Identification 2: Distortion

Define "distortion" in the context of a fingerprint examination.

Distortion in the context of fingerprint examination refers to any __ in __ between __ left by the __ area of friction ridge skin. These __ may be __, such as __ changes in ridge __ caused by differing __ __, or __, such as __ caused by __ during __. Distortion arises from a __ of __-__, __, & __-__ conditions. __-__ conditions include __, the __, & the __. __ conditions involve the __, __ __, & __. __-__ conditions include __ & __, the __, & __ __. These conditions are __ to every fingerprint, therefore no __ impressions from the same __ will appear __ the same. Distortion can appear in a __ of ways, including __ in ridge __, __-__ impressions, __, & __ of ridges due to __. When conducting a fingerprint __, examiners must __ & account for these __ differences when __ & __ impressions.

variation, appearance, impressions, same, variations, subtle, minor, thickness, deposition pressure, significant, smearing, movement, deposition, combination, pre-transfer, transfer, post-transfer, Pre-transfer, anatomy, donor, matrix, Transfer, substrate, deposition pressure, movement, Post-transfer, development, preservation, environment, image quality, unique, two, finger, exactly, variety, changes, width, double-tap, smearing, compression, pressure, examination, recognise, appearance, analysing, comparing

List the 3 major categories of distortion sources.

1. Pre-transfer conditions.

- __: The __ of the donor's friction ridge skin & __/composition of donor's __ & oils.

- Anatomy: The __ of the friction ridge skin in response to __ amounts of __ __.

- __: Amount & __ of __ on the donor's friction ridge skin.

2. Transfer conditions.

- __: The type of __ being __.

- __ pressure: Amount of __ applied to the __ when a print is __.

- Movement: __ of friction ridge skin along the __ being touched due to __ (lateral) or __ (twisting) pressure.

3. Post-transfer conditions.

- __: Fingerprints are __ & easily damaged or __ by the environment.

- Development & __: The __ used to __, develop, & preserve the print.

- __ quality: Image file type, __, clarity, & any digital __ of the image.

Donor, condition, amount, sweat, flexibility, different, deposition pressure, Matrix, type, residue, Substrate, surface, touched, Deposition, pressure, surface, deposited, Movement, surface, shearing, torsional, Environment, fragile, degraded, preservation, methods, locate, Image, resolution, enhancement

Outline what decision thresholds are.

Decision thresholds refer to the __ of __ required for a fingerprint examiner to __ whether an __ is __ for __ & whether there's sufficient __ to __ an __. Decision thresholds are based on the __ & __ of detail within the fingerprint, as well as the training, __, & experience of the __.

Generally:

- As quality decreases, a greater __ of detail is required.

- As quantity decreases, a greater __ of detail is required.

amount, detail, determine, impression, suitable, comparison, information, support, identification, quality, quantity, skill, examiner, quantity, quality

Define "simultaneous impressions"

Simultaneous impressions refer to a __ of fingerprints left by the __ __ that are __ on a __ at the __ time. Simultaneous impressions tend to be located __ together as they reflect the __ __ & __ of a hand. Typically, simultaneous impressions will have similar __ & forms of __ & will also share similar __ of __, such as __ or movement due to the impressions being __ at the __ time. Because simultaneous impressions occur __, they form a __ group of __ that can be analysed __ rather than on their __, enabling examiners to __ how the hand __ with the __ or object.

series, same hand, deposited, surface, same, proximally, natural positioning, orientation, amounts, residue, effects, distortion, pressure, deposited, same, simultaneously, related, fingermarks, collectively, own, deduce, interacted, surface

List the 3 levels of detail used in ACE-V analysis.

1st level detail: __ ridge flow.

- General __ type classification (loop, __, arch).

- __ of ridge flow & __ of a fingerprint.

- Specify the __ of a finger or palm.

2nd level detail: Ridge __.

- Minutiae: __ & ridge endings.

- Minutiae are __ & suitable as a __ means of __.

3rd level detail: __ ridge features.

- __: Shapes & __ of __ along ridges.

- __: Shapes of ridge __.

- Pores & ridge edges are __ & suitable as a sole means of __.

