U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Occurrence and Utility of Latent Print Correspondences That Are Insufficient for Identification
NCJ Number
              255634

Author(s)
          David A. Stoney;
                        Paul L. Stoney
Date Published

October 2020
Length
              91 pages
Annotation
              This research project examined whether latent fingerprints with discernible but insufficient characteristics for identification could provide associative evidence that contributes to an investigation.
Abstract
              Non-identifiable fingermarks (NIFMs) from casework were collected from nine jurisdictions in the United States. All of these prints had been determined by experts to fall below the threshold "of value for identification;" however, they had some clear Level 2 detail (three or more minutiae) within an area of contiguous ridge flow. Expected score-based likelihood ratios (ESLRs) were measured, based on modeling within-variability and between-variability of AFIS scores. This method incorporated latest-generation feature extraction, a (minutiae-only) matcher, validated distortion functions, and NIST SD27 database calibration. Out of 1,668 fingermark images, screening to remove potentially identifiable prints and those with less than three minutiae left 750 NIEMs. The reported analytical method indicated that the strength of association would be the same as for an event occurring one time in 380,000. The results indicate that NIFMs commonly occur and that they offer the prospect of strong associative evidence. It can support or refute the identity of a person touching a surface, provide evidence that supports the identity of a person present at a location, and provide evidence that supports the involvement of an individual in an activity. It can be included with other facts in a case to show when a surface was touched, or to improve or diminish the credibility of other evidence. Overall, there is high potential for the beneficial investigative and prosecutorial use of this frequently occurring type of physical evidence, and it requires minimal additional analysis to implement. Priority next steps in moving toward the implementation of NIFM evidence are suggested. 39 figures, 4 tables, and 43 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2016-R2-CX-0060


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Occurrence and Utility of Latent Print Correspondences that are Insufficient for Identification
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2020
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Case Management
        Evidence Identification
        Fingerprints
        Forensic laboratories
        Forensic sciences



  
Similar Publications
        
                      The History of a Monumental Forensic Tool and the Ethical Debate Sparked by Wrongful Convictions Based on Trace DNA Evidence
                  Technical Note – Direct Analysis In Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)
                  Unauthorized Immigration, Crime, and Recidivism: Evidence from Texas
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov