NCJ Number
62081
Date Published
1978
Length
34 pages
Annotation
USE OF A RADIOACTIVE REAGENT (35-SPD) FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT FINGERPRINTS ON PATTERNED PAPERS AND PAPERS SUBJECTED TO WETTING WAS TESTED IN A BRITISH POLICE AGENCY LABORATORY AND A CENTRAL LABORATORY.
Abstract
THE PROJECT'S GOAL WAS TO ASSESS THE ABILITY OF A TYPICAL BRITISH POLICE FORCE TO USE THE REAGENT IN ITS OWN ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT TECHNICAL SUPERVISION FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LABORATORY. THE POLICE LABORATORY CHOSEN WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SCENES-OF-CRIME LABORATORIES FOUND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM'S MORE MODERN POLICE AGENCIES. A LOCAL FINGERPRINT OFFICER WAS TRAINED ONSITE BY AN OFFICER WITH EXPERIENCE AT THE GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL LABORATORY. EXHIBITS RECEIVED FROM CRIME SCENES WERE TREATED WITH NINHYDRIN, SENT TO THE FINGERPRINT BUREAU FOR EXAMINATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THEN TRANSMITTED TO THE LABORATORY FOR 35-SPD TREATMENT. TESTED MATERIALS INCLUDED PACKAGING MATERIALS, STATIONERY, CURRENCY, AND NEWSPRINT. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 35-SPD IS USEFUL AS A SEQUENTIAL REAGENT TO NINHYDRIN WHEN THE LATTER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, OR WHEN ADDITIONAL PRINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AMINO ACID SECRETORS ARE NEEDED. A POLICE FORCE CAN USE THE REAGENT IN ITS OWN LABORATORY PROVIDED IT HAS ADEQUATE LABORATORY FACILITIES CAPABLE OF HANDLING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES, TRAINED STAFF, AND PROCEDURES CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS. FURTHER TRIALS WITH THE REAGENT ARE BEING CONDUCTED. NINE TABLES AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED, WITH APPENDIXES CONTAINING ABBREVIATIONS USED, A REPORT ON THE INSPECTION OF THE SITE TESTED, AND RESULTS OF EACH CASE IN WHICH 35-SPD WAS USED. (CFW)