Due to concerns for the integrity, security, and privacy of the evidence, and in order to eliminate extraneous sources of contamination, public visits to our facility are only possible with prior arrangements and appointments. You can contact us for an appointment via our website’s “Contact Us” page. We will make every effort to meet with you, at your convenience, during the week. Both day and evening appointments are available.
Appointments must be scheduled prior to visitation. The hours of our facility widely vary and therefore all visits must be scheduled in advance. Please call or email our office for a suitable time and date. While doing so please let us know the primary goal of your visit.
We can meet with you at any convenient location. We can also communicate through email or by phone to discuss your needs.
The initial visit to discuss your needs is always free of charge.
The fees vary from project to project and depend on the type of consulting and processing service, as well as the length and the depth of the project. Our fee structure is competitive, but also represents a fair value for the services provided.
Accredited agencies, companies, and firms are excluded from paying a retainer fee. However, individual clients may be asked to pay a portion of the agreed fee as a retainer fee before the services are rendered.
Yes, we will keep copies of all images, bench notes, documents, photographs, reports, and other pertinent paperwork for our records in case they are needed to be used in a court of law or at a deposition. All original items of evidence, however, will be returned to the client for safekeeping or as evidence.
Packaging helps ensure the integrity of the evidence by keeping contaminants away, keeping trace evidence intact, and helping to guarantee chain of custody. Cardboard boxes, paper bags, and plastic bags are the most common forms of evidence packaging. Most experts recommend paper packaging because it is breathable and cost effective, although plastic bags are also widely used.
Items of nonporous evidence (metal, glass, plastic. etc.) should not be allowed to rub together. Nonporous evidence should be stored singly, secured inside an appropriately sized package in a manner that prevents shifting and rubbing. Under no circumstances should fillers such as shredded paper, wood shavings, or packing peanuts be used inside the package with the evidence because they may easily wipe off fragile fingerprints. (However, they can be used outside the evidence container, inside the mailing container.) Porous evidence (paper items) can be secured in boxes, bags, and envelopes and can be stored together because latent prints are not likely to rub off on contact. Once evidence is secured, the package should be sealed with packaging tape so that there are no entry points. The tape should be signed by the person securing the evidence, and the appropriate identifying information, and a chain of custody form should be placed on the package.
Preservation is the process of maintaining the integrity of items collected from a crime scene that have the potential to yield forensic evidence. Proper preservation is crucial for the investigation, as poor preservation can result in the loss or compromise of vital evidence, and cast doubt on its reliability. Careful and appropriate handling of evidence throughout the recovery, storage, and examination process is essential to prevent damage. However, multiple handling of evidence during examination can increase the risk of damage. Additionally, improper packaging can also cause damage to forensic evidence, such as erasing fingerprints due to friction between the item and its packaging.
The best way to submit evidence to us is through in-person delivery. However, we also accept evidence submitted through mail or by arranging for us to come and pick it up. We prefer that evidence be mailed to us via expedited USPS registered mail, with a signature requirement, to ensure that we receive the evidence intact and the chain of custody is safeguarded.
Please use the laboratory address listed on our Contact Us page to mail the evidence. We require all clients to send us the tracking information as soon as the items are mailed, to ensure that we are present to receive them upon arrival.
Yes, Mr. Nikoui is a Certified Latent Print Examiner, and has been since 1994. He was certified by the International Association for Identification (IAI), the world’s oldest and largest forensic science identification association.
Yes, as long as we receive the known prints of the individuals and the recovered latent prints.
We have many decades of combined experience in fingerprint comparison and identification. Please refer to the “About Us” section of our website for more details.
Over 30,000 comparison cases, and millions of one-to-one comparisons.
Unfortunately, we do not have direct access to the known prints of individuals. The county state and federal fingerprint archives can provide these prints by the request of law enforcement agencies only. We can assist you in this process. However, for non-law enforcement agencies and private individuals, we can directly obtain the known prints from individuals for comparison purposes. The individuals must freely consent to their prints being retrieved by us.
Yes, we can help you with processing the physical evidence that may have been touched by the individual(s) and to compare any recovered prints with the known prints. However, the company must provide the known prints or allow us to retrieve them on behalf of the company and with the consent of the individual(s).
