This course is designed to assist the examiner in understanding the complexity of friction ridge detail. Students will learn valuable search-and-smart-skills that can be applied across all areas of friction ridge examination.  An overview of the details of friction ridge skin of the fingers and palms, and then it progresses into the areas of tonal reversal, mirror prints, overlapping prints, distorted prints, etc. Even with the most challenging friction ridge detail, there are usually visual clues that can be used in the analysis and comparison process. Step-by-step instructions and practical exercises in the ACE-V Methodology will give students more insight to help them properly analyze these complex prints.

Not all friction ridge detail left behind at crime scenes is from the hand area.  Did you ever consider that it could have come from the friction ridge detail found on the foot? Did you know that our feet have friction ridge detail that has unique features?  A presentation will be given to discuss the unique friction-ridge details found on our feet.

Part of the scientific process is documenting the analysis based on observed “objective” data.  Students will be presented the SWGFAST Documenting the ACE-V Standard and then will be given a practical exercise containing various latent prints to document their analysis.

How do Frye, Daubert, and Kumho affect you?  What are some of the questions you can expect at a “Daubert Hearing”? What resources do you have available to assist you in responding to a Plaza-style challenge to the science of fingerprints?  What is a Plaza challenge? What resources do you have available for your personal development in science?  What resources do you have at your disposal in establishing guidelines for your latent print unit?  All these questions and more will be answered during this intense week of presentations, comparison exercises, conducted both individually and as a group (bring those magnifiers), and a “hands-on” application of much of the material presented.

What has happened since the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its report?  We will be discussing the impact this report has had and continues to have on examiners.  

This course is primarily designed for the more experienced examiner by advancing to the comparison of more complex prints, e.g., distorted, multiple-impression overlay, tonal reversal, etc.   However, it still allows less-experienced examiners to gain valuable “time under the glass” by starting with the less difficult comparisons, then proceeding to the more complex prints at their own pace.  Familiarity with basic fingerprint terms, such as delta, core, pattern area, and ridge events, is important before attending this course.