Factors associated with latent fingerprint exclusion determinations

Historically, the latent print1 [1 –9] examination process was primarily focused on identifying (or individualizing) the person (subject) who left a latent print. Only in special circumstances did examiners need to make the distinction between not identifying the source of a latent print (“non-identification”) and determining t hat a specific finger or palm from a subject was not the source of a latent print (exclusion). “Non-identification” is inherently ambiguous, as it does not differentiate between exclusions and inconclusive determinations: exclusions explicitly indicate that a subject was not the source of a late nt, whereas inconclusives indicate that the examiner could not determine whether or not a subject was the source of a latent.

Source: Forensic Science International - February 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Bradford T. Ulery, R. Austin Hicklin, Maria Antonia Roberts, JoAnn Buscaglia Source Type: research