Yes we can, as long as we have both the latent prints and the known prints of individuals. We can perform this task in a very short period of time, within hours or days, depending on the quality and quantity of the known and latent impressions as well as the priority of the case.
Yes we can, as long as your agency gives us permission to process latent prints on behalf of your agency. We can set up the Universal Latent Workstation (ULW), which is the new generation of interoperable and interactive software for Latent Print Examiners. With ULW we can directly connect from your agency to the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) CAL-ID/AFIS and the FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI) to process your latent finger and palm prints. Your department must, however, do the initial application for the set-up. Downloading the entire software is free of charge for law enforcement agencies. The permission to use the system is then passed to us by your agency
In addition, we can perform manual fingerprint comparison and identification for you as long as you obtain the known prints of the suspects from your Sheriff’s identification bureau or from the California DOJ Fingerprint Expedited Unit. We can provide you with all the necessary information needed to obtain the suspect’s known prints for comparison.
Unfortunately, we cannot! The use of automated fingerprint identification systems which access a variety of criminal finger and palm print databases (e.g. FBI IAFIS) are strictly for the use of law enforcement agencies only.
Unfortunately, we do not have direct access to CAL-ID AFIS. Your agency must give us permission/access to the AFIS systems. However, we can set up Universal Latent Workstation (ULW) at your facility, so that we may process your latent prints through AFIS. The other option is that we can analyze your prints and submit the quality latent impressions (finger and palm prints) to the DOJ in Sacramento, California for AFIS processing. The DOJ will then directly send the results to your department.
Approximately 30 years of experience with using different generations and brands of AFIS systems.
Sure, as long as we have the known prints of the individuals who are suspected of depositing the inked impression. We can retrieve the individual’s prints after their consent.
Yes, we can process your evidence in our facility, using state of the art techniques and equipment. You can submit your items of evidence to us for processing. After a full sequential processing and documentation of any possible latent prints, the evidence will then be returned to your agency with a complete comprehensive report. If you request that the evidence be processed for DNA, we can swab the items before chemically processing them. These swabs will be dried, packaged, sealed, documented, and returned to your agency. We do not have the capability to process the DNA for identification.
Yes, we use a variety of methods to process evidence for the recovery of fingerprints. For example, for chemical processing, we use a variety of chemical reagents sequentially depending on the evidence type and material.
Yes, we can chemically and physically process many types of surfaces, including paper, plastic, metals, ceramic, cardboard, marble, styrofoam, plastic wraps, rubber, wood, glass, adhesive tape, etc.
Yes, there are many surfaces that are not suitable for recovery of latent prints. These surfaces are not conducive to latent prints due to their heavy textures and extreme porosity, such as cement, rocks, bricks, fabrics, sponge, and foam.
The cost depends on the type of material, the quantity of the evidence, the length of the processing and documentation. The approximate cost of processing, therefore, will be determined when a case is presented to us.
The following factors may influence the choice of development techniques as well as the level of resources used in any situation:
Proper evidence handling begins with the use of latex, nitrile, PVC, or other suitable gloves. The use of gloves protects the evidence from contamination. It does not, however, guarantee that latent prints will be preserved because even a gloved hand may destroy fragile latent prints on contact. This is especially true on nonporous surfaces where the latent print resides on the extreme surface of the evidence. To prevent damage to fingerprints on these surfaces, evidence should be handled in areas not normally touched or on surfaces incapable of yielding viable fingerprints. It should also be noted that the use of gloves does not preclude the transfer of friction ridge detail or DNA from the handler to the exhibit so utmost care should be made to handle the evidence as sterile as possible.
The longevity of fingerprints on a surface can vary depending on several factors, such as the surface type, environmental conditions, and the characteristics of the fingerprint itself. In general, fingerprints can last anywhere from a few hours to several years, depending on the circumstances.
Some of the factors that can affect the longevity of fingerprints include:
It’s worth noting that many factors can contribute to the destruction or alteration of fingerprints over time, including cleaning, handling, and exposure to natural elements like dust, wind, and rain. Therefore, it’s important to properly document and preserve any recovered fingerprints as soon as possible to ensure the best chance of successful identification.
