Computation of likelihood ratios in fingerprint identification for configurations of any number of minutiae

Recent court challenges have highlighted the need for statistical research on fingerprint identification. This paper proposes a model for computing likelihood ratios (LRs) to assess the evidential value of comparisons with any number of minutiae. The model considers minutiae type, direction and relative spatial relationships. It expands on previous work on three minutiae by adopting a spatial modeling using radial triangulation and a probabilistic distortion model for assessing the numerator of the LR. The model has been tested on a sample of 686 ulnar loops and 204 arches. Features vectors used for statistical analysis have been obtained following a preprocessing step based on Gabor filtering and image processing to extract minutiae data. The metric used to assess similarity between two feature vectors is based on an Euclidean distance measure. Tippett plots and rates of misleading evidence have been used as performance indicators of the model. The model has shown encouraging behavior with low rates of misleading evidence and a LR power of the model increasing significantly with the number of minutiae. The LRs that it provides are highly indicative of identity of source on a significant proportion of cases, even when considering configurations with few minutiae. In contrast with previous research, the model, in addition to minutia type and direction, incorporates spatial relationships of minutiae without introducing probabilistic independence assumptions. The model also accounts for finger distortion.     

Enhancement of ninhydrin- or DFO-treated latent fingerprints on thermal paper

A new method for enhancement of ninhydrin or 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO)-treated latent fingerprints on thermal paper will be described. Most thermosensitive surfaces of thermal paper become dark when treated with DFO or ninhydrin petroleum ether (NPB) solution. This effect minimizes contrast between the developed fingerprints and the background. The new method described reduces this dark staining without removing the thermosensitive layer and parts of the developed fingerprints, as occurs with acetone washing. Through the new method, the developed fingerprints appear in sharp lines and high contrast. Extensive tests were performed, leading to an optimized working solution, which charges the paper with a minimum of chemicals, is cheap, and enables a large quantity of papers to be treated in a short time. The working solution contains commercially available, nonvolatile, nitrogenous organic compounds and can be used like the application of NPB solution by dipping.     

Examination of the steps leading up to the physical developer process for developing fingerprints

This is a systematic study that examines several acid prewashes and water rinses on paper bearing latent prints before its treatment with a silver physical developer. Specimens or items processed with this method are usually pretreated with an acid wash to neutralize calcium carbonate from the paper before the treatment with a physical developer. Two different acids at varying concentrations were tested on fingerprints. Many different types of paper were examined in order to determine which acid prewash was the most beneficial. Various wash times as well as the addition of a water rinse step before the development were also examined. A pH study was included that monitored the acidity of the solution during the wash step. Scanning electron microscopy was used to verify surface calcium levels for the paper samples throughout the experiment. Malic acid at a concentration of 2.5% proved to be an ideal acid for most papers, providing good fingerprint development with minimal background development. Water rinses were deemed unnecessary before physical development.     

DNA profiling from heroin street dose packages

A large amount of heroin street doses are seized and examined for drug content by the Israel police. These are generally wrapped in heat-sealed plastic. Occasionally it is possible to visualize latent fingerprints on the plastic wrap itself, but the small size of the plastic item and the sealing process makes the success rate very low. In this study, the possibility of extracting and profiling DNA from the burnt edge of the plastic wrap was investigated. The idea was based on the assumption that epithelial cells might be trapped during the sealing process. The results show that there are sufficient quantities of DNA deposited at the "amorphic" burnt edges of sealed street doses for DNA profiling to be carried out. A controlled experiment using a known donor was performed. This subject carried out sealing of "street drug" packages and consequent DNA extractions were performed to show that known DNA profiles could be recovered from such packages, as a result of handling by the "packer." "Square-like" burnt edges did not yield DNA profiles, probably because of differences in the sealing process. It was also shown that DNA could be recovered from the plastic wrap itself and not only from the amorphic burnt edges. As heroin dealers and drug users are often involved in other crimes and run-ins with the law, the effective extraction and addition of their DNA profiles from such items of evidence to the newly established DNA database in Israel provides new avenues in the continued fight against crime and drug traffickers.     

拓扑学在指纹自动识别系统中的应用

拓扑学广泛应用于指纹自动识别系统的匹配算法中,但是还需要深入探索来逐步完善这种算法。通过一系列实验,验证了拓扑算法的优越性,也总结出利用指纹自动识别系统系统比对指纹时应注意的一些问题。     

A fast analysis system for forensic DNA reference samples

On January 1st, 2006, the Swedish legislation on obtaining DNA reference samples from suspects and the recording of DNA profiles in databases was changed. As a result the number of samples analysed at the Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science (SKL) increased from about 4500 in 2005 to more than 25,000 in 2006. To meet this challenge, SKL launched a new analysis system to create an unbroken chain, from sampling to incorporation of a profile in the national DNA database and subsequent automatic generation of digitally signed hit reports. The system integrates logistics, digital data transfer, new functions in LIMS (ForumDNA Version 4, Ida Infront AB) and laboratory automation. Buccal swab samples are secured on a FTA^® card attached to an identity form, which is barcoded with a unique sample ID. After sampling, the police officer sends a digital request to SKL. The sample is automatically registered in LIMS and processed on delivery. The resulting DNA profiles are automatically classified according to quality using a custom-made expert system. Building the evaluation around mathematical rules makes it reproducible, standardised and minimises manual work and clerk errors. All samples are run in duplicate and the two profiles are compared within LIMS before incorporation in the database. In the first year of operation, the median time for completion of an analysis was 3 days, measured from delivery of the sample to incorporation of the profile in the national DNA database. In spite of the dramatic increase in the number of reference samples there was no backlog.     

利用加氨水催化法提取和拍照具有一定渗透性客体上的汗液手印

刑事案件现场经常遗留一些具有一定渗透性的客体，如丝绸、橡胶、皮革等，上面留有汗液指纹。由于汗液的挥发性和客体的渗透性，部分的汗液挥发到空气中或是渗透到客体中，无色的汗液手印很难用肉眼观察到，因此难以进行直接拍照。利用汗液手印的化学特性，用加氨水催化法配合常用的502胶熏显法，可以较好地显现出手印并加以拍照，为物证鉴定提供依据。     

科学证据之微量物证的诉讼价值研究

微量物证是科学技术发展的产物。犯罪现象的复杂化向传统的以供述证据为中心的侦查手段提出了挑战，微量物证在刑事诉讼过程中的地位日益凸现，为实现诉讼过程的公正、及时、准确、高效发挥了重要的作用。     

低温荧光法显现汗潜指纹初探

目的　探索汗潜指纹显现的新方法。方法　利用低温荧光摄影方法加强指纹沉积物的固有荧光强度 ,来提高汗潜指纹显现的成功率。结果　在 4 1 5nm波段激发下用黄滤色镜拍摄指纹的显现效果最好。结论　低温荧光法是一种有效的潜指纹显现的技术手段     

游动配光检验方法的研究

目的研究游动配光检验的方法,利用配光理论指导解决实际问题。方法采用游动配光方法,对痕迹或客体进行“扫描”或游动配光。结果可有效显现非平面光滑客体上较大面积的各种痕迹,并可应用到其它配光技术中。结论丰富和发展了痕迹检验配光理论的内容。