Latent Fingerprint Documentation and Case Note Practices

Latent Fingerprint Documentation

and Case Notes Practices

Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Accuracy of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System and Latent Examiners

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Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

No Value(Inconclusive) Latent Images

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Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Questions You May Find Useful in a Case That Involves Unidentified Latent Images

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Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Medical Issue's Impacting Fingerprint Accuracy

When attention is paid to missed and bad identifications the errors are usually attributed to a lack of knowledge, failure to follow ACE-V or a clerical error. There is very little mention of physical problems that might compromise a persons visual acuity.The reason I bring this up is that very few agencies require vision examinations for employee's on a regular basis. The CDC has been estimated that in 2005 diabetes effected 14.6 million persons in the U.S. with an additional 6.2 million undiagnosed individuals. One of the effects of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

The National Institute of Health has indicated that 40-45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes already have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. It's possible to have diabetic retinopathy and not know it. In fact, it's uncommon to have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As the condition progresses,symptoms can include,blurred vision,fluctuating vision,dark or empty areas, impaired color vision, vision loss. As is clear this condition could lead to a missed or bad identification.
 I did look at the SWGFAST Standards for Minimum Qualifications and Training to Competency
for Friction Ridge Examiners (Latent/Tenprint) but doesn't look at visual acuity. I would suggest that an agency have latent or tenprint examiners vision tested on a regular basis to insure accurate fingerprint analysis.

Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Advantages to On-Line Fingerprint Training Programs

Advantages to On-Line Fingerprint Training Programs

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Please take a minute to look at the advantages of our on-line fingerprint training course. The training is invaluable to anyone entering the forensic identification field.
Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation & Verification (ACE-V) and the Scientific Method

Recently I reviewed some testimony of a some fingerprint examiners where they explained the fingerprint verification process they used to come to their conclusion. What struck was the explanation of the process was cryptic and did not reference the scientific method that allows us to make our comparison decisions. If I were a juror or an officer of the court with limited knowledge of fingerprints the explanation of the verification process would sound more like a procedure than science. In Vol. 60 of the Journal of Forensic Identification there is a very good article from the FBI Latent Unit at Quantico that describes the fingerprint comparison process and its relationship to the scientific method. The reason that I feel this is so important is that if the examiner understands the scientific method and how ACE-V is incorporated in the process will enhance the examiners ability to explain the process to the jurors and the court.



The scientific method is the process used by scientists, a systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and forming of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment and the testing of ideas and theories by using experiments and careful observation.

The observations made are friction skin develops on the fetus and is persistent throughout life , friction skin is unique and finally ridge patterns vary within limits which allows for pattern classification. Based on the above it can be theorized that friction skin can be individualized our hypothesis.



The Analysis (A) and Comparison (C) of our minutiae would be the experimentation required in the scientific method.



The Evaluation (E) and comparison decision would be the Conclusion in the scientific method.



The Verification (V) validating the original decision by another examiner would confirm the process and conclusions required in the scientific method.



The recording of the details of the process should be recorded in the case folder or the electronic case record.



This is a much more professional way to explain the ACE-V process.




Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

AFIS Accuracy and the Unidentified Latent Image

In this Blog I wanted to talk about something that would be just as useful to a prosecutor as to a defense attorney. I decided to talk about the automated fingerprint identification system and peoples assumptions of AFIS systems accuracy and potential case impact If you have latent image(s) in a case that are not identified and have been searched in AFIS, can you be sure the individual is not in the system? The answer unfortunately is no. In Omaha a couple years back a latent examiner made a latent identification on a homicide from an AFIS search, I think it may have been the 4 th. search of the system before it produced the correct suspect. The examiner understood that in some cases the latent needs to be entered and searched more than once. So if there are unidentified latents in a case, a single search of the system may not produce the identification. It would seem that in cases going to trial, the attorney would want to insure the unidentified latents be entered more than one(1) time to insure that the latent is one that does not have a match in the database What are some of the causes of the system not producing the individual?




The common assumption of the court, attorneys, jurors and many latent examiners is; AFIS systems are close to 100% accurate, so one search should suffice. Most systems today will have an accuracy less than 75 t0 80 % for latent searches. Typically the vendor will produce an accuracy 75 to 80 % if the latent image has 15 points and the target has the same 15 points. The other thing to remember about these tests are the vendor is using a small database that may not accurately reflect the a larger database of the live system. What can add to the confusion is the tenprint to tenprint accuracy which for the FBI IAFIS is 98% and most state systems probably 95%.



The other factor to remember is the system will produce a number of very good suspects which can move the suspect down the list or when dealing with poor quality images an examiner may miss the identification.

