Latent print examination and human factors :

Abstract

ridge examinations and to reduce the likelihood and consequences of human error at various stages in the interpretation of evidence.To further this effort, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences (OFIS) within the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Law Enforcement Standards Office (OLES) sponsored the work of this expert panel to examine human factors in latent print analysis and to develop recommendations to reduce the risk of error and improve the practice of latent print analysis.The Expert Working Group on Human Factors in Latent Print Analysis was convened in December 2008 and charged with conducting a scientific assessment of the effects of human factors on forensic latent print analysis.A scientific assessment, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, "is an evaluation of a body of scientific or technical knowledge which typically synthesizes multiple factual inputs, data, models, and assumptions, and/or applies best professional judgment to bridge uncertainties in the available information."7 The Working Group was charged with:• Developing an understanding of the role of human factors and their contributions to errors in latent print analysis through an evidence-based review of literature, case studies, and previous analyses; • Evaluating approaches to reducing errors in terms of their efficacy, appropriateness in different settings and circumstances, cost, scientific basis, feasibility, institutional barriers to implementation, associated risks, and the quality of evidence supporting the approach; • Providing guidance to the latent print analysis community on the practical, scientific, and policy outcomes of its work through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences and meetings, and government-sponsored publications; • Providing guidance to policy-makers and government agencies in promoting a national agenda for error reduction in latent print analysis; • Attempting to develop credible estimates of the incidence, severity, and costs of errors; and • Making recommendations for future research.Working Group members were selected because of their expertise in the forensic sciences or another relevant field and the ability to balance scientific rigor with practical and regulatory constraints.The Working Group consisted of experts from forensic disciplines, statisticians, psychologists, engineers, other scientific experts, legal scholars, and representatives of professional organizations.The Working Group met 9 times over the course of 2 1/2 years and heard presentations from experts in human factors, vision science, laboratory design, latent print identification, and interpretation in forensic science.Each chapter in this report was developed by a subgroup of the vii 2. About the SponsorsNIJ is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to researching crime control and justice issues.NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice.The Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences (OIFS) is the federal government's lead agency for forensic science research and development as well as for the administration of programs that provide direct support to crime laboratories and law enforcement agencies to increase their capacity to process high-volume cases, to provide needed training in new technologies, and to provide support to reduce backlogs.Forensic science program areas include Research and Development in Basic and Applied Forensic Sciences, Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants, DNA Backlog Reduction, Solving Cold Cases with DNA, Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery.NIST's mission is to advance measurement science, standards, and technology.It accomplishes these actions for the forensic science community through the OLES Forensic Science Program.The OLES Forensic Science Program directs research efforts to develop performance standards, measurement tools, operating procedures, guidelines, and reports that will advance the field of forensic science.OLES also serves the broader public safety community through the promulgation of standards in the areas of protective systems; detection, enforcement, and inspection technologies; public safety communication; and counterterrorism and response technologies. Organization of This ReportChapter 1 provides an overview of the Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification (ACE-V) process for the examination of latent prints.The chapter also explains certain terminology used throughout the report.Chapter 2 outlines the general ideas behind human factors and organizational theory.It also addresses the nature of errors in latent print analysis, the reasons for identifying them or measuring their prevalence, and possible ways to estimate accuracy and error rates.Chapter 3 describes, defines, and clarifies the interpretative stages of latent print comparisons.In addition, it describes the current state of knowledge, based upon published research, and discusses what this research suggests about potential concerns and pitfalls in the interpretive process.

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