Fingerprint matching is the process of comparing fingerprints associated with a crime to those on file with law enforcement. Computer technology has made it possible to access vast databases and identify possible matches in minutes. There are two approaches to fingerprint matching: minutiae-based and correlation-based. Both methods have drawbacks. National databases allow fingerprint matching to be done using resources created by law enforcement agencies around the country, making it possible to conduct fingerprint matching on an international scale.
Fingerprint matching is the process of comparing sets of fingerprints associated with a crime with copies of fingerprints already on file with a law enforcement agency. In years past, the process of matching prints was a manual one that required close scrutiny and could be time consuming. Today, computer technology has made it possible to access vast databases of fingerprints and identify possible matches in minutes.
When it comes to fingerprint biometrics, there are two generally recognized classes or categories. One is known as the minutiae-based approach. With this strategy, fingerprint matching is based on identifying less obvious fingerprint characteristics as opposed to more pronounced traits. In theory, this process helps narrow down the range of possible matches, as it can eliminate consideration of prints that may share one or more major traits, but lack some of the minor traits needed to verify a match .
The second approach to fingerprint matching is known as the correlation-based method. This approach relies not only on the identifying characteristics of print patterns, but also on the placement of those traits within the pattern. This involves setting up so-called registration points along the body of the print, which effectively provide a point of reference for the comparison process.
While both fingerprint matching methods are effective, there are some drawbacks associated with each. In the case of the minutiae-based method, the quality of the printouts must be quite high in order to verify a match. Slightly blurry printouts are much more difficult to deal with, as secondary traits are less likely to be identified and compared. At the same time, the effectiveness of the correlation-based approach depends on the examiner’s ability to establish a common registration point on the two sets of prints being compared and to compensate for any differences in rotation or image quality of the prints.
Since the advent of the computer in the mid-20th century, many law enforcement agencies have developed fingerprint libraries that allow possible matches to be scanned and quickly identified. Most systems today make it easy to scan a new set of prints, then compare those prints to others found in the library. Using the criteria built into the fingerprint software’s search function, the system will quickly identify and display any archived image that has a good chance of a match. At that point, experts can perform visual comparisons and refine the results provided by the software.
In many countries around the world, national databases allow fingerprint matching to be done using resources created by law enforcement agencies around the country. Some countries also share their databases with other nations, making it possible to conduct fingerprint matching on an international scale. The end result of these efforts has been easier identification of matches in a shorter period of time, enabling law enforcement agencies to make arrests and therefore solve crimes in less time.
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