Priority Action Report

Friction Ridge Subcommittee

SAC Physics/Pattern

Melissa R. Gische

February 14, 2017
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Melissa Gische FBI Laboratory 2018 Melissa.Gische@ic.fbi.

gov

Vice Chair Henry Swofford Defense

Forensic Science 

Center

2017 Henry.j.swofford.civ@

mail.mil

Executive 

Secretary

Rachelle Babler San Diego Police 

Department

2018 Rachellebabler.osac@

gmail.com

2
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Black, John P. Black & White Forensics, LLC 2018 john@bwforensics.com

2 Cathcart, Kerrie Cathcart Forensics and Investigations, LLC 2017 cathcartforensics@gmail.com

3 Connelly, Joshua Douglas County Sheriff 2019 joshua.connelly@douglascounty-ne.gov

4 Eldridge, Heidi RTI 2019 heidi.eldridge@icloud.com

5 French, Michael, K. MorphoTrak, LLC 2018 michael.french@morpho.com

6 German, Edward R. Macon County Sheriff's Office 2018 ed.german@sheriff-macon-il.us

7 Hall, Carey Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 2019 carey.hall@state.mn.us

8 Iyer, Hariharan National Institute of Standards and Technology 2017 hari@nist.gov

9 Kriel, Louis Georgia Bureau of Investigation 2017 louis.kriel@gbi.ga.gov

10 Rees, Alison S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 2017 alison.rees@atf.gov

11 Roberts, Maria Antonia Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory 2017 maria.roberts@ic.fbi.gov

12 Ruggiero, Maria C. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 2019 mcruggie@lasd.org

13 Schwarz, Matthew T. Schwarz Forensic Enterprises, Inc. 2019 matt@schwarzforensic.com

14 Speckels, Carl City of Phoenix Crime Laboratory 2017 carl.speckels@phoenix.gov

15 Tabassi, Elham National Institute of Standards and Technology 2018 elham.tabassi@nist.gov

16 Zinn, Lisa M. Orange County Sheriff's Crime Laboratory 2019 lzinn@occl.ocgov.com

17 TBD 3
Discipline Description

The Friction Ridge Subcommittee will 

focus on standards and guidelines related 

to the forensic examination of friction ridge 

detail from the hands and feet. 

5
Summary of Priority Projects

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

1 SDO Guideline for the Articulation of the Decision-Making Process Leading 

to an Expert Opinion of Source Identification in Friction Ridge 

Examinations

2 SDO Standard for training to competency to perform friction ridge 

examination

3 SDO Standard for reporting qualitative source conclusions

4 SDO Standard for the examination of friction ridge evidence

5 SDO Terminology related to friction ridge examination

6
Summary of Priority Projects

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

6 SDO Best practices for maximizing the use of AFIS and automated 

comparison workflows 

7 SDO ACE-V Process Map

7
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Document Title: Guideline for the Articulation of the Decision-Making Process Leading to an Expert Opinion of Source Identification in Friction Ridge Examinations

Scope: This document offers guidance for articulating the decision-making process leading to the source identification conclusion resulting from the examination of friction ridge evidence. This 

document takes into consideration the current status of professional practices, legal decisions, and 

scientific research. The scope of this document is limited to the process leading to a source 

identification conclusion and does not address or consider other possible conclusions, such as 

inconclusive or exclusion decisions. 

Objective/rationale: This document explains the process leading to the expert opinion of source identification and provides guidance on articulating the process, the conclusion, and the limitations of 

that conclusion in testimony or discussion with relevant stakeholders.

Issues/Concerns: Distinguishing between content that belongs in this BP versus content that belongs in the Standard for Examination currently being drafted.

Task Group Name: Articulation

Task Group Chair Name: Heidi Eldridge

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

heidi.eldridge@icloud.com

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Draft submitted to ASB

8
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

• Discriminating and Persistent Nature of Friction Ridge Skin

• Transfer of Friction Ridge Features to Impressions

• Analysis of Impression to Detect Discriminating Features for Comparison

• Comparison of Features to Judge Correspondence

• Accumulated Correspondence Decreases Probability of Repetition in a 

Different Source

• Evaluation of the Observations Under Two Competing Propositions

• Source Identification Decision

• Communication of Findings

9
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Submitted to ASB SDO-700 ASB

Priority 1: Guideline for the Articulation of the Decision-Making Process Leading to an 

Expert Opinion of Source Identification in Friction Ridge Examinations

10
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Document Title: Standard for training to competency to perform friction ridge examination

Scope: This document specifies the minimum requirements for training to competency to perform friction ridge examination. It includes a list of modules and topics that shall 

be included in an organization's training program. This document is not a training 

program and does not address best practice recommendations for how training should 

be administered nor does it address minimum criteria for successful evaluation, which 

will be addressed in other standards, technical reports, and/or best practice 

recommendations.

Objective/rationale: To provide a reference for trainers to establish a comprehensive training program designed to train individuals performing friction ridge analysis.

Issues/Concerns: High level standard not intended to provide instructional strategies or evaluation methods. Those will be included in a future Best Practice.

Task Group Name: Training

Task Group Chair Name: Carl Speckels

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

carl.speckels@phoenix.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Dec 2016

11
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

• History 

• Biology 

• Introduction to Friction Ridge Impressions 

• Fingerprint Classification 

• Exemplars

• Latent Print Processing 

• Comparison Methods 

• Probability

• Human Factors 

• Legal Issues 

12
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

TG completing first round of 

FRS comments

SDO-200 TG Jan 2017

FRS review SDO-300 FRS Mar 2017

RCs and PSAC review SDO-300 RCs and PSAC Apr 2017

Priority 2: Standard for training to competency to perform friction ridge examination

13
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Document Title: Standard for reporting qualitative source conclusions

Scope: This document specifies the standard framework for reporting qualitative source conclusions, which may be augmented by quantitative data, resulting from the 

examination of friction ridge evidence. This document does not address conclusions 

derived directly from validated probability models or quantitative processes. 

