Name of Student: DEAN MARK A.

ANACIO
Year and Block: 2ND YEAR BLOCK A
Subject: PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
Instructor: PACITA A. TOLENTINO, MSCRIM, CCS
Module No. 2 – FINAL COVERAGE
Title: LATENT PRINT AND THE PROCESS

Exercises: Answer the following items briefly using your own words.
1. List five common surfaces or areas where greasy or oily fingerprints may be found.
a. Glass
b. Metals
c. Plastics
d. Woods
e. Papers

2. What is the purpose of collecting evidence?

• Collecting fragments of evidence from a crime scene can support the investigation
team to reconstruct the crime, identify the persons involve, preserve the evidence
for analysis and gather it in a way that will make it stand up in court for reinforcing
any case.

3. Why is it important to take elimination fingerprints from individuals who have legitimate
access to the crime scene?
• Taking elimination fingerprints from individuals who have legitimate access to the
crime scene is very important as it needed for comparison purposes. Conducting
elimination fingerprints aside from the purpose of finding the suspect’s print it is
also done in order to eliminate other possible ways that some prints may have been
left at the scene, other than through involvement in the crime.

4. Are latent prints of value always found at a crime scene? Why, or Why not?
• No, successful latent print recovery is not always possible from the crime scenes
especially when the prints have been exposed to destructive conditions. For
example, crime scenes caused by arson, explosion, exposure to drainage water and
soil. Latent fingerprints collected from crime scenes like these are often noisy,
distorted, and represent only a portion of the total fingerprint area which causes the
matching tasks difficult.

5. Explain the importance of using ACE-V methodology to perform fingerprint comparison.

• ACE-V methodology is a scientific way for examination and documentation of
fingerprints to give more structure and objectivity to the exercise of print
comparison. It is important because it is used to guide examiners to identify whether
or not two prints are identical and came from the same source.
6. What is the purpose of comparing a latent print to known print?
• In criminal investigation, conducting Latent and Known print comparison attempts
to identify the latent prints to individuals that may be connected to a crime scene,
provides proof of contact, and identifies people that may not previously have been
known.

7. Which component of ACE-V involves making a conclusion as to the source of the print.
• It is the “Evaluation”, this component of ACE-V is whether the making of a
conclusion whether the latent print and fingerprint of suspect are the same.

8. Why is the verification step necessary?

• If an identification is made, the conclusion must be verified by peer review of
another qualified fingerprint examiner. This ensures the proper application of the
objective scientific method. In addition, this confirms and strengthens the results of
the first examiner.

9. Is there a minimum point standard for effecting an identification conclusion? Why, or why
not?
• There is no minimum point standard, because for me, an examiner has the capability
to affect an identification conclusion based on experience, training and education.
And as asserted in the Ne’urim Declaration, proposed and signed at International
Symposium of Fingerprint Detection and Identification that “No scientific basis
exists for requiring minimum number of friction ridge features/points must be
present in two impressions in order to establish a positive identification."

10. Define Expert witness.

• A person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or
proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

11. Describe FRE 702 and explain how it relates to fingerprint testimony.
• Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 702 known as the “Testimony by Expert
Witnesses”. This rule is being applied in fingerprint testimony if scientific,
technical, or other specialized knowledge is being required by the court to
understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an
expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto
in the form of an opinion.

12. Choose one method of detecting prints and explain the procedure.
• The Spray Method/Small Particle Reagent (SPR)
This procedure applies to moist or wet porous and nonporous items of
evidence that are to be examined for the presence of latent prints. This procedure
 may also be used in processing the exterior of vehicles, window frames, weapons,
etc. even if the item is, or has been, exposed to rainy conditions.
Procedure
I. Mixing Procedure
a. Forensic Scientists shall produce a self-made test print to be processed
concurrently with items of evidence (see Section Technical Procedure for
Ensuring Quality Control).
b. Choose the black or white SPR prefilled capsule based on background color
of the item being processed.
c. Add one (1) capsule to six (6) ounces of water and shake thoroughly.
d. Additional SPR solution can be made, if needed.
II. Application Procedure
a. The first, and best procedure, is to generously spray SPR solution onto
surface area and rinse with tap water.
b. The detail and clarity produced by the black particle adhesion is excellent
and shall be photographed according to the Photographic Equipment
Procedures. The Small Particle Reagent will act like a fingerprint powder
once allowed to completely dry and may be lifted with powder lifting
techniques.