Basic Latent Print Comparisons

This 40-hour training course designed for the beginner latent print examiner, law enforcement officers, crime scene workers, crime lab analysts, and anyone else who could benefit from learning to analyze latent prints.

In this course, the participant will learn a brief history of latent prints, the science of fingerprints, the anatomy and physiology of friction ridge skin, pattern types and characteristics of friction ridge skin, and the terminology used by latent print examiners worldwide.

The attendees will go through rigorous comparison techniques and exercises where they will compare known/ known inked impressions, as well as unknown latent prints to known exemplars. The ACE-V methodology will be learned in detail, and there will be an introduction to Courtroom Testimony, including: Daubert and Frye standards, Expert Witness qualifications, and courtroom etiquette.

At the conclusion of this course, the participant should not expect to be a qualified Latent Print Examiner (LPE). Rather, they will be better prepared to take part in the Intermediate/Advanced Latent Print Comparison Course, as well as the Palm Print Comparison courses. By the time each participant completes the entire series of training courses, they should be well qualified to take their agency’s tests for LPEs, where reliable, complex analysis is required.