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Probabilistic approach of fingerprint evidence

Workshop

The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) organizes a two-days workshop at the NFI on the current probabilistic approach as applied by the WOVI team of the NFI. This workshop, taught by the WOVI-team of the NFI, focuses on the method itself, the reasons behind it and how it is used in casework. Software tools that are used to explore our dataset will be demonstrated. In the preparative materials an introduction to Bayesian Reporting, in which the Likelihood ratio method is explained, is offered as an e-learning.

During the course you will have the opportunity to make acquaintance with the LR method as applied at the NFI. You will receive hands-on exercises developed for this course:

  • You will be performing comparison exercises
  • You will be trained on using our tables, graphs and other data to underpin your verbal Likelihood ratio
  • A demonstration will be given of the Automated Feature Evaluation Software (AFES) to assess the evidential value

Objectives

Once you have successfully completed the workshop you:

  • Will have gained insight in the current probabilistic approach as applied by the WOVI team of the NFI (how do we do it?)
  • Will understand the reasons behind the choice for a probabilistic approach of fingerprint evidence (why do we do it?)
  • Will have been shown multiple NFI case-examples using examples of fingermarks that were concluded as fit or not fit for a probabilistic interpretation.
  • will have gained insight in how to arrive at a verbal expression of the evidential value.
  • will have been shown how NFI WOVI applies a frequency model on fingermark comparisons.
  • will have been shown which software tools were developed in order to analyse the NFI dataset in order to extract frequencies for fingerprint patterns, core-delta distances and minutiae types.
  • Will have performed comparisons exercises
  • Will have trained the use of the verbal scale
  • Will have trained to find the relevant data to underpin your verbal expression of the LR
  • will have received a demonstration on the Automated Feature Evaluation Software (AFES) to underpin your chosen verbal expression of the LR

Target group

Fingerprint investigators from the police or a forensic institute

Dates

Daily schedule: 9:30-16:30 h.

Dates tba: spring or autumn 2025

Location

Netherlands Forensic Institute in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Number of participants

6-10 participants

Costs

€ 895,- per participant.

N.B.: No VAT will be added.

Hotel and travel costs are not included.

Trainers

Anko Lubach, Sheryl Lie Kwie, Arent de Jongh, Fleur Loadsman, all working as forensic fingerprint researchers from the WOVI-section of the NFI.

Materials

Participants will gain access to the online learning platform of the NFI, which contains preparative materials.

Program

  • Online preparation (3,5 hrs.)
  • Logical reasoning
  • Casework example and numerical underpinning
  • NFI Fingerprint Frequency Software tools
  • Exercises; discussion of the homework

Notes

The course is taught in English.

More information on Fingermark Individualisation can be found on our website.

More information and registration

For more information, please complete our contact form. Please indicate on the form you are interested in information about the course 'Bloodstain Pattern Analysis – Advanced'.

For registration, please complete our registration form