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Advances in Fingerprint Technology.pdf

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The first of these assertions is a necessary foundation for f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t<br />

comparison and it is readily proved by both empirical observations and by<br />

the well-established anatomy and morphogenesis of friction ridge sk<strong>in</strong>. It is<br />

not <strong>in</strong> dispute, but neither is it relevant to our question: How much correspondence<br />

between two f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>ts is sufficient to conclude that they were<br />

both made by the same f<strong>in</strong>ger? The second law asserts the <strong>in</strong>dividuality of<br />

complete f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>ts, but it is nearly mean<strong>in</strong>gless to the process of f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t<br />

comparison. Left out is the reality that f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t comparisons <strong>in</strong>volve<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>ts with widely vary<strong>in</strong>g quality and quantity of ridge detail, rang<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

near-perfect reproductions of a f<strong>in</strong>ger’s friction ridge sk<strong>in</strong> to blurred smudges<br />

that may show no ridge detail at all.<br />

More recently, the two laws of f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>ts have been presented somewhat<br />

more formally as three premises: 4<br />

1. Friction ridges develop on the fetus <strong>in</strong> their def<strong>in</strong>itive form before<br />

birth.<br />

2. Friction ridges are persistent throughout life except for permanent<br />

scarr<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

3. Friction ridge patterns and the details <strong>in</strong> small areas of friction ridges<br />

are unique and never repeated.<br />

A fourth premise added <strong>in</strong> response to recent legal scrut<strong>in</strong>y 5 is<br />

4. Individualization can result from comparison of pr<strong>in</strong>ts conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

sufficient quantity and quality of friction ridge detail.<br />

The first two premises (permanence) are, as with the first law, demonstrably<br />

true and irrelevant to the issue at hand. The third premise asserts<br />

uniqueness of the patterns and details on the sk<strong>in</strong> surface. This is undoubtedly<br />

true <strong>in</strong> an absolute sense, but is also irrelevant. We are concerned with<br />

comparison of two pr<strong>in</strong>ted reproductions of this sk<strong>in</strong> surface. What amount<br />

of detail is reliably reta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> a pr<strong>in</strong>t? Can we recognize it? Can we accurately<br />

determ<strong>in</strong>e correspondence <strong>in</strong> this detail? How reliably can we form conclusions<br />

from the correspondence?<br />

The fourth premise is more to the po<strong>in</strong>t, but it merely asserts that<br />

comparison can be performed and that op<strong>in</strong>ions of <strong>in</strong>dividualization can<br />

result. It br<strong>in</strong>gs us no closer to def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the amount of agreement that is<br />

necessary.<br />

The Basis for Absolute Identification<br />

What, then, is the foundational basis for f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t comparison practice?<br />

The argument for absolute identification beg<strong>in</strong>s with the observation of the

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