Division of Criminal Justice Services

NYCLAC Report Standardization Project

Return to Table of Contents

< previous section | next section >

 

Latent Print Processing

 

Open All Categories | Close All Categories

Standardized Report Components

  1. Unique case identifier on each page of report (such as lab number)
  2. Title of the report (such as “report of laboratory analysis”)
  3. Identification of the laboratory
  4. Submitting Agency Info or at a minimum submitting agency
  5. List or explanation of items examined
  6. General indication of methodology utilized
  7. Results/conclusions
  8. Date report issued
  9. Signature and title of examiner (or electronic equivalent)
  10. Pagination of the report (example page 1 of 2 etc.)
  11. Statement regarding the report does not constitute the entire case file or equivalent
  12. Statement that definitions of terms used in the report can be located at the DCJS website and if applicable on the laboratory website or attached to report

Standardized Language/Statements

Latent Print Processing

The following concepts must be included in the report template (if applicable):

  1. General development method used to process evidence
    Evidence was processed using Visual/Chemical/Physical techniques/methods.
  2. Latent prints recovered

    Laboratories with processing analysts
    • Number of latent prints and unique identifiers recovered for further examination
      –Qualifier should be: “of potential value for further examination” or “suitable for capture”
    • “Latent print(s) or friction ridge detail recovered from”
    • Method used to capture latent impression (e.g., Digitally captured, Lifted)

    Laboratories with trained comparison analysts

    • Number of latent prints and unique identifiers recovered for further examination
      –Qualifier should be: “suitable for further examination” or “suitable for capture”
    • “Latent print(s) or friction ridge detail recovered from”
    • Method used to capture latent impression (e.g., Digitally captured, Lifted)
  3. No latent prints recovered

    If no friction ridge detail was observed:
    • No latent prints/friction ridge detail were/was observed

    If no friction ridge detail of suitable quality for further examination was observed:

    • No latent prints/friction ridge detail suitable for capture/identification were/was observed

Additional evidence (if applicable)

Description of non-latent print evidence (e.g., DNA/ Trace/ Impressions/ QD) and method of collection and preservation.

No examination performed

  • Evidence was not examined.
  • Evidence was not conducive for latent print examination (state reason).

 

Standardized Terms & Definition

ACE-V
The acronym for a scientific method; Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification (see individual terms).

AFIS
The acronym for Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a generic term for a fingerprint matching, storage, and retrieval system.

Analysis
The first step of the ACE-V method. The assessment of an impression to determine suitability for comparison.

Blind Verification
The independent examination of one or more friction ridge impressions at any stage of the ACE process by another competent examiner who is provided with no, or limited, contextual information, and has no expectation or knowledge of the determinations or conclusions of the original examiner.

Characteristics
Distinctive details of the friction ridges, including Level 1, 2, and 3 details (also known as features).

Chemical
The application of latent print reagents that react with latent print residues in order to develop friction ridge impressions.

Comparison
The second step of the ACE-V method. The observation of two or more impressions to determine the existence of discrepancies, dissimilarities, or similarities.

Complete Friction Ridge Exemplars
A systematic recording of all friction ridge detail appearing on the palmar sides of the hands. This includes the extreme sides of the palms, joints, tips, and sides of the fingers (also known as major case prints).

Conclusion
Determination made during the evaluation stage of ACE-V, including identification, inconclusive, and exclusion.

Consultation
A significant interaction between examiners regarding one or more impressions in question.

Distortion
Variances in the reproduction of friction skin caused by factors such as pressure, movement, force, and contact surface.

Elimination Prints
Exemplars of friction ridge skin detail of persons known to have had legitimate access to an object or location.

Evaluation
The third step of the ACE-V method wherein an examiner assesses the value of the details observed during the analysis and the comparison steps and reaches a conclusion.

Exclusion
The determination by an examiner that there is sufficient quality and quantity of detail in disagreement to conclude that two areas of friction ridge impressions did not originate from the same source.

Exemplars
The prints of an individual, associated with a known or claimed identity, and deliberately recorded electronically, by ink, or by another medium (also known as known prints).

Features
Distinctive details of the friction ridges, including Level 1, 2, and 3 details (also known as characteristics).

Fingerprint
An impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger.

Friction Ridge
A raised portion of the epidermis on the palmar or plantar skin, consisting of one or more connected ridge units.

Friction Ridge Detail (Morphology)
An area comprised of the combination of ridge flow, ridge characteristics, and ridge structure.

Friction Ridge Unit
A single section of ridge containing one pore.

IAFIS
The acronym for Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the FBI’s national AFIS.

Identification
The determination by an examiner that there is sufficient quality and quantity of detail in agreement to conclude that two friction ridge impressions originated from the same source.

Impression
Friction ridge detail deposited on a surface.

Inconclusive
The determination by an examiner that there is neither sufficient agreement to identify, nor sufficient disagreement to exclude.

Joint (of the finger)
The hinged area that separates segments of the finger.

Known Prints (finger, palm, foot)
The prints of an individual, associated with a known or claimed identity, and deliberately recorded electronically, by ink, or by another medium (also known as exemplars).

Latent Print

  1. Transferred impression of friction ridge detail not readily visible.
  2. Generic term used for unintentionally deposited friction ridge detail.

Level 1 Detail
Friction ridge flow, pattern type, and general morphological information. Level 1 detail may be used for exclusionary purposes, however may not be used alone to reach a conclusion of identification.

Level 2 Detail
Individual friction ridge paths and associated events, including minutiae. Level 2 detail may be used alone, or in conjunction with level 1 detail to reach a conclusion of identification or exclusion.

Level 3 Detail
Friction ridge dimensional attributes, such as width, edge shapes, and pores. Level 3 detail may be used in conjunction with level 2 detail to reach a conclusion of identification. Level 3 detail may not be used alone in order to reach a conclusion.

Lift
An adhesive or other medium used to transfer a friction ridge impression from a substrate.

Major Case Print / Impressions
A systematic recording of the friction ridge detail appearing on the palmar sides of the hands. This includes the extreme sides of the palms, joints, tips, and sides of the fingers (also known as complete friction ridge exemplars).

Palmprint
An impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the palmar surface of the hand.

Pattern type
Fundamental pattern of the ridge flow: arch, loop, whorl. Arches are subdivided into plain and tented arches; loops are subdivided into radial and ulnar loops; whorls are subdivided into plain whorls, double loops, pocket loops, and accidental whorls.

Quality
The clarity of information contained within a friction ridge impression.

Quantity
The amount of information contained within a friction ridge impression.

Physical
The application of non-chemical techniques to develop friction ridge impressions.

SABIS
The acronym for the Statewide Automated Biometric Identification System, the New York State fingerprint and palmprint matching, storage, and retrieval system.

Simultaneous Impression
Two or more friction ridge impressions from the same hand or foot deposited concurrently.

Source
An area of friction ridge skin from an individual from which an impression originated.

Sufficiency
The product of the quality and quantity of the objective data under observation (e.g., friction ridge, crease, and scar features).

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

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

Tenprint

  1. A generic reference to examinations performed on intentionally recorded friction ridge impressions.
  2. A controlled recording of an individual’s available fingers using ink, electronic imaging, or other medium.

Visual
As seen by the human eye without the aid of alternate light sources or development techniques

Verification
The independent application of the ACE process as utilized by a subsequent examiner to either support or refute the conclusions of the original examiner; this may be conducted as blind verification. Verification may be followed by some level of review as specified by agency policy.