Select five items from the list of evidence below and identify a process for developing latent fingerprints on each of the items selected (see further instructions at the bottom of the page):
- white pillowcase (stained with what appears to be a blood)
- pry bar (used by burglar to pry open a door)
- brown glass beer bottle (left behind at a crime scene by a suspect)
- aluminum beer can (left behind at a crime scene by a suspect)
- white piece of paper with writing (left behind at a bank robbery)
- wet music CD (dropped by suspects after breaking into a car)
- 9mm blue-steel semiautomatic handgun (dropped outside a bank after a robbery)
- hardcover textbook (found in a classroom that was forcibly entered)
- car fender (wet) (recovered stolen vehicle)
- plastic candy bar wrapper (left in recovered stolen vehicle)
INSTRUCTIONS: The PPTs, textbook, and Internet research will help with determining suitable techniques and processes for developing fingerprints on the listed items.
1- SELECT ONLY FIVE ITEMS from the list of evidence above and provide a physical and/or chemical process you would use to develop fingerprints on each item and why.
Hint: List each item separately (do not bundle items) and explain what processes and techniques you feel will work best for developing fingerprints on each item. You should also consider the condition of each item (i.e. wet, biological, porous, non-porous, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal). For example, what process do you think will work best for developing latent prints on the beer can: is it dusting with powder, magnetic powder, or would a chemical method such as Cyanoacrylate (super glue) work best? Besides identifying a process, explain why you would use that process. More than one process may develop prints on each of the items listed. You only need to identify a single process that you think will work best for the given condition of the evidence and provide why you elected that process. Explanations such as "it is easier, it is cheaper, it is the best method available, or it is quicker" are not appropriate explanations. You should also stay away from light sources and just stick with the physical and chemical methods.