Presented by Robert Carpenter UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium May 14, 2005

 Example cases of fingerprint misidentification: After serving six years of a 35 year sentence for allegedly shooting a police officer in 1998, on January 23, 2004 a 33- year old (Stephan Cowan), was freed after prosecutors learned that a fingerprint used in his trial belonged to someone else. After serving six years of a 35 year sentence for allegedly shooting a police officer in 1998, on January 23, 2004 a 33- year old (Stephan Cowan), was freed after prosecutors learned that a fingerprint used in his trial belonged to someone else. After the fingerprint analysis of a detonator bag from the After the fingerprint analysis of a detonator bag from the Madrid train bombings, the FBI announced, “The FBI Madrid train bombings, the FBI announced, “The FBI lab stands by their conclusion of a 100 percent positive lab stands by their conclusion of a 100 percent positive identification (of American lawyer Brandon Mayfield).” identification (of American lawyer Brandon Mayfield).” Within the month a federal court threw out the case against Within the month a federal court threw out the case against him. The FBI expressed regret for a fingerprint him. The FBI expressed regret for a fingerprint identification error that led to his arrest. identification error that led to his arrest.

 158 people have been EXONERATED and released from prison after their cases have been proven by DNA to have been miscarriages of justice. May 1, 2005  Many of these people were released from death row. from death row.  How many inmates are imprisoned because of “mistakes” made during because of “mistakes” made during fingerprint identification? fingerprint identification?

When examining the prints of a subject, how many points are lost in a latent print as opposed to the points in the rolled print? When examining the prints of a subject, how many points are lost in a latent print as opposed to the points in the rolled print? Does the retraining of personnel increase the quality of processing for both rolled and latent prints? Does the retraining of personnel increase the quality of processing for both rolled and latent prints?

When evaluating the points of identification of a subject’s fingerprints, there will be fewer than half of the identification points in the latent print when compared to those found in the rolled print. Retraining personnel will increase the quality of processing both rolled and latent prints, creating more points of identification.

Belief that fingerprints are unique to each person dates back thousands of years. Belief that fingerprints are unique to each person dates back thousands of years. They have been used for over a century to convict suspects. They have been used for over a century to convict suspects. They have been used as the ultimate, indisputable form of identification, without serious scrutiny of the process. They have been used as the ultimate, indisputable form of identification, without serious scrutiny of the process. There has been a lack of standardized training. There has been a lack of standardized training.

Latent Print A fingerprint made by deposits of oils and/or perspiration, not usually visible to the human eye. Latent Print A fingerprint made by deposits of oils and/or perspiration, not usually visible to the human eye. Rolled Print When the pad of a finger is inked and rolled on a fingerprint card. rolled on a fingerprint card.

Campus of the University of California, Irvine Campus of the University of California, Irvine Chosen for convenience Chosen for convenience Researcher access Researcher access Availability of subjects Availability of subjects Financial considerations Financial considerations Availability of the AFIX Tracker Software Availability of the AFIX Tracker Software

AFIX Tracker AFIX Tracker

Gender: Females 366, Males 157 Gender: Females 366, Males 157 Participants in the subject pool were volunteers who receive class credit. Participants in the subject pool were volunteers who receive class credit. Consent forms were signed prior to the administration of fingerprint processing. Consent forms were signed prior to the administration of fingerprint processing. Subjects were briefed at the time of the experiment to ensure that all rules of ethical consideration were adhered to. Subjects were briefed at the time of the experiment to ensure that all rules of ethical consideration were adhered to.

Research Assistants were trained at the beginning of this research project. Research Assistants were trained at the beginning of this research project. They were trained in the techniques used by law enforcement in the collection of latent prints. They were trained in the techniques used by law enforcement in the collection of latent prints. The methods of rolling fingerprints onto “ten-print” cards were also taught. The methods of rolling fingerprints onto “ten-print” cards were also taught. Retraining in these methods was conducted midway through the research project. Retraining in these methods was conducted midway through the research project.

Subjects entered, read and signed consent forms and filled out demographic information. Subjects entered, read and signed consent forms and filled out demographic information. Subjects were informed that their fingerprints would be protected in a locked university facility. Subjects were informed that their fingerprints would be protected in a locked university facility. Subjects were asked to touch two different items. Subjects were asked to touch two different items. Subjects then had fingerprints “rolled” at station 2. Subjects then had fingerprints “rolled” at station 2. Subjects’ fingerprints and consent forms were logged by student ID numbers. Subjects’ fingerprints and consent forms were logged by student ID numbers.

