Advances in Fingerprint Technology.pdf

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Journal of Forensic Sciences, Journal of
Forensic Identification, and Fingerprint Whorld.
2. It is especially advantageous for the expert to have written articles,
papers, or books on the various phases of the fingerprint science.
Evidence Examination
The ultimate conclusion, which is possible in any evidence examination, is
the appearance of the expert in a court of law for the purpose of presenting
testimony relative to any phase of the examination. This testimony may result
from a negative as well as a positive examination. It is therefore important
that all correspondence, as well as the rough and complete notes, be retained
for each and every phase of the examination. This process should begin when
the evidence is initially received and end when final disposition is completed.
The following are some of the forms and records the expert should keep.
Evidence Receipt Form
When evidence is delivered to the expert’s department from another law
enforcement agency, a letter from the head of that agency should accompany
the evidence to be examined. From time to time, however, evidence will be
delivered without a letter or a telephone request will be received. When this
occurs, an evidence receipt form should be completed. A similar form can
also be utilized to facilitate the handling of intradepartmental evidence. An
example of an evidence receipt form appears in Figure 10.1.
Worksheet (Notes)
Handwritten notes made during the examination should be recorded on a
specific form or worksheet (see Figure 10.2). Items that must be recorded on
the work sheet include:
1. The exact time and date that the evidence was received
2. The specific and exact quantity, type, and condition of the evidence
when it was received
3. The name(s) of the person(s) to whom the response is to be directed, as
well as the name(s) of the person(s) who should receive copies of the report
4. Type(s) of examination(s) conducted on the evidence
5. Method used to develop the latent prints
6. Number of latent finger- and palmprints developed and on what specimens
they were developed (unless obvious in photographs or on
evidence, location of latent prints on each item must also be recorded)