Workshop Overview:

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in conjunction with the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), is sponsoring a series of workshops designed to help facilitate the transition of novel technologies into practice by operational crime laboratories. These Technology Transition Workshops, which highlight technologies developed under the NIJ’s forensic science research and development programs, are a critical component of NIJ’s research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) efforts.

The purpose of this technology transition workshop is to provide the student with an understanding of sequential processing for crime scene exhibits in general, and documents in particular. An identification specialist cannot know in advance, the unique combination of fingerprint components present in the exhibits that will challenge him/her. Nor can the identification specialist know which impressions will be crucial to a case. In many investigations it is essential to target as many potential components of fingerprints as possible to ensure that nothing is missed. This class will include lecture, demonstration and hands-on activities to illustrate and practice the concepts presented.

During the lecture portion of the workshop, participants will learn the rationale for sequential processing of paper exhibits based on the wide range of potential target components of finger deposits. The need to triage exhibits by incorporating their condition and history into the analytical decision making process will be highlighted. During the laboratory portion of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice triaging mock paper exhibits to ensure that all reagents are used appropriately during processing. Participants will also mix the following chemicals and apply the necessary chemical detection techniques in sequence for each exhibit:

• Indanedione
• Oil red O
• Physical developer

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of the Sequential Processing of Documents for Fingerprints: Getting All of What’s There Technology Transition Workshop, the participant will acquire the knowledge to:

• Summarize the principal target ingredients in fingerprint deposits
• Triage paper exhibits for processing according to their condition and history
• Prepare indanedione, oil red O, and physical developer
• Describe the specific properties of indanedione, oil red O, and physical developer (solubility) and how this impacts the order and number of techniques to be employed
• Process exhibits in each of the three reagents, either individually or collectively in sequence
• Understand and explain the necessity for processing exhibits in the correct sequence
• Utilize and explain the correct post-treatment viewing conditions for each reagent
• Photograph positive results after each stage of document sequential processing

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