ABSTRACT
The ability to lift fingerprints is a basic skill necessary to process a crime scene. The science of fingerprints is based on two fundamental principles relating to friction ridge skin, which is found on the palmar side of the hands and fingers and the plantar side of the feet. These two well-established principles are: individuality and permanence. Fingerprint comparison involves the comparison of known prints of an individual with impressions of fingerprints. These prints may be latent, patent or plastic. The Automated Fingerprint Identifications Systems (AFIS) searches latent prints against record fingerprints utilizing an algorithm system combined with a manual encoding process linked to system filing codes, it then selects the most likely matches or AFIS Candidates. A forensic expert's ears stand to attention at the misuse of a forensic term and in the science of fingerprints, no two terms have been as misused or misunderstood as the terms "fingerprint classification" and "fingerprint identification.".