Estimates of the age of latent prints are often unreliable if the experts are unaware of what was on the fingers that touched the surface. A print that appears “quickly, strongly, or dark” does not necessarily mean it was recently deposited. Unless scientific analysis of the print residue was completed before the use of powders or chemicals to visualize the prints (which is rarely done due to the prints being invisible until processed), the nature of the deposited print residue cannot be known, such as whether it was from fried chicken oil, grease, or natural secretions from the fingers. However, circumstantial evidence can be used to estimate the age of the prints, such as information indicating that an item was thoroughly cleaned with glass cleaner or soap and water, which would suggest that any prints on the item are not older than the last cleaning.
Forensic Photographers are individuals who produce accurate images of physical evidence and crime scenes for use in court and for future analysis by other experts. A forensic photographer works efficiently in distressing and challenging environments, without disturbing evidence or interfering with the work of other investigators. A forensic photographer has a solid background in the criminal justice system and law enforcement, has excellent technical photography skills, and demonstrates tact and discretion in dealing with victims of crime.
Yes, Mr. Nikoui has a bachelor degree in Photography and is also one of the 57 Forensic Photographers certified by the International Association for Identification (IAI) in the world. Please check https://theiai.org/certifications/imaging/index.php for the listing of all IAI Certified Forensic Photographers.
Yes, our associates have several decades of experience training others in forensic photography. We can provide a variety of specialized courses ranging from basic to advanced photography. Our photography courses include crime scene investigation photography, evidence documentation photography, digital image enhancement, and post production. We can also design custom courses to suit your agency’s needs.
We, as the independent Forensic Photographers, can provide complete photographic and digital imaging services to lawyers, insurance companies, individuals, and law enforcement agencies. We have decades of work experience in the law enforcement environment. We are highly skilled and experienced in correctly and accurately documenting evidence and crime scenes.
Yes, we can photograph scenes and objects without the use of strobes or auxiliary lighting. We can photograph or videotape scenes and objects using an invisible infrared camera and light, or we can use the available ambient light to photograph the scenes.
Yes, we are highly skilled and experienced in documenting and photographing personal injuries to supplement police photographs. The majority of police agencies do not have the personnel or capability to properly take detailed photographs of injuries. Bruises, typically, do not appear well on the first day of an incident. They also fade away after a couple of weeks from the initial time of the injury. These types of injuries needs to be documented within this two week period. However, some bruises may still be documented after this period using ultraviolet and infrared Photography Techniques.
We can document personal injuries at our office or any other convenient location. It is highly recommended that these photographs be taken by skilled and experienced forensic photographers, who can also testify on your behalf in a civil or criminal court. A precise and detailed photographic documentation of the injuries is crucial for use in court.
Yes, we have been qualified numerous times as an expert witness in various courts of law, including county, state, and federal.
Yes, we can make powerpoint presentations, poster displays, and fingerprint comparison charts.
We charge extra for court testimony and presentation. The court rate is about 1.5x (150%) the normal hourly rate (with a minimum of 4 hours charged). Additional charges may apply considering expenses associated with producing court displays and presentations, travel, lodging, and per diem.
Yes we do, however, we charge a travel fee for any distance longer than 20 miles from our facility. If we have to move out of our area, we will charge additional fees to cover the traveling expenses.
Federal and state courts have minimum qualifications for expert testimony. Federal Rules of Evidence 702 states:
If scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise, provided that (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.
Legally, the judge decides who is qualified to present expert testimony.
SWGFAST established the following documents:
“Quality Assurance Guidelines for Latent Print Examiners”
An individual who adheres to the above guidelines should be able to qualify as an expert in a court of law.
Yes. Fingerprint examination is an applied science based upon the foundation of biological uniqueness, persistence, and empirical validation through observation. This is supported by the Daubert and Kumho decisions.
Yes. The scientific basis and methodology of fingerprint examination is reliable. The reliability of fingerprint examination is supported by the principles of biological uniqueness and persistence, probability modeling, and empirical data gained through over one hundred years of operational experience.
Yes. In any human endeavor, there is a potential for error. Adherence to SWGFAST Standards for Minimum Qualifications and Training to Competency for Friction Ridge Examiners (Latent/Tenprint) and quality assurance minimize the risk of human error.
