NCJ Number
220556
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 55 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 123-128
Date Published
September 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines the effective use of silicone membrane solution in improving the quality of fingerprint images attained from live-scan systems.
Abstract
For better fingerprint results in a law enforcement booking room, from the same suspects’ fingers, agencies should look to utilizing the simple fingerprint capture tool: silicone membrane. Silicone membranes are growing in popularity in fingerprint processing areas throughout the United States. The silicone membrane provides the glass platen surface with a slight amount of friction, effectively eliminating finger slippage during rolled prints. Silicone is a good heat insulator and provides an effective heat buffer between hot fingers and a cold glass platen. The silicone membrane directly addresses the problem of dry fingers. It is softer than glass, eliminating the need for excessive pressure to effect an optical connection between a dry fingerprint and the platen. When using live-scan system devices with silicone membranes, there is no difference in approach than when using a system without a membrane. It is fitted invisibly atop the glass platen, and requires no variation of fingerprint presentation technique, making it simple to use. Over the past 2 years, the silicone membrane manufacturing process has been significantly enhanced to ensure the highest quality flatness, clarity, durability, and outstanding adhesion characteristics. Officers must be able to collect fingerprints from a wide cross section of people, including those with very fine, worn, scarred, or cracked fingerprint ridges, and varying degrees of skin moisture content. But, most live-scan systems are optimized for people with well-defined ridges on their fingers and sufficient moisture content in their hands, thereby impeding the capture of quality fingerprints. This article discusses the benefits and challenges of live-scan systems in capturing fingerprints, and the simple enhancement of these systems through the use of silicone membranes to capture quality fingerprint images from difficult fingerprints.