NCJ Number
218774
Date Published
October 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the use of 1,2 – indanedione (IND) as an amino acid visualizing reagent for detecting latent prints on porous materials.
Abstract
Results indicate that IND is a sensitive amino acid reagent that, due to its fluorescent properties, is able to develop clear and well-defined latent prints when illuminated with a forensic light source producing light in the 515nm range. Latent print evidence dating back 1-year which was processed using IND with strong fluorescence resulted in identification. Moreover, fingerprints previously developed by ninhydrin were further enhanced by IND processing. Other results indicated that IND worked well on a wide range of porous surfaces and, as a result, latent prints on dark or multicolored surfaces were able to be photographed. The findings suggest that when both IND and ninhydrin are used for processing, IND should be used as the primary source. The authors describe the materials used and the safety considerations adopted for the analysis, such as the use of protective goggles and a fume hood. The formula of the working solution is provided followed by a step-by-step description of the procedure used to develop the latent prints. The study meets the legal Daubert requirement that scientific processes be validated and subjected to peer review. References