Chapter 7 - Submission of PM Fingerprint Records for Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Searches and Antemortem Fingerprint Record Investigation

Abstract

Out of all scientific modalities used in forensic human identification, fingerprint identification is the most rapid and cost-effective means by which to identify unidentified human remains (UHR). However, there is a common misconception that if an individual was fingerprinted at some point in life, an antemortem fingerprint record resides in a national, comprehensive, and searchable database of all criminal and civil fingerprint records. Unfortunately, this is not the case—antemortem fingerprint records must be located within a complex network of searchable and non-searchable databases, or must be specially requested for specific reasons because the records reside in a private institution. When a forensic examiner or law enforcement official is tasked with the forensic identification of unidentified postmortem fingerprint records, the complexity of antemortem fingerprint investigation, searching, and comparison must be understood. The examiner or investigator must gather certain information in order to know where to search for the possible antemortem fingerprint record. Measures must be taken to use all available resources, leverage all fingerprint databases, and increase federal submission capabilities in order to exhaust all avenues in the attempt to identify postmortem fingerprint records.