Quantitative Comparison of Partial-Full Fingerprints at Scenes Using a Hand-Held Digital Device: A Quasi-Experimental Design Study

A partial-full fingerprint comparison continues to be one of the main challenges faced by fingerprint examiners in the lab. This challenge becomes even greater when such a partial-full print comparison is needed for a preliminary decision of an exclusion decision at the crime scene by investigators. This study intends to employ a hand-held digital device to perform quantitative measurements for partial-full fingerprint examination. Based on a quasi-experimental design to simulate partialfull fingerprint situations at crime scenes, this study was able to measure (mm) the samples quantitatively in a real time manner. The results ofthe digital comparison between partial prints (< 35%) and full prints (> 95%) indicate that a decision of a match (the same source) or not a match can be achieved on three digital geometrical modes: liner and angular measurements, and a matrix combination of both. The technical results of this study suggest three important implications: 1) to provide a portable device with quantitative measurement functions in the field; 2) to help increase the success rate of IAFIS in the police station; and 3) to recommend an operational protocol for a partialfull fingerprint comparison. The practical implications of initial exclusion and later inclusion from this study may present a possible methodology to address the challenges more effectively.