Fingerprint Identification Fingerprint Identification The Role of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Fingerprint Identification Fingerprint Identification

The Role of Research in Fortifying the Forensic The Role of Research in Fortifying the Forensic Sciences Sciences Mike Campbell Mike Campbell

Ron Smith and Associates, Inc. Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.

What are the barriers to maximizing What are the barriers to maximizing the usefulness of fingerprints? the usefulness of fingerprints?

• Starts at the crime scene with the lack of Police resources (cri

Starts at the crime scene with the lack of Police resources (crime me scene response) to gather latent prints, scene response) to gather latent prints, especially especially from non from non-

• violent

violent

• ffenses like auto theft and burglary
• ffenses like auto theft and burglary
• Awareness of the value of prints has increased but lack of Polic

Awareness of the value of prints has increased but lack of Police e resources many times prevents adequate response resources many times prevents adequate response

• Additional training is needed to locate and recover these prints

Additional training is needed to locate and recover these prints in in greater numbers on a consistent basis greater numbers on a consistent basis

• More sensitive methods to locate and recover latent prints off o

More sensitive methods to locate and recover latent prints off of f textured surfaces and prints that are older or less fresh need t textured surfaces and prints that are older or less fresh need to be

• be

developed (NIJ is sponsoring some of this now) developed (NIJ is sponsoring some of this now)

• Quality of the original arrest fingerprint cards submitted that

Quality of the original arrest fingerprint cards submitted that will will create the data bases of known prints to be searched against in create the data bases of known prints to be searched against in the the future must be improved future must be improved

• This problem greatly effects the chances of an AFIS system helpi

This problem greatly effects the chances of an AFIS system helping the ng the examiner find the suspects prints in the data base examiner find the suspects prints in the data base

• “Garbage in

“Garbage in – – Garbage out!” effect is present Garbage out!” effect is present

• Live Scan and automation have not improved the quality of the pr

Live Scan and automation have not improved the quality of the prints ints

• submitted. They have allowed the 10 Print operations such as the
• submitted. They have allowed the 10 Print operations such as the FBI

FBI CJIS system to provide “real CJIS system to provide “real-

• time identification” on both criminal and

time identification” on both criminal and civil submissions but have not increased the quality of the prin civil submissions but have not increased the quality of the prints ts

What are the barriers to maximizing What are the barriers to maximizing the usefulness of fingerprints? the usefulness of fingerprints?

• Lack of submissions throughout the criminal justice system of kn

Lack of submissions throughout the criminal justice system of known Palm

• wn Palm

Prints, Major Case prints and in some state’s juvenile arrest ca Prints, Major Case prints and in some state’s juvenile arrest cards or cards rds or cards from “minor arrests” from “minor arrests”

• Approximately 30%

Approximately 30% -

• 35% of all latents submitted for searching and comparison

35% of all latents submitted for searching and comparison come from the palms and the tips and sides of the fingers which come from the palms and the tips and sides of the fingers which are not are not recorded on a traditional fingerprint card recorded on a traditional fingerprint card – – too many agencies no longer submit too many agencies no longer submit palm print cards on all arrests. All of the vendors palm print cards on all arrests. All of the vendors now now have AFIS systems have AFIS systems capable of searching palm prints but if palms are not routinely capable of searching palm prints but if palms are not routinely submitted they submitted they can not be added to the data bases and once the AFIS is upgraded can not be added to the data bases and once the AFIS is upgraded with the new with the new palm technology the AFIS will be underutilized and criminals wil palm technology the AFIS will be underutilized and criminals will go unidentified l go unidentified

• The juveniles you arrest today account for 70%

The juveniles you arrest today account for 70% -

• 80% of your crime over the

80% of your crime over the next 10 year period, failing to add their prints to the AFIS dat next 10 year period, failing to add their prints to the AFIS data base greatly a base greatly diminishes your ability to identify suspects and solve future cr diminishes your ability to identify suspects and solve future crime ime

• Lack of adding arrest prints from so called “minor offenses” mea

Lack of adding arrest prints from so called “minor offenses” means future latent ns future latent prints recovered from the crimes they continue to commit will re prints recovered from the crimes they continue to commit will remain main

• unidentified. The prints of someone arrested on a minor drug cha
• unidentified. The prints of someone arrested on a minor drug charge will be left

rge will be left behind when they climb through someone's window to support their behind when they climb through someone's window to support their drug habit drug habit

• r rape the woman they find asleep when they entered to commit a
• r rape the woman they find asleep when they entered to commit a burglary.

burglary.

• Recent, long overdue additions of non

Recent, long overdue additions of non-

• sexual offenders to several DNA data bases have

sexual offenders to several DNA data bases have begun to produce the majority of hits in several data bases just begun to produce the majority of hits in several data bases just as they do in the long as they do in the long standing AFIS data bases standing AFIS data bases

What are the barriers to maximizing What are the barriers to maximizing the usefulness of fingerprints? the usefulness of fingerprints?

