FIS Latent Fingerprinting

WVU Forensic Examination

ACE-V

ACE-V

The acronym for a scientific method; Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification

AFIS

The acronym for Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a generic term for a fingerprint matching, storage, and retrieval system

Analysis

The first step of the ACE-V method. The assessment of an impression to determine suitability for comparison

APIS

The acronym for Automated Palmprint Identification System, a generic term for a palmprint (or complete friction ridge exemplar) matching, storage, and retrieval system

Arch – plain

A pattern type in which the friction ridges enter on one side of the impression and flow, or tend to flow, out the other side with a rise or wave in the center

Arch – tented

A pattern type that possesses either an angle, an upthrust, or two of the three basic characteristics of the loop

Artifact

1. Any distortion or alteration not in the original friction ridge impression, produced by an external agent or action.

2. Any information not present in the original object or image, inadvertently introduced by image capture, processing, compressions, transmission, display, or printing.

Bias

See cognitive bias, confirmation bias, and contextual bias

Bifurcation

The point at which one friction ridge divides into two friction ridges

Blind verification

The independent examination of one or more friction ridge impressions at any stage of the ACE process by another competent examiner who is provided with no, or limited, contextual information, and has no expectation or knowledge of the determinations or conclusions of the original examiner.

Bridge

A connecting friction ridge between, and generally at right angles to, parallel running friction ridges

Characteristics

Distinctive details of the friction ridges, including Level 1, 2, and 3 details (also known as features)

Cognitive bias

The effect of perceptual or mental processes on the reliability and validity of one’s observations and conclusions

Comparison

The second step of the ACE-V method. The observation of two or more impressions to determine the existence of discrepancies, dissimilarities, or similarities

Competency

Possessing and demonstrating the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform a specific task

Complete friction ridge exemplars

A systematic recording of all friction ridge detail appearing on the palmar sides of the hands. This includes the extreme sides of the palms, joints, tips, and sides of the fingers (also known as major case prints)

Complex examinations

The encountering of uncommon circumstances during an examination (e.g., the existence of high distortion, low quality or quantity, the possibility of simultaneity, or conflicts among examiners)

Consensus determination or conclusion

Agreement reflecting the collective judgment of a group of examiners trained to competency when making determinations or conclusions with respect to one or more impressions

Conclusion

Determination made during the evaluation stage of ACE-V, including individualization, inconclusive, exclusion

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for data or interpret information in a manner that supports one’s preconceptions

Conflict

A difference of determinations or conclusions that becomes apparent during, or at the end of, an examination

Consultation

A significant interaction between examiners regarding one or more impressions in question

Contextual bias

The effect of information or outside influences on the evaluation and interpretation of data

Core

1. The approximate center of a fingerprint pattern.

2. A specific formation within a fingerprint pattern, defined by classification systems such as Henry