There are many definitions of error and many variables when calculating error rates. In regards to friction ridge examination error rate, the US Supreme Court in Daubert v. Dow states that, “…the focus, of course, must be solely on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions they generate.” Others claim that the method cannot be separated from the examiner and therefore they must be combined. Examples of discovered error rates, that an examiner may testify to, include: 1) personal erroneous identification rate, 2) laboratory erroneous identification rate, 3) estimated industry erroneous identification rate (based on the approximate number of detected errors; compared to the approximate number of examinations conducted to date).
The standard for individualization is agreement of sufficient friction ridge details in sequence when the following conditions have been satisfied:
Also, SWGFAST has published standards for all conclusions.
Two experts may reach differing conclusions. Two experts having the same level of training, experience, and ability should reach the same conclusion. There are three types of differing conclusions:
Errors can be minimized by the systematic verification of reported conclusions, according to agency policy.
(See also the SWGFAST Quality Assurance Guidelines for Latent Print Examiners)
No. Often, deliberately recorded fingerprints are not high enough quality to achieve a score above a “lights-out” threshold. Additionally, latent prints currently return a ranked order of candidates based upon the position, location and direction of friction ridge features. A friction ridge examiner makes a decision of individualization or exclusion using the application of the ACE-V methodology which cannot be automated.
“The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is an honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare.”
The Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward report was published in February, 2009 by the Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Sciences Community; Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, National Research Council. It contained 13 recommendations to improve the forensic science disciplines.
This is currently an issue that is heavily debated in the community. To reject the possibility of alternative hypotheses is unscientific because science is always open to new information. However, since fingerprint examination culminates with opinion testimony, the lack of the examiner’s doubt is often expressed as relative certainty in his or her conclusion. Current research is attempting to quantify distinctiveness and validate statistical and probability models that support the examiner’s conclusion. There are several online resources for additional information on this topic:
Yes, there have been over 20 models proposed over the last century that are related to fingerprint identification. However, none of them take into account everything that an examiner would consider during the examination process and therefore each of them have limitations
Certification, as it relates to friction ridge examiners, involves assessing the knowledge, skill, and ability of an examiner to successfully complete an examination and demonstrate competency. Those lacking certification are not generally precluded from practicing or working in their respective disciplines.
Certification is important because it establishes a baseline of knowledge and allows external entities, who are not familiar with the discipline, to be assured of the skill level of the practitioner. The NAS report made strong recommendations for practitioners to achieve certification. The main external certifying body for friction ridge examiners is the International Association for Identification (IAI), and some agencies have internal certification programs.
Answering the question of suitability requires that the purpose be defined. For example, whether a friction ridge impression is suitable for retention as evidence is a different question than whether it is suitable for identification.
The question of suitability also involves a subjective measurement of information. It is recognized that any scientific endeavor is subject to human interpretation. (For example, training, experience, visual acuity, talent, external influences) In friction ridge examination, what might appear as an objective threshold even has subjective elements. For example, requiring a minimum number of features to establish suitability for the purpose of identification may appear objective, but how an examiner defines a “feature” is still subjective. Scientific objectivity is achieved through the reproducibility of subjective conclusions by other examiners, within established parameters.
See also the DRAFT SWGFAST Standards for Examining Friction Ridge Impressions and Resulting Conclusions.
Yes, bias exists in all human endeavors. Types of bias that may occur include contextual, confirmation and cognitive. (See the SWGFAST Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination) If bias is not mitigated it can prevent objective consideration of information. However, there are quality assurance measures available to mitigate the effects of bias.
No, there are times when information properly assists the investigation. For example, knowing the surface on which a latent print was developed can aid the examination of that impression. The absence of contextual information can also interfere with the interpretation of data.
Historically, the fingerprint discipline has used the terms interchangeably. The examination sequence of ACE-V can vary in its formality and detail. It can be a method when prescribed by an agency which has an explicit policy regarding its application, or it can be a process when only a general description is provided. ACE-V is further explained in the SWGFAST document, “Examining Friction Ridge Impressions and Resulting Conclusions (Latent/Tenprint)”.