Specialists in the Identification Bureau conduct processing examinations on evidence in a laboratory setting.
The laboratory environment is best suited for some techniques which can take several days to complete and may involve many steps of sequential processing.
Finger and palm prints can be left on surfaces through sweat, oils, dust, blood, etc.
Based on the surface of the evidence, specific processes are chosen to develop latent prints which include fluorescent examinations using a laser, special powders, chemicals and techniques.
In addition to processing evidence items for latent prints, the Specialists will examine the item for trace evidence prior to initiating the processing examination.
The Specialists also collect swabs from evidence items for DNA analysis. Since the age of a latent finger or palm print cannot be determined, unsolved “cold” cases that are many years old and may have evidence that has never been processed for fingerprints, is also examined by this Section.
Requests for latent print processing are sent via FAX to 714-834-6430. If a rush examination is requested, contact an Identification Bureau supervisor at (714) 834-4510.