Number of rolled prints Number of rolled prints collected…5250 collected…5250 Number of latent prints Number of latent prints collected…1683 collected…1683 Total number Total number of prints processed… 6933 of prints processed… 6933

All rolled and latent prints were scanned into the computer utilizing the AFIX Tracker software. All rolled and latent prints were scanned into the computer utilizing the AFIX Tracker software. All fingerprints were subjected to “auto- extraction” to identify points of identification. All fingerprints were subjected to “auto- extraction” to identify points of identification. Statistical analysis programs were utilized to answer all pertinent questions. Statistical analysis programs were utilized to answer all pertinent questions. AFIX Tracker was used to run latent print searches against the rolled prints obtained from the subjects. AFIX Tracker was used to run latent print searches against the rolled prints obtained from the subjects.

Research Assistant Coded Identity % Of Change

Research Assistant Coded Identity % Of Change

Here are examples of accurate and inaccurate matches made by AFIX. Here are examples of accurate and inaccurate matches made by AFIX. 8 point match 11 point mismatch

All latent prints were searched against the corresponding rolled prints from the same subjects. All latent prints were searched against the corresponding rolled prints from the same subjects. 30% of the time AFIX was not able to match to any subject. 30% of the time AFIX was not able to match to any subject. Of the “matches” made: Of the “matches” made: 60% of the matches were to the proper subject. 60% of the matches were to the proper subject. 40% of the time it matched to the WRONG subject. 40% of the time it matched to the WRONG subject. These findings mirrored an earlier study. These findings mirrored an earlier study. (Karrie Casada, 2004) (Karrie Casada, 2004)

The use of Live Scan decreases The use of Live Scan decreases the error rate among rolled prints. The technician can see the quality of print at the momentand re-roll as needed. The increase of identifiable points of latent prints and the improved proficiency rating of the research assistants is most likely attributed to the retraining of the latent print processing techniques. The increase of identifiable points of latent prints and the improved proficiency rating of the research assistants is most likely attributed to the retraining of the latent print processing techniques.

The issue is: Can a fingerprint be linked to one and only one person? The issue is: Can a fingerprint be linked to one and only one person? Additional studies need to be conducted. Additional studies need to be conducted. Standardized performance criteria for field officers/investigators who process latent fingerprints, as well as periodic retraining sessions. Standardized performance criteria for field officers/investigators who process latent fingerprints, as well as periodic retraining sessions. “Blind” fingerprint examiners, not under the influence of the police department, should do the comparative analysis. “Blind” fingerprint examiners, not under the influence of the police department, should do the comparative analysis.

Thank you to those who made this research possible: Thank you to those who made this research possible: Professor Simon Cole Ph.D. Professor Simon Cole Ph.D. Professor Valerie Jenness Ph.D. Professor Valerie Jenness Ph.D. Rachel Dioso Ph.D. Candidate Rachel Dioso Ph.D. Candidate Gerhard “Harry” Georgescu Gerhard “Harry” Georgescu UROP - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program UROP - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program The Phoenix Group, Inc. AFIX Tracker The Phoenix Group, Inc. AFIX Tracker

The volume and quality of fingerprints collected would not have been possible without the following: The volume and quality of fingerprints collected would not have been possible without the following: Research Assistants: Research Assistants: Edward Auttapibarn Allyson Maddy Edward Auttapibarn Allyson Maddy Stacey Brown Neha Mahajan Stacey Brown Neha Mahajan Danielle Campbell Scott Manese Danielle Campbell Scott Manese Farah Chaugule Chivan Ngo Farah Chaugule Chivan Ngo Ana-Maria Comsa Marina Ovanessian Ana-Maria Comsa Marina Ovanessian Joy deVera James (JB) Robinson Joy deVera James (JB) Robinson Adam Dorn Geoff Ross Adam Dorn Geoff Ross Danielle Evans Jeremy Takahashi Danielle Evans Jeremy Takahashi Ernest Hu Bunneat Thap Ernest Hu Bunneat Thap Jazmin Ibarra Ngoc-Suong “Sophie” Vo Jazmin Ibarra Ngoc-Suong “Sophie” Vo Christine Lee Shanshan Yu Christine Lee Shanshan Yu Wally Liu Wally Liu Thank you all! Thank you all!

Contact Rob Carpenter Department of Criminology, Law & Society University of California, Irvine