MOVING TOWARDS PROFESSIONALIZATION OF LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS

• NCJ Number: 59425
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 591-595
• Author(s): J F COWGER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Acad of Forensic Sciences
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SUGGESTIONS TO ACCELERATE THE RECOGNITION OF LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS AS FORENSIC SCIENTISTS, JUST AS FIREARMS EXAMINERS AND HANDWRITING EXAMINERS ARE SO REGARDED, ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

LATENT PRINT COMPARISON IS THE OLDEST AND MOST TRUSTED PRACTICE WITHIN THE FORENSIC SCIENCES. HOWEVER, LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS HAVE NOT YET ATTAINED THE PROFESSIONAL STATURE THAT SHOULD BE ACCORDED TO THEM. MANY PROBLEMS THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF PROFESSIONALISM FOR LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS CAN BE ADDRESSED ONLY WITH LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. ALTHOUGH A SINGLE LATENT FINGERPRINT IS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A DEFENDANT'S CONVICTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE MAKING CRUCIAL DETERMINATIONS ARE MINIMAL. MANY OF THOSE ENGAGED IN THE COMPARISON OF FRICTION SKIN CHARACTERISTICS HAVE NO MORE QUALIFICATIONS FOR PERFORMING THE WORK THAN A 40 OR 80 HOUR COURSE FOR WHICH A CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED WITHOUT TESTING UPON COMPLETION. HOWEVER, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION IS CURRENTLY PROMOTING A PROGRAM TO CERTIFY LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS, UNDER WHICH INDIVIDUALS ENTERING THE FIELD IN 5 YEARS MUST HAVE AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE, AND IN 10 YEARS, A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. EVEN THIS IMPROVEMENT IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE NONSPECIFIC, THE TRAINING MINIMAL, AND THE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT DEMAND SUPERVISION. IN ADDITION, THE UNIVERSAL TRUST IN THE INFALLIBILITY OF FRICTION SKIN IDENTIFICATION MAKES IT EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE THAT THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN THIS FIELD TREAT IT WITH THE SAME OBJECTIVITY AND CIRCUMSPECTION THAT IS ACCORDED OTHER FORENSIC SCIENCES. ALTHOUGH THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ATTAINING PROFESSIONAL STATUS, LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE THEIR OWN ATTITUDES, SUCH AS REMOVING FROM THEIR VOCABULARY THE TERMS 'IDENTICAL' AND 'APPARENT DISSIMILARITY'. THE FORMER IS A PATENT IMPOSSIBILITY AND THE LATTER AN OBVIOUS EVASION. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)