NCJ Number
238788
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: May - June 2012 Pages: 279-298
Date Published
June 2012
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the ability of a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate fuming process.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate fuming process to develop latent fingerprints in comparison with the convention two-step processes that are currently utilized worldwide. Such two-step methods involve the use of dye stains that contain organic solvents, which have a potential to damage the developed cyanoacrylate polymer as well as an item's substrate. The method described here involves the use of a prototype modified Foster and Freeman MVC 1000 cyanoacrylate fuming cabinet and a special powder that co-fumes along with the cyanoacrylate monomer. Latent prints aged up to 3 weeks were placed on a number of different substrates (e.g., sandwich bags, trash bags, bubble wrap, sheet protectors, and textured plastic substrates). Preliminary results indicate that this one-step process was effective at producing quality fluorescent prints on a number of the nonporous substrates. Although there were some substrates that did not work well with this new process, for the most part, the overall quality of the development was comparable to that achieved using the current two-step fuming and dye stains procedures. (Published Abstract)