Another factor to consider, minutiae placement which is critical to any AFIS search. Minutiae can be selected by the system and manually edited by the examiner or manually selected by the examiner. Anecdotal evidence would suggest manually placing the minutiae will produce a more accurate result. Studies have shown that an examiner may vary slightly on minutiae selection the 2nd. time they see a latent print (table 3).

The results of any of the above could lead to a wrongful conviction and individual not being interviewed who may help in the investigation or an element of doubt in a jurors mind. To insure a proper AFIS search the prosecution should insure that latents that may impact a case if unidentified are searched more than one (1) time when they have their meeting prior to the court date. The defense attorney on the other hand would be the fail safe, insuring that the latent was searched multiple times.

Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Cognitive issues in fingerprint analysis:Inter-and intra-expert consistency and the effect of a ‘target’ comparison

This study and paper published by Dr. Dror; documents minutiae selection during the analysis stage of a latent print. The analysis of the latent is critical because it sets the stage and the parameters for comparisons and decision making. The report is a good read for anyone dealing with latent fingerprint identification. The paper can be accessed at:


https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B3bls8DXy0ybYTk1MTFjZTctZDEwNC00YzMzLTg5NmMtNWNiZjk5OTNlMTVk&hl=en&authkey=CMrUwuwI

Dr. Dror's summary and conclusions present logical suggestions on how to help alleviate the issue's, however with today's budgetary restraints, agencies will be hard pressed to implement all the suggestions. If the information contained in the paper on minutiae selection is incorporated into the fingerprint training programs for new examiners as well as continuing education for experienced examiners it can go a long way toward improving minutae selection on the initial analysis.

Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training

Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Fingerprint: The Foundation for quality latent comparison work ...

Fingerprint: The Foundation for quality latent comparison work ...: "Not all latent examiners are trained using standard training objectives that insure the latent examiners competence. The competence of the l..."

Bob McAuleyDir. Operations/TrainingForensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

The Foundation for quality latent comparison work is laid in the initial training.

Not all latent examiners are trained using standard training objectives that insure the latent examiners competence. The competence of the latent examiner in many states is left to the local agency and courts may or may not fully understand the training received by the latent examiner. With the weight given fingerprint evidence in court cases, it is critical the examiner be competently trained. As the title indicates the foundation for comparison work is laid in the individuals’ initial training. As indicated earlier there is no standardized training program, license or training accreditation. The courts and attorneys often assume that if an agency meets accreditation standards that the latent examiner has had a better training program and will produce consistently more accurate work, which is not necessarily correct. The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLAD) Laboratory Accreditation Board only requires an agency to have a documented training program and follow it. So it is up to the agency to determine what the training curriculum will contain, there are no standards or guidelines. Many agencies rely on the Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWFAST) suggested guidelines for training to competency which come the closest to a national standard. The guidelines are good but lack the specifics that would help an agency develop a standardized training program. The other problem today is that often the unit directors are proficient in other forensic disciplines and may not have the understanding of latent fingerprints that would be required to oversee a latent training program. In a recent study 72% of agencies surveyed indicated they adhered to training guidelines published by SWFAST another 21% did not use the guidelines and 7% did not know if they used the guidelines. In the survey the respondents were asked questions which would indicate if SWFAST guidelines were actually being followed, the answers indicated that only about 25% of the agencies actually followed SWFAST guidelines in their training program. The Federal agencies did best followed by the state with local agencies at 8% following SWFAST training guidelines. The other point I want to make is that vast majority of latent fingerprint cases taken to court are done at the local agencies, in the study 62% of local agencies had no written training program in place.


The other point brought out in the study was the discrepancy in length of the training program, the training ranged from 6 mo’s to 48 mo’s. SWFAST guidelines suggest a “Minimum: One year of full-time latent print work with the majority of the time spent on the analysis, comparison, and evaluation of impressions. Recommended: Two or more years of full-time latent print work with the majority of the time spent on the analysis, comparison, and evaluation of impressions.”

The County Attorney/District Attorney office should insure the local agency have a training program that will insure competent and accurate latent comparison work.

Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

School buses test fingerprint scan

School districts are turning to high-tech solutions such as fingerprint scans to track kids on school buses and keep them from getting off at the wrong stops. Unlike the automated fingerprint identification systems used in law enforcement the fingerprint images are not stored. The fingerprints are converted into a series of numbers that cannot be used to re-create a fingerprint. These systems insure privacy and since you are dealing with such a small database, accuracy is not compromised. The system will insure that an accurate picture of when and where the children boarded and left the bus. The system also insures the children get off at their designated stop with an alarm that will sound alerting the bus driver if the child tries to depart at the wrong stop. The equipment today is small and can easily be adapted to a bus and not add any additional time requirements boarding or departing the bus. The drivers are not required to do anything with the equipment everything is automated.




