Fingerprint Analysts Help Solve Crime Mysteries
Fingerprint analysis in the Miami-Dade police department runs continuously on a 24/7 schedule, staffed by 32 analysts who process a minimum of 80 fingerprints a day.
Analysis entails comparison of collected prints to databases to identify dead bodies, criminals, and prisoners. Each set of fingerprints goes through multiple levels of verification; matches in a database are manually verified by at least two analysts who look for several similar characteristics between the collected print and the database entry.
In addition, analysts are often called to provide testimony in criminal trials where fingerprint evidence is relevant.
Fingerprint analysis is often an attractive career to those who have some background in criminal justice but who opt not to become police officers. Initial training takes eight weeks, and analysts take supplementary training sessions annually.
In addition, analysts can obtain additional fingerprint classification certification from the FBI.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Miami Herald (06/25/07); Tablac, Angela.