NCJ Number
188088
Date Published
April 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This discussion of fingerprint evidence covers its history and current status, with emphasis on the potential for changes in the current role of fingerprint evidence and on the role of DNA identification.
Abstract
Fingerprint evidence rests on the idea that no two people have the same fingerprint. A court first admitted this evidence in 1911. Judges in the early 20th century accepted fingerprint evidence without much scrutiny. However, a 1993 United States Supreme Court decision required judges to take a more active role in deciding what scientific evidence to admit. The Daubert guidelines should lead to questions regarding the adequacy of testing of the practice of fingerprint identification, the error rate, and standards and controls. Critics say that challenges are possible to fingerprint evidence based on these criteria. The Daubert guidelines cover Federal courts; other courts in half the States have decided to follow this approach. Several challenges have been filed to fingerprint evidence, starting in 1999. One author speculates that DNA will eventually replace fingerprints for identification. However, one fingerprint expert doubts that genetic materials will completely replace fingerprints, because identical twins have identical DNA but different fingerprints.