NCSU research finds racial differences in fingerprint analysis
When police investigate a crime, one of the first things they do is look for fingerprints. Research from North Carolina State University may give them a new place to start when they analyze those prints.
Posted — UpdatedDifferences in the tiny details of fingerprints, such as the ridges and dots, could indicate the racial profile of someone who left a latent print.
"We may be able to take fingerprints to another level that we think a perpetrator is African-American or European-American," she said.
Because her sample size was small, further studies are needed.
"If we can have more people doing this and increasing our sample sizes, I think we're almost there," she said.
She also wants to study fingerprints of people with diverse ancestral backgrounds.
Ross' team did not find differences between male and female fingerprints.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
