Latent print quality in blind proficiency testing: Using quality metrics to examine laboratory performance

Calls for blind proficiency testing in forensic science disciplines intensified following the 2009 National Academy of Sciences report and were echoed 2016 by President’s Council Advisors on Science Technology. Both practitioners scholars have noted that “open” tests, which analysts know they are being tested, allow test-taking behavior is not representative routine casework. This study reports outcomes one laboratory’s quality control (BQC) program. Specifically, we describe results from approximately 2.5 years cases latent print section ( N = 376 prints submitted as part 144 cases). We also used a widely available metrics software (LQMetrics) to explore relationships between objective case outcomes. Results revealed nearly all BQC (92.0%) sufficient enter into AFIS. When had source present AFIS, 41.7% searches resulted candidate list containing true source. Examiners committed no false positive errors but other types more common. Average was midpoint range (53.4 0-to-100 scale), though evenly distributed across Good , Bad Ugly categories. Quality significantly associated with sufficiency determinations, examiner conclusions, accuracy. Implications use casework well discussed. • examined program years. reviewed blindly fictitious cases. Based ground truth, examiners made correct conclusions 51.1% prints. Latent metric scores