Developing a Repeatable and Reproducible Protocol for Establishing Combined Minutiae Frequencies

Abstract

Fingerprint minutia types influence LPEs’ analyses and evaluations during casework, with features perceived as rarer generally given more weight. Last year, we reported on examiner perceptions of minutia type frequency. This year, we present the next phase of our research. Specifically, we explored how examiners use their perceptions of minutia type frequency and developed a protocol to establish objective frequencies for combined minutiae and how these data and this protocol can be implemented in casework.