Furthermore, this document does not address how examinations are conducted, 

documented, or criteria for sufficient justification of specific conclusions in a case at 

hand, which will be addressed in other standards, technical reports and/or best practice 

recommendations. 

Objective/rationale: To provide a framework for qualitative conclusions, which may be augmented by quantitative data.

Issues/Concerns: Language, must stay within framework of PSAC Conclusions

Task Group Name: Conclusions

Task Group Chair Name: TBD

Task Group Chair Contact Information:

Date of Last Task Group Meeting:

14
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

• Terms and Definitions

• Suitability Determinations

• Source Conclusions

• Source Exclusion

• Support for Different Sources

• Inconclusive

• Support for Common Source

• Source Identification

• Inconclusive and Support for Source Decisions

• Insufficient Known Impressions

• Insufficient Unknown Impression

• Insufficient Dissimilarities

• Insufficient Correspondences

15
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

TG completing first round of 

FRS comments

SDO-200 TG Jan 2017

FRS review SDO-300 FRS Mar 2017

RCs and PSAC review SDO-300 RCs and PSAC Apr 2017

Priority 3: Standard for reporting qualitative source conclusions

16
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document

Document Title: Standard for the examination of friction ridge evidence

Scope: This document specifies the minimum requirements for 

conducting friction ridge examinations. It includes the overarching 

examination framework as well as specific requirements for each 

component of the examination method. This document includes minimum 

requirements for how examinations shall be conducted, documented, and 

justified based on clearly demonstrable and articulable criteria. 

Objective/rationale: To provide specific requirements for each 

component of the examination method.

Issues/Concerns: Does not address quality assurance

Task Group Name: Examination

Task Group Chair Name: Heidi Eldridge

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

heidi.eldridge@icloud.com

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Jan 2017

17
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document

Key Components of Standard:

• Analysis

• Comparison

• Evaluation 

18
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 TG April 2017

Priority 4: Standard for the examination of friction ridge evidence

19
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Document

Document Title: Terminology related to friction ridge examination

Scope: This document provides a consolidated list of standardized 

terms and definitions related to friction ridge examination. 

Objective/rationale: See Scope

Issues/Concerns: Terms are used differently across disciplines

Task Group Name: Terminology

Task Group Chair Name: Toni Roberts

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

maria.roberts@ic.fbi.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Jan 2017

20
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Continue working with PSAC 

Terminology TG

TG

Priority 5: Terminology related to friction ridge examination

22
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 6 Document

Document Title: Best practices for maximizing the use of AFIS 

and automated comparison workflows 

Scope: TBD

Objective/rationale: To provide guidance to increase efficiency, 

quality assurance, and other capabilities. 

Issues/Concerns: None yet

Task Group Name: AFIS

Task Group Chair Name: Ed German

Task Group Chair Contact Information: ed.german@sheriffmacon-il.us

Date of Last Task Group Meeting:

23
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 TG

Priority 6: Best practices for maximizing the use of AFIS and automated comparison 

workflows 

25
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 7 Document

Document Title: ACE-V Process Map

Scope: This standard provides a framework to develop discipline specific standards for the method of ACE-V. The method is a series of steps resulting in conclusions, including source conclusions. The conclusions 

reached at the end of the ACE-V method shall be expressed according to the standard: OSAC Physics/Pattern SAC — Standard for expressing source conclusions.

Objective/rationale: To provide direction, requirements and consistent terminology for forensic disciplines that need to develop a discipline 

specific method for ACE-V 

Issues/Concerns: Trying to find common ground across multiple disciplines from at least three different SACs

Task Group Name: ACE-V Process Map

Task Group Chair Name: Louis Kriel

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

louis.kriel@gbi.ga.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Jan 2017

26
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 7 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

• Method Map

• Method Description

• Technical Requirements

• Test Methods and Method Validation

27
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Submit to relevant SCs, SACs, 

and RCs for review and 

comment

SDO-300 or 

SDO-400

Relevant SCs, 

SACs, and RCs

April 2017

Priority 7: ACE-V Process Map

28
Summary of Priority Projects

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

1 SDO Guideline for the Articulation of the Decision-Making Process Leading 

to an Expert Opinion of Source Identification in Friction Ridge 

Examinations

2 SDO Standard for training to competency to perform friction ridge 

examination

3 SDO Standard for reporting qualitative source conclusions

4 SDO Standard for the examination of friction ridge evidence

5 SDO Terminology related to friction ridge examination

29
Summary of Priority Projects

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

6 SDO Best practices for maximizing the use of AFIS and automated 

comparison workflows 

7 SDO ACE-V Process Map

30
Research & Development Needs Identified

• https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-researchdevelopment-needs

• Friction Ridge:

• ACE-V Bias

• Assessing the Sufficiency and Strength of Friction Ridge Features

• Close Non-Match Assessment

• Examiner Consistency During Friction Ridge Feature Mark-Up

• Friction Ridge Statistical Modeling

• Latent Fingerprint Image Quality Usage

32
Additional Items of Interest

• https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/friction-ridge- subcommittee

• Responses to PCAST

• Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents (i.e. legacy SWGFAST documents)

• https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOJ-OLP-2016-0014- 0010

• FRS Response to DOJ FSDR

• https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOJ-OLP-2016-0012- 0066

• FRS Response to DOJ ULTR

33