• Lack of sufficient crime laboratory resources to search prints f

Lack of sufficient crime laboratory resources to search prints for “investigative leads”

• r “investigative leads”
• n all crimes but particularly on property crimes
• n all crimes but particularly on property crimes
• Many labs primarily concentrate on “major” cases or cases that a

Many labs primarily concentrate on “major” cases or cases that are already going to court re already going to court

• Local law enforcement needs to know who is responsible for commi

Local law enforcement needs to know who is responsible for committing crimes, especially tting crimes, especially the property crimes that plague every jurisdiction and they need the property crimes that plague every jurisdiction and they need those answers much sooner those answers much sooner that the current level of resources is capable of providing that the current level of resources is capable of providing – – “today's burglar is tomorrows “today's burglar is tomorrows rapist” rapist”

• Local law enforcement agencies should be taught how to best “pro

Local law enforcement agencies should be taught how to best “process” evidence for latent cess” evidence for latent prints themselves in order to free up the crime laboratory resou prints themselves in order to free up the crime laboratory resources to search and identify rces to search and identify the latent prints that come off of the evidence recovered at the the latent prints that come off of the evidence recovered at the scene scene – – especially in states especially in states where the lab has the only AFIS access and searching abilities where the lab has the only AFIS access and searching abilities

• Lack of sufficient access to any AFIS data base by local law enf

Lack of sufficient access to any AFIS data base by local law enforcement agencies for

• rcement agencies for

searching and solving of their crime problems searching and solving of their crime problems – – much too dependant on the already much too dependant on the already

• verburdened crime laboratory to make a serious dent in solving
• verburdened crime laboratory to make a serious dent in solving their property and

their property and

• ther crimes in a meaningful time frame
• ther crimes in a meaningful time frame
• Recent NIJ sponsored “180 Study” showed that over 65% of the fin

Recent NIJ sponsored “180 Study” showed that over 65% of the fingerprint identification gerprint identification services are being provided by local law enforcement personnel, services are being provided by local law enforcement personnel, many of whom have no many of whom have no direct access to an AFIS terminal for searching direct access to an AFIS terminal for searching

• Lack of a sufficient number of

Lack of a sufficient number of trained trained and and experienced experienced examiners to meet the current examiners to meet the current needs, much less an increased level of need for examination serv needs, much less an increased level of need for examination services if local law ices if local law enforcement had better access to AFIS capabilities enforcement had better access to AFIS capabilities

• Lack of access to quality training for examiners, especially tho

Lack of access to quality training for examiners, especially those from local agencies se from local agencies

• Lack of connectivity to IAFIS by local law enforcement in genera

Lack of connectivity to IAFIS by local law enforcement in general l – – greatly limits the greatly limits the “nationwide search” power of the FBI AFIS system provides “nationwide search” power of the FBI AFIS system provides -

• Michigan case

Michigan case

What does it take to be a good What does it take to be a good fingerprint examiner? fingerprint examiner?

• Desire tops my list, followed by……

Desire tops my list, followed by……

• Access to a structured training program

Access to a structured training program

• Strong mentorship by seasoned examiner

Strong mentorship by seasoned examiner

• Aptitude for working with fine detail helps

Aptitude for working with fine detail helps

• Access to additional training courses to deepen your

Access to additional training courses to deepen your understanding of the science understanding of the science

• Opportunity to analyze and compare as many prints as

Opportunity to analyze and compare as many prints as possible to develop a “good eye”. As with most things possible to develop a “good eye”. As with most things experience counts for a lot experience counts for a lot

• Good “quality assurance programs” in place with rigid

Good “quality assurance programs” in place with rigid “verification procedures” as part of the agency policies “verification procedures” as part of the agency policies

• Good eyesight sure helps as well…………ha ha

Good eyesight sure helps as well…………ha ha

How do we better share AFIS How do we better share AFIS Technology Technology

• My answer would be to “regionalize” the use of this

My answer would be to “regionalize” the use of this technology as much as possible technology as much as possible

• Current technology makes this very possible to accomplish. Live

Current technology makes this very possible to accomplish. Live scan units combined with the availability of desk top AFIS scan units combined with the availability of desk top AFIS systems (or terminals into the state AFIS that can be set up on systems (or terminals into the state AFIS that can be set up on a a regional basis in some states) and the additional manpower at regional basis in some states) and the additional manpower at the local agency level where the crime is being committed to the local agency level where the crime is being committed to take advantage of the power of an AFIS search for solving take advantage of the power of an AFIS search for solving

• crime. Too massive a need to expect it to all be solved at the l
• crime. Too massive a need to expect it to all be solved at the lab

ab level or FBI level do to funding issues level or FBI level do to funding issues

• Pull together at the local and state level to provide access to

Pull together at the local and state level to provide access to local law enforcement agencies of AFIS system capabilities and local law enforcement agencies of AFIS system capabilities and

• power. Spread the wealth and share the responsibility where it
• power. Spread the wealth and share the responsibility where it

most needs to be at the local level, without any diminishment of most needs to be at the local level, without any diminishment of the state or federal systems and services the state or federal systems and services

• Manage the data base locally to ensure better quality of the

Manage the data base locally to ensure better quality of the “knows” “knows” – – this will have a this will have a trickle up trickle up effect for the state and FBI effect for the state and FBI systems with the use of live systems with the use of live-

• scan technology

scan technology

How do we better share AFIS How do we better share AFIS Technology Technology

• In smaller population centers, several counties could form a com

In smaller population centers, several counties could form a combined bined system where their criminal prints could be added to a common da system where their criminal prints could be added to a common data base ta base centered around County Sheriff lock centered around County Sheriff lock-

• up facilities submitting the prints to a

up facilities submitting the prints to a common data base electronically. In a larger county, they would common data base electronically. In a larger county, they would do this for do this for themselves through their jail. themselves through their jail.