Some additional thoughts on what could and should be incorporated in a school bus biometric system:



Consideration should be given to use biometrics to make the school buses more secure, requiring a fingerprint in order to enter and start the school bus. Most parking bus parking lots have little or no security, requiring drivers and staff to utilize a fingerprint to allow access to the area would certainly be beneficial. Most modes of transportation have seen an increase in security but the school bus industry has not and actually is quite vulnerable. Utilizing biometrics would be a good 1st. step in securing everyone’s safety.



A biometric system could be adapted to monitor how well the driver meets schedule requirements or a way to document maintenance on the vehicle.



Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Utilizing Lesser Quality Latent Images to Exclude an Individual.

The court and attorneys are made aware when a latent image in a case is identified to the defendant or victim. The latent is often the critical piece of physical evidence in a case. What the court and attorneys may not be aware of are the latent images that are not verifiable or categorized as no value. I want to discuss the unverifiable or no value images, images that lack the quantity and clarity of detail for identification. What you may not know is the unverifiable or no value images can also play a significant a role in the identification process. These lesser quality images can sometimes be used to exclude an individual based on the one discrepancy rule. Simply a single difference in appearance between a latent print and a known fingerprint must preclude identification unless the examiner has a valid explanation for the difference. Distortions are not considered a discrepancy and not a basis for exclusion. The “Exclusion” is supported by the theories of biological uniqueness and permanence, probability modeling, and empirical data gained through more than one hundred years of operational experience.


Currently there is no uniform policy/procedure on how CSI units handle the collection and evaluation of latent fingerprint evidence. In some units the evaluation of the latent may be done at the crime scene other units may do it back at the Unit Lab. The evaluation of the latent in the controlled environment of the Lab. should produce a more accurate result. What is critical to an accurate analysis are the agency policy/procedures and qualifications of the full time latent examiner making the analysis. The designation of unverifiable or no value images may result in the images being discarded/destroyed that could be used to exclude an individual as the donor of the latent image. As is obvious, the more experienced latent examiner should produce a more accurate and uniform result. In the 80’s it was possible for the crime scene tech. to determine a latent prints usability in the field, but with today’s image enhancement tools, latent images require a a more experienced latent examiner make the initial evaluation on value.

In July of this year the International Association of Identification dropped its ban on qualified conclusions, and opened the door for future testimony based on probability models involving finger/palm print comparisons. In the not too distant future you can expect to see the unverifiable images coming into court as probable identifications. This new policy just amplifies the need to insure the initial latent image analysis is uniform and accurate insuring critical evidence is available to the court. This is situation is one where if the agency policies/procedures are not updated/maintained resulting loss of evidence could impact a prosecutor as badly as a defense attorney.



Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Latent Finger and Palm Print Verification Techniques

Our training course is open to everyone, you do not need to work in law enforcement to take our training. I see many advantages to a Law Office that would like to be able to determine when an expert fingeprint examiner is required since our course at is so reasonably priced. The training course adhere's to the Scientific Working Group Fingerprint Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology training guidelines for latent examiners. Goals expected from this training include:

Ability to properly conduct a comparison and render a proper and accurate conclusion.

Understanding the use of fingerprints, palmprints in criminal and civil applications.

Understanding Friction ridge examination (analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification).

Ability to analyze friction ridge details to determine the value for comparison.

Recognize/utilize ridge flow, scars, creases, and other detail supporting examination.Recognize and properly determine,the area from which the friction ridges originated.

Properly analyze latent impressions,understand pressure distortion,slippage, and overlays.

Documentation of a latent examination.Ability to produce a court exhibit.
Understand Daubert.

The Benefits to an Office are many:
Course is reasonably priced at $378 total
The student is able to progress at their own rate
No per diem or travel costs.
Comparisons in question can be explained using electronic exhibits, similar to court exhibits
Sincerely

Robert McAuley

Fingerprint Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.
Omaha, NE
ph: 402-321-3933
alt: 402-707-9013
FBIS @cox .net

Latent Finger and Palm Print Verification Techniques

Sept. 2,2010Our on-line Latent Finger and Palm print training course Tuesday 9-2-2010. The course is ready but with the Holiday thought it best to begin next week.

