Question

fingerprint reliability and validity

1. in the 1995 test given to 156 fingerprint examiners, what significant issue was revealed about fingerprint identification?
2. what mistake did the fbi make in the brandon mayfield case, and how was it eventually corrected?
3. according to the 2009 national academy of sciences report, what problems were identified with fingerprint analysis?
4. what recommendations were made by swg/osac and later implemented by the department of justice in 2018 regarding how examiners should report fingerprint evidence?
5. how has the use of ngi and computer algorithms improved the reliability of fingerprint evidence?

can fingerprints be altered or disguised?

1. what method did john dillinger use to try to alter his fingerprints, and why was it unsuccessful?
2. how can scars or exposure to substances like pineapple juice affect fingerprint identification?

advances in fingerprinting

1. what problem were scientists at michigan state university trying to solve with the development of a fingerprint algorithm in 2017?
2. how do new scanning technologies and nanoparticles improve fingerprint analysis?
3. what biometric features, in addition to fingerprint ridge patterns, can scanners use for identification?
4. what types of information besides identity can be revealed through chemical or molecular analysis of fingerprints?
5. how could advances like infrared spectromicroscopy and molecular fingerprinting help in preventing crimes such as terrorism?

Explanation:

1. In the 1995 test, significant variability and potential for error in fingerprint identification among examiners were revealed as some examiners made mis - identifications.
2. In the Brandon Mayfield case, the FBI misidentified Mayfield's fingerprint as matching a print from a crime scene. It was corrected when the real perpetrator was identified by Spanish authorities and Mayfield was exonerated.
3. The 2009 National Academy of Sciences report identified issues like lack of standardized procedures, subjectivity in analysis, and insufficient error - rate studies in fingerprint analysis.
4. SWG/OSAC recommended that examiners use a more standardized and transparent reporting system for fingerprint evidence, including statements about the strength of the evidence and potential for error.
5. NGI (Next Generation Identification) and computer algorithms improve reliability by allowing for more comprehensive and accurate searches, reducing human error in matching, and providing more detailed analysis of fingerprint features.
6. John Dillinger tried to alter his fingerprints by burning them with acid. It was unsuccessful because the deeper layers of the skin that form the fingerprint pattern were not permanently damaged, and the fingerprints eventually grew back.
7. Scars can distort fingerprint patterns making identification more difficult. Exposure to substances like pineapple juice can potentially contaminate or alter the fingerprint residue, affecting detection and analysis.
8. Scientists at Michigan State University in 2017 were trying to solve the problem of accurately identifying latent fingerprints, especially those that are partial or of low - quality.
9. New scanning technologies can provide higher - resolution images of fingerprints, and nanoparticles can enhance the visibility of latent fingerprints by binding to fingerprint residues, making them easier to detect and analyze.
10. Scanners can use features like sweat pores, ridge edge contours, and minutiae (small details in the ridge patterns) in addition to the overall ridge patterns for identification.
11. Chemical or molecular analysis of fingerprints can reveal information such as the presence of drugs, explosives, or other substances that the person has come into contact with.
12. Infrared spectromicroscopy and molecular fingerprinting can detect trace amounts of substances related to terrorism, such as explosive residues on fingerprints, helping in early detection and prevention of terrorist acts.

Answer:

1. Variability and error potential among examiners.
2. Misidentified Mayfield's fingerprint; exonerated when real perpetrator identified.
3. Lack of standardization, subjectivity, insufficient error - rate studies.
4. Standardized and transparent reporting system.
5. More accurate searches, reduced human error.
6. Burning with acid; deeper skin layers not permanently damaged.
7. Scars distort, substances contaminate/alter.
8. Accurately identifying latent fingerprints.
9. Higher - resolution images, enhanced visibility.
10. Sweat pores, ridge edge contours, minutiae.
11. Presence of drugs, explosives, etc.
12. Detect trace amounts of terrorism - related substances.