Forensic science and fingermark identification is a high-stakes business. Investigating criminal cases the world over, the work of forensic experts has significant implications on the lives of individuals and societies as a whole. As such, the results that examiners provide must be reliable and trustworthy. And this is where validation comes in.

Within forensics, validation is the process of confirming that a tool, technique, or procedure works as intended throughout the examination and presentation of evidence.

In the world of fingerprints, there are two areas of practice that we routinely seek to validate. Firstly, the performance of our tools and instruments, and secondly, human-based methods and techniques.

Whilst instrument validation is concerned with determining how well a tool or technology performs, human-based validation focuses on staff competence and training.

However, there remains one area of fingerprints forensics that remains unvalidated. The chemical reagents that we use daily to develop marks.

Related Webinar:
This webinar features a new and innovative solution that foster+freeman has developed to fill in this missing link in the fingerprint validation process.