Comparing Categorical and Probabilistic Fingerprint Evidence

Fingerprint examiners traditionally express conclusions in categorical terms, opining that impressions do or do not originate from the same source. Recently, probabilistic conclusions have been proposed, with examiners estimating the probability of a match between recovered and known prints. This study presented a nationally representative sample of jury‐eligible adults with a hypothetical robbery case in which an examiner opined on the likelihood that a defendant\u27s fingerprints matched latent fingerprints in categorical or probabilistic terms. We studied model language developed by the U.S. Defense Forensic Science Center to summarize results of statistical analysis of the similarity between prints. Participant ratings of the likelihood the defendant left prints at the crime scene and committed the crime were similar when exposed to categorical and strong probabilistic match evidence. Participants reduced these likelihoods when exposed to the weaker probabilistic evidence, but did not otherwise discriminate among the prints assigned different match probabilities

Empirical Evaluation of the Reliability of Photogrammetry Software in the Recovery of Three-Dimensional Footwear Impressions.

This paper examines the reliability of Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry as a tool in the capture of forensic footwear marks. This is applicable to photogrammetry freeware DigTrace but is equally relevant to other SfM solutions. SfM simply requires a digital camera, a scale bar, and a selection of oblique photographs of the trace in question taken at the scene. The output is a digital three-dimensional point cloud of the surface and any plastic trace thereon. The first section of this paper examines the reliability of photogrammetry to capture the same data when repeatedly used on one impression, while the second part assesses the impact of varying cameras. Using cloud to cloud comparisons that measure the distance between two-point clouds, we assess the variability between models. The results highlight how little variability is evident and therefore speak to the accuracy and consistency of such techniques in the capture of three-dimensional traces. Using this method, 3D footwear impressions can, in many substrates, be collected with a repeatability of 97% with any variation between models less than ~0.5 mm

Agenda Draft for September 1998 PCAST Meetings

Draft agenda for meetings of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) over September 18-19, 1998

PCAST Status Report for Vice President Gore

Status report of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology's (PCAST) report for Vice President Gore on innovative technologies

Working Draft of 'Wellspring of Prosperity'

August 27, 1999 draft of "Wellspring of Prosperity," a 1999 report by the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on the economic benefits of the United States' science and technology and R&D. Includes marks and notes by Neal Lane

Minutes of PCAST Meeting

Collection of minutes from the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology's (PCAST) 21st meeting session on September 14, 2000. Major topics of the meeting include increasing the capacity for science and technology research in other countries and various committee reports from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)