Latent Print Unit

Submission Guidelines

As part of BCI’s ongoing effort to effectively and efficiently assist law enforcement in Ohio, the Laboratory has adopted policies for latent print evidence submissions. Find the details in this document.

FAQs

• If I have a suspect but was unable to collect known prints, what information should I give to the laboratory?
  A: Please provide the name, BCI number and date of birth of any person(s) of interest so that a manual comparison can be performed.
• Can I submit digital images of prints?
  A: Yes. The digital images should be in a .tiff/.raw (not .jpeg) file format and should include a scale.
  For answers to other questions, contact a laboratory supervisor.

• What is “sufficiency” in terms of latent print examination?
  A: Sufficiency is the product of the quality and quantity of the objective data that can be observed, such as friction ridge detail or minutiae, crease and scar features.
• What is an inconclusive comparison?
  A: An “inconclusive comparison” means that a comparison of the latent print to the known exemplar(s) did not provide a sufficient degree of support for one proposition (evidence originated from the same or different source) over the other. It is one of the results that can come from analysis. This BCI Comparison Conclusion Scale defines other laboratory report conclusions.
• What is an incomplete comparison?
  A: An “incomplete comparison” means that a comparison of the latent print to the known exemplar(s) could not be completed due to insufficient and/or poor quality of the known prints. For example, portions such as the tips of fingers or lower joints might be missing or areas might be smeared or not fully rolled.
• What are major case prints?
  A: Major case prints show fully registered fingers, including the tips and sides of the fingers, and palm prints, including sides of the palms and complete lower joints of the fingers. More information:
  • Directions for recording fingerprints
  • Example of Major Case Prints
• What kind of results can be expected from a latent prints examination?
  A: There are five conclusions that examiners can reach in their analysis:
   
  • Source identification
  • Support for the same source
  • An inconclusive result
  • Support for a different source
  • Source exclusion
  Find more details in this conclusion scale document.

• What is AFIS?
  A: The Automated Fingerprint Identification System is a statewide database of more than 4 million criminal records and corresponding fingerprints, palm prints and mug shots. The integration of computerized criminal history files within the AFIS database allows for the rapid identification of suspects by fingerprints or palm prints and other demographic information.
• What is NGI/IAFIS?
  A: The FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system includes a database of biometric exemplars, such as fingerprints (more than 75 million from criminal cases) and palm prints. The database, which also holds criminal histories, is the next step up from the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).
• Are unidentified latent prints searched constantly through AFIS?
  A: No, they are searched once through the system unless requested to be enrolled into the Unsolved Latent Database (ULDB).
• If a latent print is sufficient, is it always searched through AFIS and/or NGI?
  A: Not necessarily. The latent might contain sufficient ridge information but might be an area that is usually not visible on the known finger/palm print cards (i.e. tips of fingers, lower joints, far sides of fingers and palms); the quality of the print may affect its eligibility for AFIS/NGI searches (distortion, creases, poor contrast, background noise, etc.); or the latent might be a repeated impression that already has been searched.

OHLEG Apps

Laboratory Online: This app allows county prosecutors to securely track the testing status and results of DNA and other types of evidence that local law enforcement agencies submit to BCI.

Laboratory Evidence Pre-Log and Inquiry: This app allows an OHLEG user to complete BCI’s evidence submission paperwork in advance and check on completion status.