ABSTRACT
Processing evidentiary items and crime scenes involves both forensic knowledge and analytical skills. When a fingerprint analyst or crime scene investigator responds to a crime scene, he or she must document not only the presence of the latent print but also its location and orientation. It is often the context of the latent print that determines its significance and investigative value. Three of the most common crime scene types processed for latent prints are vehicle scenes, residential scenes, and commercial scenes. The point of entry (POE) of a scene, as well as the disturbed areas within the scene, are the most efficacious areas for latent print processing. The exercises in this chapter explore vehicle scene processing as well as an examination of the POE in a residential burglary.
