NCJ Number
233774
Journal
Identification Canada Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 38-81
Editor(s)
Della Wilkinson
Date Published
June 2007
Length
44 pages
Annotation
Two articles describe and assess procedures for developing latent fingerprints on plastic and latex gloves, and a third article evaluates heat treatment processes for 1,8-diazafluoren 9-one (DFO), which has been used for the development of latent fingerprints on exhibits with porous surfaces.
Abstract
The article on developing latent fingerprints on plastics notes that the surface characteristics of today's plastics create obstacles in developing latent fingerprints when using conventional gold/zinc vacuum metal deposition (AU/Zn VMD). This led to the development of a new VMD process that uses aluminum (Al VMD). This article reports on a study that compared the sensitivity of each method. Al VMD was determined to be an excellent option for latent fingerprint processing for today's plastics; however, both methods tended to be less effective on aged samples. A second article describes the use of a method of developing latent fingerprints on latex gloves that proved to be useful in actual casework. The method used ninhydrin dissolved in a solution of ethyl alcohol, with heptane used as a carrier. This method was previously reported using laboratory simulations. A third article reports on a study that compared two methods being used by the Ontario Provincial Police in applying dry heat in the DFO treatment process for latent fingerprints on porous surfaces: the JUMBO 1500 Drug Mounting and Laminating Press (Seal Inc.) and the DFC200 DFO Development Control Chamber (Sirchie). Following the three featured articles, the journal reports on recent activities of the Canadian Identification Society Tables, figures, and references