10_Print Searches And Latent Print Searches

A 10-print search is conducted on a fingerprint record which is often a reproduction of all ten fingers. An automated 10-print inquiry normally requires a minutiae search of only the thumbs or index fingers. Submitted fingerprints commonly have sufficient clarity and detail to make searching of more than two fingers unnecessary. This can be performed by a computer, in a 'lights out' setting if the quality of the record is high enough. A latent print search can be utilized for searching unknown deceased records when multiple fingers are not printable or present, and/or the quality of the recording is poor. A latent print search can often be more time consuming and require additional expertise. A latent print examiner conducts an analysis of the quality and quantity of information in the print and marks the individual minutiae in the print according to each individual AFIS system's requirements. Due to the lower quality and quantity of information often found with PM fingerprints, the analysis of each impression by a latent print examiner along with the marking of the specific minutiae for AFIS searches can yield better results. The AFIS system typically returns a candidate list of possible individuals that must be manually compared by the latent print examiner to determine if there is an identification.