Police Sergeant Practice Exam

How many latent fingerprint points must match the suspect's fingerprint for courts to consider the latent print a positive identification?

1. No specific number

2. 10

3. 5

4. 15

The correct answer is: No specific number

The correct answer is A, as there is no specific number of latent fingerprint points that must match for a print to be considered a positive identification in court. The determination of whether a latent print is a positive match is based on the totality of the circumstances, which includes the quality of the prints, the expertise of the analyst, and the context of the case. In practice, forensic experts often refer to the number of points of comparison, but there is no universally accepted minimum due to variations in the quality of latent prints and the subjectivity involved in interpretation. Courts typically rely on the testimony of qualified fingerprint examiners, who may use various factors beyond just counting points to make their determinations, including ridge characteristics and overall patterns.