UPDATES ON CLPEX.com

Updated the Fingerprint Interest Group (FIG) page with FIG #52; overlay, pressure and movement, submitted by Sandy Siegel.  You can send your example of unique distortion to Charlie Parker: Charles.Parker@ci.austin.tx.us.  For discussion, visit the CLPEX.com forum FIG thread.

Updated the forum Keeping Examiners Prepared for Testimony (KEPT) thread with KEPT #27; Methodology Error Rate - Theoretical vs. Actual, submitted by Michelle Triplett.  You can send your questions on courtroom topics to Michelle Triplett: Michele.Triplett@kingcounty.gov

Updated the Detail Archives
_________________________________________

we looked at updates to several SWGFAST documents posted on www.SWGFAST.org.

_________________________________________
Pattern Evidence Training Announcement - Latent Print Examiner Training Program
NIJ Cooperative Agreement Award #2007-IJ-CX-K233
http://www.nfstc.org/news/announcements/docs/PatternEvidence/PE_Latent%20Print_announcement%2006_16_08.pdf

Offered to Selected Applicants

In partnership with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) is pleased to announce that Latent Print Training will be provided at no cost to eligible applicants under Cooperative Agreement Award (#2007-IJ-CX-K233).

The training program will lead a cohort of entry level latent print examiner trainees through a series of course offerings designed to prepare participants for taking the International Association for Identification (IAI) certification examination. The Latent Print Examiner Training Program consists of 12 courses given in 6 two-week instructional sessions at the NFSTC training facilities in Largo, FL. Participants will be required to complete online course work and practical exercises between onsite course trainings.

The training is scheduled to begin in September 2008 and conclude July 2009.

To be eligible for participation in this training program, applicants must:

􀂃 Work for a U.S. publicly funded State or local agency as a professional practitioner in law enforcement or forensic services

􀂃 Possess the visual acuity to examine small details under magnification

􀂃 Possess a reasonable level of skill in English, arithmetic, computer keyboarding, and word processing

􀂃 Have access to the following resources at home or agency for the duration of the Latent Print Examiner Training Program:

Applicants selected to attend the program will be required to:

􀂃 Obtain agency approval and provide documentation to the NFSTC (approval form will be provided).

􀂃 Successfully complete visual acuity and form blindness tests (tests will be provided)

􀂃 Provide written verification that all eligibility requirements are met (verification form will be provided)

_________________________________________

KEPT - Keeping Examiners Prepared for Testimony - #27
Methodology Error Rate - Theoretical vs. Actual
by Michele Triplett, King County Sheriff's Office

Disclaimer:  The intent of this is to provide thought provoking discussion.  No claims of accuracy exist. 

Question – Error Rate of the Methodology:

What is the error rate for the ACE-V methodology?

Possible Answers:

a)      The error rate of the ACE-V methodology is zero.

b)      You can’t divide the error rate between the methodology and the practitioner because you can’t use the method without a human being.

c)      You can separate the practitioner error rate from the error rate of the methodology but these wouldn’t be actual error rates, they’d be theoretical error rates.

d)     I’m not aware of any research studies that have calculated an error rate for the methodology but the known errors over the last 100 years are extremely small (between 20 and 30 out of billions of comparisons).          

e)      I’m not aware of any research studies that have calculated an error rate for the methodology.  If this were to be done then there would be several error rates, 1 for type 1 errors, a rate for type 2 errors, a rate for clerical errors, a rate for the profession, a rate for an agency, and another rate for an individual.

f)       If you look at ACE-V as being synonymous with hypothesis testing then you can’t have an error rate because ACE-V isn’t a specific method, it’s more of a general guideline.  Error rates can only be calculated for detailed techniques.  Our profession doesn’t have an error rate for ACE-V but our overall error rate is known to be extremely low.

Discussion:

Answer a:  This is a common answer but it may not be the best answer.  There’s never been any research to support this answer.  If you use this answer, it’s very likely that the next question will be, “how did you arrive at this number”? 

Answer b:  This is another common answer but not very accurate.  Using any technique, method, or tool needs human intervention but other sciences manage to calculate the error rate of the tool and the error rate when a human uses the tool.  These error rates are commonly known as theoretical error rates and actual error rates. 

Answer c:  The error rate of a tool, independent of the practitioner, is known as a theoretical error rate.  The error rate of the tool being used by a human is usually higher than the theoretical error rate.

Answer d:  Judges have accepted this since it’s an estimate arrived at by using empirical data.

Answer e:  This may be an accurate answer but it’s a little more than what was asked for.  Sometimes if you give too much information then you lose the attention of the jurors.  Once you lose the juries interest, it’s very hard to get it back.

Answer f:  Daubert doesn’t require that we know the error rate of the method, just an error rate in applying the method.  This answer is good because it brings the conversation back to a more relevant topic.

_________________________________________

Feel free to pass The Detail along to other examiners.  This is a free newsletter FOR latent print examiners, BY latent print examiners. With the exception of weeks such as this week, there are no copyrights on The Detail content.  As always, the website is open for all to visit!

If you have not yet signed up to receive the Weekly Detail in YOUR e-mail inbox, go ahead and join the list now so you don't miss out!  (To join this free e-mail newsletter, enter your name and e-mail address on the following page: http://www.clpex.com/Subscribe.htm  You will be sent a Confirmation e-mail... just click on the link in that e-mail, or paste it into an Internet Explorer address bar, and you are signed up!)  If you have problems receiving the Detail from a work e-mail address, there have been past issues with department e-mail filters considering the Detail as potential unsolicited e-mail.  Try subscribing from a home e-mail address or contact your IT department to allow e-mails from Topica.  Members may unsubscribe at any time.  If you have difficulties with the sign-up process or have been inadvertently removed from the list, e-mail me personally at kaseywertheim@aol.com and I will try to work things out.

Until next Monday morning, don't work too hard or too little.

Have a GREAT week!