Validating Forensic Latent Fingerprinting Techniques

Keough, Ryan Matthew

Student Work

Validating Forensic Latent Fingerprinting Techniques

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The Worcester Police Department Crime Scene Unit in their latent print unit utilizes many chemical methods to develop and enhance fingerprints left on evidence. All of these methods rely on chemical reactions with biological molecules secreted by human skin. In order to gain accreditation from the Forensic Quality Services board, the unit needs to have all of these methods validated. A method will be considered valid when it is tested at the extremes of the range of the protocol and acceptable results are obtained. The data from this project show that all experimental protocols printed in their lab manual (Grady, 2006) are valid.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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