Question

1. A burglary has occurred in single story house and you are tasked to search for potential latent impression evidence. List five (5) particular items that would contain latent fingerprint evidence. Discuss the type of processing (powder or chemical) that would be used to develop the latent fingerprints on these five (5) items. Be specific as to the type of processing that you would use to develop these prints (do not only state powder or chemical, what type of powder or chemical).

2. There is currently no standard that requires a latent print examiner to identify a specific amount of ridge characteristics to include a latent fingerprint as a match to an evidentiary item. Should or should not this be standardized among all forensic laboratories?   Explain and defend your response.

Answer 1

1. The possible five spots for collecting latent finger prints could be (a) Entry side of door knob, (b) Exit side of door knob, (c) windows (If used as entry and/or exit point), (d) carpet and (e) left items after burglary.

The type of processing that might be used to develop the latent finger[rints could be, (a) High resolution photography is one direct method to collect latent fingerprints, (b) To enhance the latent fingerprints prior to collecting can be achieved by dusting a smooth glass or similar potential surface with say black granular, black magnetic, Al granular, etc. powder and than photographing the fingerprints. (c) Alternate light source as LED is often used, when contamination is a concern for seeing and photographing the finger prints. (d) Cyanoacrylate glue adhesion is another technique to develop latent finger prints on hard or soft surface. (e) amino acids from body gets transferred to porous surfaces such as paper, this may contain latent finger prints which are developed by using Ninhydrin reagent which gives purple color as indication for amino acids.

2. All forensic labs should be standardized for techniques to identify ridges characteristic to include fnger print match to an evidentary item. This would give a more confirmatory and precise identification of the latent finger print associated with the item in consideration and help solve the cases fast.