Executive Summary

The Friction Ridge Sourcebook is a joint project between the Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study, and Technology (SWGFAST) and the West Virginia University Forensic Science Initiative (FSI). Although fingerprints have been used as evidence in criminal and civil cases since the early 1900s, there is no single authority or sourcebook that describes fingerprint history, morphology, methodology, guidelines, latent print procedures, AFIS, legal admissibility, and standard terminology.

Scope

A project director under the direction of a research coordinator will manage a team of editors, authors, and student research assistants to compile a comprehensive review of the literature and source materials into a single electronic publication. Experts in specific fields of the fingerprint science will draft individual chapters or portions of chapters that will be supported by bibliographical references that have been gathered by research assistants. The Sourcebook is intended to become the leading written authority on the science of fingerprints. It will be distributed to universities, law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratories, and to individual practitioners.

The Project Director, Editor, and WVU Research Coordinator will select individuals from throughout the scientific community to serve as an Editorial Review Board in support of this initiative. The following additional positions are requested:

Chapter authors will be responsible for the completion of a single chapter of the manuscript. Chapter authors may use coauthors to assist with chapters that are very large or complex.

The following is a list of proposed friction ridge topics for the Sourcebook:

Background and History Physiology and Morphology

Known Prints/Unknown Classification

Automation Processing (Developmental Enhancement)

Preservation Comparison Methodology

Documentation Safety

Equipment Quality Assurance

Legal Issues Research

Suggestions for additional topics will be considered by the Editorial Review Board.

The Project Director and Editor will make formal assignments to chapter authors and research assistants. Deadlines will be imposed to ensure that materials are forwarded in sufficient time to allow for comprehensive review, critique, and edit by the Editorial Review Board and the Editor.

Each Chapter Author will establish the content for the assigned chapter(s) and provide a general outline of his or her assigned chapter.  Suggestions for modification or additional content may be provided by the Editorial Review Board. The Chapter Author may issue a list of research tasks for assignment to the West Virginia University student research assistants. Completed assignments will be returned to the author for review. All sources that are located by research assistants will be entered into the bibliography for the Sourcebook. Original sources that require review by the authors will be scanned and transmitted electronically to the author. Electronic copies of original source references will be included on the CD when copyright laws permit.

Chapter Authors will submit completed chapters to the Sourcebook Editor for review and critique by the Editorial Review Board. Chapters that require additional research or rewrites may be sent back to the authors.

Because a commitment to the timely completion of these chapters is an essential part of assuming the role of Chapter Author, a stipend will be offered to Chapter Authors.

The administration and publishing of this project is funded under a grant by the National Institute for Justice. The Sourcebook Editor is Alan McRoberts, the Project Director is Frank Fitzpatrick, and the West Virginia University Research Coordinator and grant administrator is Max M. Houck.

Those interested in being Chapter Authors should indicate their interest by March 15, 2005 to:

Alan McRoberts, Sourcebook Editor

jfieditor@theiai.org