Application of spatial statistics to latent print identifications: Towards improved forensic science methodologies

The goals of this proposed project are to evaluate fingerprint characteristics using established techniques in spatial statistics, determine certainty levels for fingerprint uniqueness, quantitatively validate the existing latent print ACE-V comparison methodology and integrate results with field applications in the State of Oregon. The objectives of this project are: 1.) to evaluate fingerprint characteristics or topological attributes (e.g., minutia number, type, and position typically employed by forensic latent print analysts) using spatial statistics to derive probabilistic models for predicting fingerprint uniqueness, 2.) to utilize the derived fingerprint probabilistic models to establish certainty levels for latent print identifications, 3.) to integrate project results with current practice. ca/ncf