The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) facilitated the development of the Latent Print Examination Process Map through a collaboration between the NIST Forensic Science Research Program and the NIST-administered Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences (specifically OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee). Process mapping visually represents the critical steps and decision points of a workflow, allowing others to understand a process and its components more clearly and revealing areas of improvement. Process maps use standard symbols to describe each element in the process – e.g., inputs, outputs, decisions, and steps – making it easier to communicate a process than long-form documentation.

The Latent Print Examination Process Map captures the decision-making and process flow details most frequently encountered in the discipline of forensic latent print. It was developed by a diverse group of practitioners and is intended to reflect current practices within the field. The Latent Print Examination Process Map depicts variations in practice that may be influenced by agency size, agency type (public vs private), agency policies, geographical location and jurisdiction. Certain processes represented in the map have a required sequence while other components may vary. For this reason, it is important to state that the OSAC Latent Print Subcommittee does not necessarily support or endorse (as best practices) all of the different steps and paths depicted in this process map.

The materials accessible through ‘NIST resources’ and ‘Supplemental Resources’ in this tool are expressly provided "as is." NIST makes no warranty of any kind, express, implied, in fact or arising by operation of law, including, without limitation, the implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement and data accuracy, or that any errors will be corrected. NIST does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use of the materials or the results thereof, including but not limited to the correctness, accuracy, reliability, or usefulness of the materials.

View or download the 2019 Latent Print Examination Process Map (PDF)

Process Map Applications:
The Latent Print Examination Process Map is intended to be used to help improve efficiencies while reducing errors, highlight gaps where further research or standardization would be beneficial, and assist with training new investigators. It may also be used to develop specific investigative policies and identify best practices.

Scope of the Latent Print Examination Process Map:
The scope of the Latent Print map is limited to core processes within the discipline of latent print such as data collection, data analysis, and origin and cause determination. Several forensic latent print related activities were not mapped including evidence disposition, the development of supplemental reports, and trial preparations. These topics may be covered in future process mapping exercises.

Authors:
This tool was created by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) & RTI International through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) Joint Venture Partnership program, under the guidance of Melissa Taylor at NIST. RTI International contributors include: Jason Dupertuis, Roman Ruiz-Esparza, Ian Thomas, Marcia Underwood, Andrea Allsup, Nicole Jones, Mikalaa Martin, and Dr. Heidi Eldridge.