Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2012 | Page 55

FORENSICS JOURNAL

Another important variable that requires further scrutiny is the age of
the prints. Several different ages of prints were evaluated throughout
this study. Prints tend to degrade as they age, therefore; only prints
of the same age can be successfully and reliably compared with one
another in order to reach the most accurate conclusion.

quality than those in the unpackaged groups. Even though the examination of these data sets supports this assertion, no valid conclusions
could be made due to Donor 2’s print issues. Although no definitive
conclusions were made, the results did illustrate that print quality differs from one individual to the next based on organic variations.

RESULTS

DONOR 3

EXPERIMENT #1

Of the three donors who participated in this study, Donor 3’s prints
yielded the highest quality prints due to less smudging. Therefore,
Donor 3’s prints provided results that were more accurate than any
others in this study for the purpose of comparing prints from the
various groups. While most of the prints were of good to decent
quality more deterioration was visible in the packaged, uncontrolled
groups (Groups D, H, and L) than in the unpackaged, uncontrolled
groups (Groups C, G, and K). This set of data suggests that packaging material is capable of damaging prints to a degree; however, it
does obliterate the prints thereby rendering them valueless. The prints
recovered from the packaged, uncontrolled groups yielded prints with
ratings of 3 and 4.

DONOR 1
There are few reliable conclusions that can be made from the prints
deposited by Donor 1 because the lotion adversely affected the prints’
quality from the initial deposit onward. The lotion caused the bottle
to slip within the donor’ ́