ACE-V Process

Question 1

What are the 4 premises of FR identification process?

Answer 1

Friction ridges develop in fetus and are definitive form before birth

Persistent throughout life- except scarring

Patterns and details in small areas are unique & not repeated

Overall FR patterns very within limits which allow for classification

Question 2

What is the philosophy of FR identification process?

Answer 2

Friction ridge identification is established through the agreement of friction ridge formations in sequence.

Question 3

What is the Quantitative/qualitative process?

Answer 3

High quality detail means low tolerance for dissimilarities and therefore a decrease in the quantity is required

Low quality detail means a high tolerance for dissimilarities and therefore an increase in the quantity is required

Question 4

What is the difference between dissimilarity and discrepancy?

Answer 4

Dissimilarities can be explained within reason

Discrepancies can NOT be explained

Question 5

What is the friction ridge identification process?

Answer 5

ACE-V

Analysis
Comparison
Evaluation
Verification

Question 6

Define Analysis

Answer 6

An objective process that evaluates an unknown impression to determine if there is sufficient quantity and quality to conduct a comparison.

Question 7

Should you document your analysis?

If so when should it be completed?

Answer 7

Yes

Complete prior to any comparison to any known impressions

Question 8

What are the seven factors of the analysis phase?

Answer 8

Anatomical factors 
Substrate 
Matrix 
Development medium
Deposition pressure
Lateral distortion (movement)
Clarity/Tolerance

Question 9

What do the anatomical factors to look at?

Answer 9

How was the handled

Digit determination

Not at not be able to determine either and digit determination is just a guess

Question 10

What should be noted about the substrate?

Answer 10

It is the surface in which the impression had been deposited

Make note of any contaminates/characteristics that may interfere with the impression and if it did or didn’t

Question 11

What should noted about the matrix?

Answer 11

Note what it is especially if not the most common material

Most common- sweat and sebaceous oils

Question 12

Define Development medium and what should be known about them
.

Answer 12

It is the what was used to make a fingerprint impression visible or to increase the contrast

Question 13

What are the signatures of powders?

Answer 13

Adhere to the matrix

Are abrasive

Powders can fill in some details

Question 14

What are the signatures of chemicals?

Answer 14

React with the components in the matrix

Some chemicals can be over processed

Ex- Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids

Question 15

Define deposition pressure

Answer 15

It is the amount of downward pressure when friction ridges come in contact with a substrate

Question 16

When describing deposition pressures what should be included?

What are the main descriptions?

Answer 16

Describe both the ridges and furrows

Light

Normal

Medium/moderate

Heavy

Question 17

What is tonal reversal?

Answer 17

It is when excessive pressure was used to deposit the impression and the sweat it pushed into the furrows.

So the ridges change from light to dark and furrows go from light to dark.

Question 18

Define lateral distortion and when it occurs

Answer 18

It is the movement of the finger after contact with the substrate

Can occur on initial contact
When contact is maintained with the substrate
Upon the finger leaving the substrate

Due to the flexibility of friction skin

Question 19

What are the types of lateral distortion?

Answer 19

Streaking or dragging of matrix
Twisting 
Leaving the surface 
Shadowing 
Feathering

Question 20

What are some red flags with lateral distortion?

Answer 20

Sudden differences in appearance of matrix or development medium
Lines running through friction ridge detail
Extra thick ridges
Shadow ridges
Crossovers
Angular joints
Similar shaped major ridge path deviations in close proximity
Lack of harmony in distortion
Misaligned ridges/ridge units

Question 21

What are the two functions of clarity?

Answer 21

Dictates the level of detail available for comparison (level 1,2,3)

Dictates the level of tolerance for dissimilarities

Question 22

What is level 1 detail?

Answer 22

Friction ridges

Flow of friction ridges

Can sometimes provide enough information to determine pattern

Can be used to exclude (if high level of distortion is present consider comparing level 2 detail before excluding)

Question 23

What is level 2 detail?

Answer 23

Specific friction ridge paths and features (major ridge path deviations)

Can be used to exclude or identify

Question 24

What is level 3 detail?

Answer 24

Consists of intricate shapes present within the friction ridges (edges,pores, alignment or misalignment of ridges)

Can add weight to an identification

Cannot be used as the basis for an exclusion

Question 25

Define tolerance

Answer 25

The level of tolerance is based on the objective analysis of dissimilarities of an impression be viewing all 3 levels of detail and making a subjective assessment for the tolerance toward discrepancies.

Question 26

How are comparisons conducted?

Answer 26

Side by side comparison

Unknown on the left, known print on the right

Visual ridge by ridge inspection determining if agreement based on similarity, sequence and spatial relationships

Objective description of visual differences and agreement

Question 27

What is done in the comparison process

Answer 27

Narrow down the search - digit determination can assist
Observe overall configuration or pattern of FR
Observer overall core to delta(s) distance
Locate a target area
Determine a starting point
Ridge to ridge comparison in sequence of all available detail

Question 28

What is th evaluation stage

Answer 28

Conclusion based upon analysis and comparison of FR

Provide an explanation for differences when applicable

Clear statement of opinion

Question 29

Need to be able to answer what 2 questions each time you do a comparison

Answer 29

Is there agreement of friction ridge detail between the unknown and known?

Is there sufficient agreement in the friction ridge detail to identify.

Question 30

What is a consideration when evaluating the detail?

Answer 30

Look at the specificity (rarity) of the features seen.

Most common features
1- ridge endings
2- bifurcations

Question 31

What is pattern force?

Answer 31

It is the anticipated appearance of certain types of minutiae in specific parts of a pattern’s ridge flow; due to stresses placed on the developing friction ski in those locations.

Question 32

What is the common pattern force for loops?

Whorls?

Deltas?

Answer 32

Common for ridge endings on the outflow

Common to find a series of bifurcations below the core

Short ridges are commonly found in and near the delta - b/c last area where FRs form

Question 33

Is the evaluation objective or subjective?

Answer 33

ACE-V is subjective

Question 34

What are the three possible conclusions in the ACE-V process?

Answer 34

Identification: donors are the same

Exclusion: the donors are not the same

Inconclusive: cannot identity or exclude (need to explain why)

Question 35

What is the verification process?

Answer 35

Verification is the independent examination by another qualified examiner

Verification of the methodology (theory) and the identification process (technique) to ascertain if they are sound (validating the science issues)

Verifier should conduct own ACE

Question 36

What are the three biases.

Answer 36

Cognitive: effect of perceptual or mental processes on the reliability and validity of ones observations and conclusions

Contextual: the effect of information or outside influences on the evaluation or interpretation of data

Confirmation: tendency to search fo data or interpret information in a manner that supports one’s preconceptions

Question 37

How can we defend against bias arguments in court?

Answer 37

Some version of blind verification