Overall, pattern, whorl, Direction, orientation, area, characteristics, Bifurcations, unique, sole, identification, Microscopic, Poroscopy, locations, pores, Edgeoscopy, edges, unique, identification

Explain how deposition pressure affects ridge appearance.

Deposition pressure affects the __ of friction ridge skin through __ of the __ against the __.

As pressure increases:

- Ridges become __.

- Furrows become __.

- Ridge __ may appear __ or obscured.

- Excessive __ can reduce __ & may contribute to __ reversal.

As pressure decreases:

- Ridges appear __.

- Contact with the __ may be __.

- Less __ is __.

- Ridge detail may appear __.

Deposition pressure may also alter the appearance of __. For example:

- A true __ can appear as a ridge __ when pressure is __.

- A ridge __ may appear __ when ridges are __ by __ pressure.

appearance, compression, skin, substrate, wider, narrower, characteristics, distorted, pressure, clarity, tonal, thinner, surface, incomplete, residue, transferred, faint, minutiae, bifurcation, ending, light, ending, bifurcated, compressed, heavy

Describe how movement (shearing or twisting) can alter fingerprint detail.

Movement distortion occurs when friction ridge skin __ while in __ with a __.

Shearing (__) movement causes the friction ridge skin to __ along the __ which can __ fingerprint detail by causing __, __ ridges, __ ridge detail, __ __ in the __ of movement, & __ or __ __ of ridge detail.

Twisting (__) movement occurs when friction ridge skin __ during __ which can result in changes in ridge __, distorted ridge __, & distorted __ positions.

Both forms of movement can __ fingerprint detail & must be taken into __ throughout __-__.

moves, contact, surface, lateral, slip, surface, alter, smearing, elongated, misaligned, drag marks, direction, partial, complete, slippage, torsional, twists, deposition, spacing, flow, minutiae, alter, consideration, ACE-V

Explain why the 12-point rule is no longer used in NZ fingerprint identification.

The 12-point rule is no longer used in NZ because it was determined that there's no __ __ that exists for requiring a __ number of friction ridge __ to establish a __ __.

NZ adopted __ principle that 12 __ __ were __ for identification. However:

- In __, the International Association for __ stated that there's no __ basis for requiring a predetermined __ number of __ to establish a positive __.

- In R v __ & Buisson (__), the Court of __ ruled that there's no requirement for __ points to be a __ for identification, but rather the __ of proof is one of beyond __ __.

- In __, the Ne'urim __ concluded that no __ basis exists for requiring a predetermined number of __ features.

Since __, NZ has adopted a __ approach to fingerprint __, where the __ & __ of detail, ridge shapes, __, creases, & the number of __ features are considered.

scientific basis, predetermined, features, positive identification, Locard's, matching characteristics, sufficient, 1973, Identification, valid, minimum, characteristics, identification, Ratana, 1990, Appeal, 12, criterion, standard, reasonable doubt, 1995, Declaration, scientific, matching, 2000, holistic, identification, quality, quantity, scars, corresponding

You receive a latent print showing widened ridges, extremely reduced furrows, & an area with smooth ridge edges. What distortion is occurring & what's the cause?

The types of distortion most likely present are __ __ & __/smearing distortion. Widening ridges & extremely reduced __ are indicative of __ __ during __. Increased pressure causes the ridges to __ & compression causes __ of ridges & __ of furrows. An area where ridges appear smooth suggests __ movement (smearing). Slippage distortion occurs when the friction ridge __ along the __ being touch, causing ridge edges to appear blurred or __.

The likely cause of __ __ distortion is __ or excessive pressure applied by the friction ridge skin against a __. The likely cause of __ distortion is due to __ of the friction ridge skin __ along a __ during __.

deposition pressure, slippage, furrows, excessive pressure, deposition, compress, widening, narrowing, slippage, slips, surface, smooth, deposition pressure, heavy, surface, slippage, movement, slipping, surface, deposition

Multiple fingerprints are found close together on a glass surface. They share similar residue appearance & show consistent pressure distortion. How would you determine if they're simultaneous impressions?

