ABSTRACT
Class characteristics of friction ridge prints are those characteristics that can be possessed by more than one print. Even though a class characteristic may be possessed by millions of prints, it can still be of value to the individualization or identification process. A more practical potential use of class characteristics in the individualization of friction ridge prints, which remains only potential for the forseeable future, is their use as an adjunct to the individualization process itself. The frequency of occurrence of various pattern types has been investigated by many people, beginning with Galton. The latent print examiner is fortunate when able to determine which hand and finger made a particular evidence print; even so, it is seldom that the similar finger of the other hand is also found and can be properly identified as such.
