(FPT) Fingerprints Module Wrap Up

Module Wrap Up

Summary

Fingerprints are important pieces of Forensic evidence valued not only because of their abundance, but also for their unique qualities. Fingerprints are a type of individual evidence because each fingerprint links directly to an individual! No two people on Earth have the exact same pattern and ridge characteristics! The ridge characteristics, or minutiae, are what make the fingerprint individual. These tiny differences in fingerprints can positively differentiate individuals when evaluated by an expert examiner. Fingerprints are digitally stored in a nationwide database known as IAFIS, which allows law enforcement officials across the nation access to all known fingerprint records. IAFIS identifies close matches, which can then be examined more closely by a fingerprint expert for identification. While modern computerized fingerprint recognition is not as quick and automated as seen on television, it is much quicker than in the past with an average search time of about 27 minutes. Fingerprinting may seem like a somewhat low-tech method to employ in modern forensic investigations, but it has withstood the test of time and continues to improve as technology improves!

Interactivity: Fingerprint Review

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