NCJ Number
219011
Journal
Evidence Technology Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2007 Pages: 14-19
Date Published
May 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses research studies, current and future, intended to expand the understanding about the science of fingerprint examination and increase fingerprint examination credibility and validity.
Abstract
There are several benefits with the more research available, for one, the more solid the field will be. In the field of fingerprint examination, the results of research may offer benefits such as simply saving time for law enforcement personnel. More research will be forthcoming in many areas of fingerprint comparison and the end result will hopefully be a wide range of new research to introduce into a courtroom argument. This article argues that it is known that fingerprint recognition works, and addresses the question of where the scientific documentation is. Recent arguments confronting fingerprints could not be countered because fingerprint analysis originated at a time when that level of science did not exist. Today, nearly every aspect of the science of fingerprint comparison has come under some close examination. However, a number of formal studies have recently been completed or are underway that seek to address the scientific basis of fingerprint examination. This article discusses the current activity in multi-faceted research with the intent to learn more about the science of fingerprint examination and to validate it.