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Determining the Quality and Sustainability of Friction Ridge Deposits on Envelopes Sent Through the Postal System

NCJ Number
242790
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2013 Pages: 247-253
Author(s)
Dominique Holt
Date Published
June 2013
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study explored the quality and sustainability of latent fingerprints on standard envelopes that were sent through the postal system.
Abstract
This study explored the quality and sustainability of test friction ridge deposits on standard envelopes that were sent through the postal system. The research provided a statistical overview whereby the greater number of deposits were strongly present (sustainable), and the majority of these deposits exhibited friction ridge detail that was suitable for comparison and identification purposes (quality). Only a relatively small number of deposits were affected by the physical handling of the test envelopes. The test envelopes were collected and chemically treated using 1,2-indanedione with ZnC12 (IND-Zn) to develop latent fingerprint impressions. The test envelopes were assessed to determine the extent to which the deposit was present, the level of friction ridge detail, and whether any foreign superimposed fingerprints deposited during the distribution process had affected the quality of the deposit. (Published Abstract)