Fingerprint Comparison

Question 1

The fingerprint analysis process include:

Answer 1

• Analysis
• Comparison
• Evaluation
• Verification

Question 2

_______involves assessing a print to determine if it can be used for comparison. If the print is not suitable for comparison due to inadequate quality or quantity of features, the examination ends and the print is reported as not being suitable.

Answer 2

• Analysis

Question 3

________ If the fingerprint is suitable for examination, the examiner indicates what features are to be used in the comparison and amount of variation allowable.

Answer 3

• Analysis

Question 4

________are performed by an examiner who views a known fingerprint and the perpetrator’s fingerprint side by side. The examiner looks for minutiae characteristics and locations for a match.

Answer 4

• Comparison

Question 5

Known fingerprints are collected from victims, persons present at the crime scene and________.

Answer 5

• Persons of interest and FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

Question 6

IAFIS is the largest:

Answer 6

*  Fingerprint database in   
the world and as of 
June 2012, held more 
than 72 million records from  
criminals, military personnel, government employees and other civilian employees.

Question 7

________is where the examiner ultimately decides if the prints are from the same source (identification or individualization), different sources (exclusion) or is inconclusive.

Answer 7

• Evaluation

Question 8

Inconclusive fingerprint results may be due to:

Answer 8

• Poor quality samples, lack of comparable areas, insufficient number of corresponding or dissimilar features to be certain.

Question 9

_________is is when another examiner independently analyzes, compares and evaluates fingerprints to either support or refute the conclusions of the original examiner. The examiner may also verify the suitability of determinations made in the analysis phase.

Answer 9

• Verification