ACE-V Friction Ridge Skin and the Identification Process – 4 hours
During this time the following topics will be discussed:
- What is Friction Ridge skin?
- Friction Ridge skin Features
- Types of Friction Ridge skin Impressions
- Skin Glands and Latent Residue
- What is ACE-V?
- History of the ACE-V Process
- Applying ACE-V to the comparison process
Analyzing Complex and Distorted Latent Prints – 4 hours
This section will focus on complex and distorted Latent Impressions. Including Smearing, Double Touches, Twists and various forms or pressure distortion.
- How does Light pressure affect an impression?
- How does Heavy Pressure affect an impression?
- How does Lateral distortion affect an impression?
- How do twisting impressions react to the surface?
ACE-V Practical Complex Latent Prints – 4 hours
During this time the students will be given 20 enlarged friction ridge impressions which have various forms of distortion they will apply their analysis skills using the topics discusses in the previous section.
- What type distortion is being displayed?
- How is this distortion affecting the Latent Print?
- What are the useful areas of the Latent?
- What are the “Danger Zones”?
Comparing Smart – 2 hours
During this time the following topics will be discussed:
- Palm & Finger Clues
- Ridge Flow Clues
- Crease Clues
- Shape Clues
- Terms not technical but easy to remember, apply, and share with others
- Purpose is to recognize clues in partial latents & associate them with the correct area of the palm or finger
- Goal is to determine (prior to searching):
- --Specific palm or finger area (position)
- --Correct direction (orientation)
- --Correct hand (left or right)
Palm Orientation – 1 hour
During this time students will apply the clues their learned in the previous discussion and orient 30 palm prints.
Documenting Your Analysis – 1 hour
During this time students will be shown how to properly document their analysis so that other examiners can follow their thought process using 20 enlarged friction ridge impressions.
Preparing for a Daubert Hearing – 8 hours
In this section Multiple studies will be discussed that can prepare an examiner to explain the logical reason on how conclusions were derived by the examiner.
- Top 5 Latent studies every Latent Examiner should know.
- How to apply each study to difficult courtroom question.
- How to handle yourself with an overzealous advocate
Comparisons – 16 hours
During this time students will combine all topics discussed and use magnifiers in order to locate corresponding latent impressions with the standard impression that they are given.
