/she must first find it. In most cases this is easier said than done. Recognition of the areas where one is most likely to find latent prints is an extremely important step in the examination of latent print evidence.

Once the potential area, which is most likely to yield fingerprint evidence, is selected, a variety of techniques such as physical and chemical methods can be used to process the surface and to develop friction ridge impressions. The selection of methods should be determined from 3 important factors 1) nature of the surface e.g. porous or non-porous, wet, dirty etc. 2) the apparent composition of the fingerprint residue or matrix (e.g. moisture contaminated with oil and dirt and; 3) condition of the friction ridge impression.

The examination of any potential latent print evidence should include the following steps:

1) Visual examination (followed by photography if appropriate).
2) Fluorescence examination (followed by photography if appropriate).
3) Selection and application of an appropriate enhancement method(s) - physical and/or chemical and/or digital enhancement followed by photography after each process. (Chemical and Physical Development Methods for Latent and Patent)

Fingerprints and palm prints are now and, for the foreseeable future, will be the most relied-upon biometric technology for verifying a person’s identity and positively linking persons to criminal history and other background check records. Criminal justice agencies rely on fingerprints and palm prints for positive identification to latent impressions collected as evidence at crime scenes and in processing persons through the criminal justice system.................

ESSAYS ON TECHNOLOGY