• Local criminals commit local crime

Local criminals commit local crime

• High recidivist rates mean multiple opportunities to solve futur

High recidivist rates mean multiple opportunities to solve future crime e crime

• Reduce the lag time waiting for a response from the state and ca

Reduce the lag time waiting for a response from the state and catch them tch them sooner before they strike again sooner before they strike again

• Opportunity to control the quality of the AFIS data base with lo

Opportunity to control the quality of the AFIS data base with local control and cal control and responsibility for your own fate responsibility for your own fate

• Ability to search any print, for any crime, at any time of the d

Ability to search any print, for any crime, at any time of the day or night ay or night – – even even right as you return from the crime scene. You control more of yo right as you return from the crime scene. You control more of your own destiny ur own destiny by not having to rely on someone else to decide if they can or w by not having to rely on someone else to decide if they can or will help you solve ill help you solve your crime your crime

• Reliance on smaller sized AFIS data bases to search against incr

Reliance on smaller sized AFIS data bases to search against increases the eases the accuracy in many cases rather than trying to find the match in m accuracy in many cases rather than trying to find the match in much larger state uch larger state and FBI data bases and FBI data bases – – more crimes solved more crimes solved

• When much better interoperability becomes available, local law e

When much better interoperability becomes available, local law enforcement will nforcement will be in a position to take full advantage of that horsepower and a be in a position to take full advantage of that horsepower and add to their local dd to their local

• capabilities. Local AFIS systems can also be configured to acces
• capabilities. Local AFIS systems can also be configured to access the FBI IAFIS

s the FBI IAFIS system with the cooperation of their state and their vendor. system with the cooperation of their state and their vendor.

What are the emerging practical What are the emerging practical techniques and improvements techniques and improvements

• AFIS provides large numbers of known offenders to search against

AFIS provides large numbers of known offenders to search against in every state in every state

• Some local data bases already add to the crime solving ability o

Some local data bases already add to the crime solving ability of fingerprints and f fingerprints and additional focus on expanding local and regional systems will gr additional focus on expanding local and regional systems will greatly impact crime at eatly impact crime at the local level (see below comment) the local level (see below comment)

• Additional resources like the Western Identification Network and

Additional resources like the Western Identification Network and solid regional date solid regional date bases like the King County Regional AFIS system greatly add to t bases like the King County Regional AFIS system greatly add to the ability of he ability of fingerprints and AFIS to solve crime fingerprints and AFIS to solve crime

• FBI IAFIS system has the largest collection of known criminals i

FBI IAFIS system has the largest collection of known criminals in the world. They are n the world. They are in the process of beginning an upgrade to the IAFIS system that in the process of beginning an upgrade to the IAFIS system that will provide even will provide even better services for fingerprint identification at both the 10 Pr better services for fingerprint identification at both the 10 Print and Latent Print levels int and Latent Print levels

• All three levels of AFIS data bases (local, state and FBI) provi

All three levels of AFIS data bases (local, state and FBI) provide infinitely more de infinitely more

• pportunity than DNA will for many, many years to come to identi
• pportunity than DNA will for many, many years to come to identify suspects

fy suspects

• DNA must be done at a state of federal laboratory level with ver

DNA must be done at a state of federal laboratory level with very limited capacity y limited capacity – – use of AFIS technology can be spread to a much broader user leve use of AFIS technology can be spread to a much broader user level to allow much l to allow much greater access to crime solvability greater access to crime solvability

• Live scan capture at 1000 dpi will allow the use of “Third Level

Live scan capture at 1000 dpi will allow the use of “Third Level Detail” searching and Detail” searching and matching with AFIS technology that is being engineered as part o matching with AFIS technology that is being engineered as part of future AFIS f future AFIS systems already systems already

• Increased use of chemistry to develop older prints and prints on

Increased use of chemistry to develop older prints and prints on porous surfaces porous surfaces continues as additional techniques are developed continues as additional techniques are developed

You can contact Mike Campbell at: You can contact Mike Campbell at:

• mike@ronsmithandassociates.com

mike@ronsmithandassociates.com

• www.ronsmithandassociates.com

www.ronsmithandassociates.com

• 262

262-

• 695

695-

• 4403

4403

• Or through our home office in Mississippi

Or through our home office in Mississippi toll free at 866 toll free at 866-

• 832

832-

• 6772

6772 P.O. Box 670, Collinsville, MS. 39325 P.O. Box 670, Collinsville, MS. 39325