Latent Prints

The Latent Print section conducts all work pertaining to the examination of latent prints on evidence submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Crime Laboratory. Latent prints are impressions produced by the friction ridge skin on human fingers, palms, and soles of the feet. Unit examiners analyze and compare latent prints to known prints of individuals in an effort to make identifications or exclusions. The uniqueness, permanence, and arrangement of the friction ridges allow the criminalists to positively match two prints and to determine whether an area of a friction ridge impression originated from one source to the exclusion of all others.