Fingerprint, head of the "exhibits" errors

Relative shortage of scientific theory in support of human factors, may cause an incorrect fingerprint, head of the "exhibits" errors Beijing News weekly of the new knowledge, fingerprint identification today is already a crime subject to the most important subject. There are textbooks will fingerprint identification is referred to as "the pillar of modern criminal identification," many people call it the first of the "evidence", or even think that once the Court gave the fingerprint evidence, make known the truth. However, with the development of new technologies, fingerprint identification and scientific has experienced unprecedented challenges. United States highest scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences last September release of the official report, the fingerprint has become a priority discussion object, the report calls for a strengthening of the fingerprint identification accuracy. In February this year, the United States Department of Justice also intervene to require United States of research organizations on fingerprint analysis of accuracy and error rate to the survey. Fingerprint evidence, whether as a science, or the head of the "evidence" of investigative techniques, standardization, methodology, and technology aspects, is experiencing a lot of baptism. 1 identification of the incorrect instance investigation made "injustice" of 11 March 2004, are Spain Madrid subway bombing. Police at the scene of the collection to an incomplete fingerprints. Two months later, the United States Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) arrested a man called Mayfield. The police announced their fingerprints and bombing scene fingerprint match. After half a month, Spain police arrested a suspect, the suspect's fingerprint with the fingerprint more scene. FBI had to admit they were previously in the analysis of multiple error occurred, and release the Mayfield. This is the fingerprint identification of history's most famous "false positives" misjudgments. According to the current standard for fingerprint identification, crime scene leaving fingerprints and fingerprint matching suspect, would either result occurring in the field: match or not, but when the error of concept has entered false positives or false negatives. United Kingdom Southampton scientists do the experiment, let different fingerprint identification to redo their own identification has done. Participate in testing of five people, three people got and had different results. Experimental believes that environmental factors may result in the identification of different fingerprint make subjective interpretation. But in 1995, the International Association for identification on fingerprint identification survey experiment, in 156 identification officers, only 44% of people got full marks. Last year, the report of the United States National Academy of Sciences, the fingerprint investigation subject priority. In March of this year, the United States Department of Justice to finance a major survey of fingerprint error rate. United States Standardization Technical Department also launched a study, analysis of the "human factor" in the role of fingerprint identification, and the resulting error is much. "This is the first time on a fingerprint identification of Criminology is so comprehensive survey. "The project Executive Chairman hoco (MaxHouck) this reporter's e-mail interview. 2 theoretical basis each fingerprint is unique? "each person's fingerprints are unique", well-known, and also the entire fingerprint identification technology is the most important basic settings. Genetic fingerprints will not, in the embryonic period formed, in each individual born gene and acquired under the influence of the environment, each individual has developed a unique fixed patterns and characteristics of fingerprint, and with its life. 1892, Darwin's cousin Galton publishes monographs "fingerprint". One of the famous words: "in 640 billion people to be able to find a pair of exactly the same fingerprint. "In fact, scientists did not find that different people have the same fingerprint. There are scientists on this probability is recalculated, even though the results are different, but the probability is almost zero. But "different" is the absolute truth?, in fact, it has not really been confirmed too. Hoco said, although so far haven't found different people fingerprint repeat example, but even a century of all fingerprint case together as samples for the purposes of comparison, the total still too small. However, the Chinese Criminal Police Academy Professor Zhao written that science itself is not absolute. "People should be seen in the different" is a relative concept, but as the subject of the basic premise is not waver. He stressed that: "the technology itself is not wrong, but people who have done identification may be at fault, the similar as the same. "General method of judging process 3 problems now, forensic science community developed a comprehensive set of scientific method. First, identification of personnel to fingerprint classification. Classification can quickly eliminate suspects, determine the subsequent identification of direction. Consistent with the category, and then on the fingerprint minutiae, each independent of the mastoid line is clockwise, TDC, fork or merge lines and bifurcation, the combination point. "One of the more than 100 fingerprint minutiae. A less detailed features, the higher the value. "The Chinese Criminal science and technology department head Luo yaping said. Secondly, the experts or onsite fingerprinting and fingerprint comparison of data in the library. This step is automated. Computer recognition or selection, and then verify that the human eye by experts, at the end of the "identification", the expert will give a "match" and "not" or "not sure" conclusions. Follow the fingerprints of integrity and clarity, is generally consistent with 8 to 16 characters, the identification of staff can come to the conclusion of the match. Despite the almost complete fingerprint will not be duplicated, but partial fingerprint is easier, and crime scene got most of the fingerprint are incomplete. If two fingerprints in many features point match, only there is a difference, the difference in points will be some identification officers ignored error identification. "Whether you want to see the difference in points will be interpreted, it is possible due to the dynamic, scar, produce changes. "Zhao written said. In China, can be used as evidence in Court of testimonial match for fingerprints in only two answers: Yes or no, if the identification officers could not determine whether the same fingerprint, you cannot serve as evidence. Now someone has called upon the fingerprinting conclusions from the "wrong" answers becomes a probability. But what kind of probability, 95% or 99%, in order to allow the judge to decide cases? 4 people-the "error" also requires statistical study on the fingerprint identification to have to go through rigorous training, owning rich experience, but this is not to say that identification officers will certainly be able to reach 100% accurate results. Luo yaping pointed out that if you really want to calculate the error rate, must be built on a foundation of mass statisticsOn this basis. She stressed that: "fingerprint identification discipline itself is accurate, but because the human factors that result in an individual case an identification error, but not the scientific base of subject itself. "Hoco also said that currently, the use of the word" accuracy "more appropriate. In fact, the accuracy of the fingerprint identification is still very high. United States has launched a large-scale survey from the statistical point of fingerprint identification "staggering" research project, means that there will be more scientific research funds and invested to fingerprint identification. Investigation of fingerprint identification of "error" or accuracy, was a "look," but not "backward". The ultimate aim is not to deny the fingerprint identification of scientific nature, but rather to improve scientific research support standardized, enhanced theory, improve identification of staff levels and so let the science becomes more scientific. The head of the "evidence" of the fingerprint identification is a unprecedented scientific baptism. The challenge is not equal to the negative, does not mean that this technology will be abandoned, on the contrary, experienced research storm fingerprint identification may become more reliable, more powerful. Interviews/reporter Kim Yu