The Latent Print Unit

Another area in Forensic Laboratory is called The Latent Print Unit, the Forensic Scientist on this team examines the prints found on the evidences, and these evidences are usually found on the folds of the skin, fingers or fingernails, palms and even at the sole of a person’s feet. The forensic expert study and evaluate the prints found by the use of Forensic Comparison Microscopes so that they can identify or exclude and individual connected to the crime scene.

The uniqueness of each fingerprint will help the forensic Scientist in positively identifying the prints they found. Proper match will therefore identify the culprit, but this can only be achieved with the help of Forensic Comparison Microscopes. There are a lot of techniques used to obtain the latent prints, some use chemicals, lasers and other physical means but the commonly used technique is the powder testing because it can easily be produced. And the most powerful tool to obtain detailed information of the print is the microscopic examination using Forensic Comparison Microscopes. This examination is commonly performed when the Forensic expert has limited details of the prints and Forensic Comparison Microscopes are the best tool in identification of latent prints.

The FBI had been using the automated fingerprint system since 1999 and they call it as Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, this system helps to improve the imaging quality of the prints found.

This system also helps if the suspect has previous records from the authority and it also assists in the new arrest of the suspect. The Latent Print department is not only confined in finding criminals but also is a great help in assisting the FBI Disaster squad in identifying the victims during disaster times. This group of Forensic experts helped during Sept. 11 and during Hurricane Katrina tragedy. These Forensic Experts had been a great help not only in the US but all over the world as early as 1940’s up to the present. Read the entire article