NCJ Number
188362
Date Published
2001
Length
146 pages
Annotation
This guidebook illustrates the basic concepts involved in the science of fingerprints and fingerprint identification.
Abstract
The science of fingerprint identification is one of the few scientific disciplines that does not routinely require apprentices to have college degrees. However, the fingerprint specialist does rely on a wide variety of related scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, photography, and fundamental statistics. The book examines: (1) fingerprints in context; (2) friction skin and friction skin classification; (3) exemplar fingerprint impressions; (4) latent fingerprint development and recovery; (5) special development processes and conditions; (6) latent fingerprint quality variations; (7) fingerprint identification; (8) fingerprint fabrication, errors, and evidence; (9) photography, image enhancement, and color; and (10) computerized fingerprint databases. The chapters are illustrated and many concepts and data are repeated and cross referenced, helping to explain the relationships, benefits, and limitations of crime scene fingerprint evidence. Notes, figures, appendixes, bibliography, index