I would examine multiple factors:

1. Determine whether the fingerprints are in __ __ positions & orientation that correspond with __ hand placement.

2. Assess whether the impressions are __ enough together to suggest they were __ during a __ __.

3. Similar __ & forms of __ indicate the impressions were likely __ under the same __.

4. Examine whether the fingerprints display the same type of __ as similar __ of distortion support __ deposition.

5. Assess whether the fingerprints react __ to __, which would indicate that they've been __ to similar __.

If the fingerprints display consistent __ & orientation, __, residue, __, & development then I'd __ that they're likely simultaneous impressions.

anatomically consistent, natural, close, deposited, single contact, amounts, residue, deposited, conditions, distortion, effects, simultaneous, similarly, development, exposed, conditions, position, proximity, distortion, conclude

A print shows: Expanded ridges on the left edge, compressed ridges on the right edge, horizontal drag lines. What type of distortion is occurring & what direction was the finger moving?

The print exhibits __ (lateral) movement & __ distortion. The expanded ridges on the left edge indicate that the friction ridge skin __ when the finger was pushed to the __, while the compressed ridges on the right edge indicate that the friction ridge skin was __ as the finger __ to the __. The presence of horizontal drag lines further indicates that the finger __ across the __ while maintaining __.

Based on this, the finger was most likely moving to the __ during __. The distortion is consistent with __ __ of the finger, causing the ridges on the left edge to __ & the ridges on the right edge to __.

shearing, pressure, expanded, left, compressed, pushed, left, moved, surface, contact, left, deposition, lateral movement, expand, compress

Why is understanding distortion essential for determining suitability of a fingerprint for comparison?

Understanding distortion is essential for determining the suitability of a fingerprint for comparison because __ can alter the __, position, & __ of ridge __. Recognising the __ & extent of __ allows an examiner to distinguish between ridge __ & __ caused by distortion. An examiner can determine whether there's __ ridge detail present for __ & whether the observed __ are due to factors like __, __, or the substrate rather than genuine __, helping to __ the misinterpretation of ridge detail.

distortion, appearance, clarity, detail, type, distortion, features, changes, sufficient, comparison, differences, pressure, movement, dissimilarity, prevent

Compare advantages & disadvantages of the holistic approach vs numerical approach to identification.

Numerical advantages:

- Structured & __ framework.

- Provides a clear __.

- Creates __ between examiners.

- Easy to __ to non-specialists.

Numerical disadvantages:

- No __ __ for fixed number of __ points.

- Ignores __, reliability, & __ of ridge __.

- Doesn't consider __, creases, ridge shapes, or __ level detail.

- May __ identifications that could be made with __ than __ points.

Holistic advantages:

- Considers both __ & __.

- Considers entire __ of information, including __.

- Considers scars, __, ridge __, & 3rd level detail.

- Reflects the __ of fingerprint __.

- Allows __ from __ but highly __ or high __ impressions.

Holistic disadvantages:

- Relies on __ examiner expertise & __.

- Decision-making may appear more __.

- More __ to explain to non-specialists.

standardised, threshold, consistency, explain, scientific basis, matching, quality, context, detail, scars, 3rd, reject, fewer, 12, quality, quantity, pattern, distortion, creases, shapes, complexity, evidence, identification, small, detailed, quality, individual, experience, subjective, difficult

Reflect on how the ACE-V method helps ensure reliability during examination.

The ACE-V method helps ensure reliability during examination by providing a __ & systematic process for reaching __.

During __, the quality, __, & presence of __ are assessed to determine whether or not the print contains enough __ to be __ for __. During __, the __ print is compared with a known print, assessing __ & differences. __ is where the examiner evaluates all of the __ made & reaches a __ based on the __ evidence. __ is another examiners __ review of the ACE to __ or __ the __ conclusion.

ACE-V promotes __ because it encourages __ examination, requires consideration of __, ensures __ are based on __ evidence, reduces the likelihood of __ through __ verification, & provides a __ __ suitable for court.

structured, conclusions, analysis, quantity, distortion, information, suitable, comparison, comparison, unknown, correspondence, Evaluation, observations, conclusion, available, Verification, independent, confirm, challenge, original, reliability, systematic, distortion, decisions, observed, error, independent, defensible framework