The course will initially be on-line for $378 for a short period of time, this will allow me to tweak some of the presentations with feedback from the 1st. group of students. The heart of the course will be the workshops with over 100 latent palm and finger images against 120 tenprint cards and 51 palm print cards. Experienced examiners could benefit from just the workshops which they will find challenging. The student will be required to complete all the workshops, unlike conventional courses there are no time restraints and the student can take as long as needed to complete the workshop. The great thing about the workshops is if a student is having a problem with a search or comparison, we can easily create an electronic exhibit of the images with the points of interest marked and send it back to the student , similar to a court exhibit. The other benefits to on-line training courses are cost and flexibity (training at the students pace/schedule). The presentations will be Latent Verification Techniques, Palm Verification Techniques, Court Testimony to include FRE 702 , Creating Basic Court Exhibit ,Pattern Recognition.
or more information or to enroll go to:

http://www.fingerprintconsultingservices.com/on-line_training__job_postings
Bob McAuley Dir. Operations/Training Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Click here to View The Presentation

Bob McAuley
Dir. Operations/Training
Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Choosing a Fingerprint Expert

As with any profession there are degree's of competence. Not every latent fingerprint examiner has equal skill sets, these are developed by full time commitment to latent fingerprint comparison work.
What you should look for in a latent fingerprint expert is their knowledge. Does the latent fingerprint expert understand the science behind the fingerprints , what training has the individual satisfactorily completed? Does the expert have the experience of training other fingerprint examiners especially in more advanced fingerprint training?
What is the examiners experience? Latent fingerprint examiners are often accepted as expert based on limited comparison experience. A latent fingerprint examiner should spend the majority of the day doing comparison work.
Is the expert a full time latent examiner? with today's limited budgets, many latent experts handle a multitude of duties and may not be as competent as you would expect from an expert.
Make no mistake, the comparisons being produced by the automated systems are producing many more challenging fingerprint comparisons. These more challenging comparisons come as training budgets and staffing in latent units are being cut back, a perfect storm for comparison errors.




Bob McAuley
Dir. Operations/Training
Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

Fingerprint Training Course

As I've mentioned many times in my Blogs, the best way of insuring accurate fingerprint evidence is have it evaluated by a competent unbiased latent fingerprint examiner. In theory it is a good solution but in reality it could be cost prohibitive. I've developed a basic fingerprint course that is not only meets the needs for tenprint examiners and latent examiners; but could be used by a criminal attorney's office as well. The clerk or attorney upon completion of the course, would have a good understanding of the automated fingerprint systems, what is meant by unidentified latent case prints and enough individualization skills to evaluate fingerprint evidence. Essentially the person that completes the training would be able to determine when the office should invest in a latent fingerprint expert. The skills acquired in the course would be just as beneficial to a Public Defenders office as they would be for a County Prosecutor or District Attorney.

Course outline:



Bob McAuley
Dir. Operations/Training

Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC

Fingerprint Training Available for Attorney's

One of theme that runs through most of my blogs is the importance of having fingerprint evidence evaluated by a fingerprint expert. In theory this is a reasonable request, but practically, it may be cost prohibitive. An alternative is to have someone in the office receive the same basic training that a fingerprint expert would receive. The trained individual while not an expert would e the knowledge to evaluate a fingerprint case and:



know when to contract a fingerprint expert.

know if all the fingerprints were searched properly.

understand the importance of unidentified latents.



The training would be invaluable for a prosecutor or defense attorney's office. A course has been developed by FBIS-LLC available on-line in mid-January, that would offer the flexibility required to allow someone from a busy attorney's office to complete this type of fingerprint training. The training program is similar to what a new fingerprint examiner would receive at the state or federal level. Since the course is on-line there are no set hours of attendance or timetable for completion.

I also want to point out the training could be used by state and local law enforcement agencies and student's (criminal justice and para-legal programs), as a a basic fingerprint training course, with the ability to utilize the training in an agency remediation program. If you have any questions please visit our website http://www.fingerprintconsultingservices.com/ or contact us at fbis@cox.net


Bob McAuley
Dir. Operations/Training
Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.

A Review of the FBI's Handling of the Brandon Mayfield Case #4 application of the 1 discrepancy rule

As every examiner knows, latent and exemplar images are never exactly the same. The reasons are many; how the exemplar was recorded or where the latent was deposited, etc. The experienced examiner during the analysis and evaluation must be able to understand and explain any discrepant points found in either the latent or examplar images. In this case we had experienced examiners determine the discrepant points of identification were the result of latent distortion, probably caused by the bag. The examiners made a subjective determination which was incorrect. The panel noted theFBI examiners failed to follow the 1 discrepancy rule , if there is 1 unexplainable discrepancy in either the latent or exemplar image an individualization cannot be made. In this case the examiners did re-evaluate the prints and tried to get the Spanish examiners to agree with the FBI examiners individualization, I don't think they ignored the rule , they felt they could explain the discrepancies. The examiners would have given the Spanish examiners their interpretation of reasons for he discrepant points.

The thing to remember is if highly skilled and experienced examiners, which each of these examiners is can make this type of mistake, what about the less skilled and experienced examiners. Most individualization's are done by examiners with much less experience and training than the FBI examiners. Currently the most effective prevention is for the defense or court to have the fingerprint evidence re-evaluated by an unbiased 3r party.

Bob McAuley
Dir. Operations/Training
Forensic Biometric Identification Solutions LLC.