VMD
Vacuum Metal Deposition. Process of selective condensation of metals under vacuum
conditions; used to visualize friction ridge detail.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
A number of metals when deposited by VACUUM METAL DEPOSITION will delineate fingerprints
on some surfaces. Some of these work as single metal treatment while others must be used in
combination. The currently recommended combination is GOLD followed by ZINC.
Lead, zinc, silver, gold, magnesium and a few other metals develop fingerprints when deposited
as single metals. Some of the known metal combinations are gold, silver or copper followed by
cadmium or zinc.
http://www.crimetechlabs.com/vacuummetal.asp 07-17-2005
Vacuum Cyanoacrylate Ester
Fuming method, conducted under vacuum conditions, in which cyanoacrylate polymerizes on
friction ridge residue; used to visualize friction ridge detail.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Vacuum Metal Deposition
See VMD.
Vaidya M.C.
Wrote “The Dermal Papillae and Ridge Patterns in Human Volar Skin” in 1968 with L.W. Chacko.
Valid
The premises and method relied on lead to the conclusion.
Validate
To assess the logic behind a technique or a conclusion. The validity of a technique is determined
by showing the logic behind the accepted premises; while the validity of deductions are
determined by showing the logic behind the specific conclusion, and ensuring the logic adheres to the stated technique.
Validation Study
An experiment to assess the logic and/or usefulness of a technique (capabilities, benefits,
limitations, and optimal conditions) compared to currently used methods.
An experiment to assess the usefulness of a test; is the test measuring what is intended to be
measured.
An adequate validation study should include testing the reliability of the technique on realistic,
ideal, and aged samples. Realistic samples are those that apply to real situations. Testing
should be repeated multiple times. A validation study should include comparing the technique to
current processes used, stating the limitations and values of the technique, and reviewing
available literature. Factors to assess include: abilities compared to other methods, ease of use,
expense, and safety concerns.
See Performance Check.
Value
The value of a friction ridge impression is determined by the context in which the term is used.
An impression can have identification value, exclusionary value, value for determining how an
object was touched, value in determining whether or not impressions were left simultaneously,
investigation value, analytical value, or probative value. An impression can be of value in one
area but not another, for instance an impression may have value in determining how an object
was held but not have sufficient value to determine the identity of the source. Additionally, an
impression can have identification value but not have probative value.
A provisional value for identification can be estimated by assessing the features within an
impression; however, the actual value can only be determined by performing a thorough
comparison and testing that the interpretation of the features holds up under intense scrutiny.
Vanderkolk, John
John Vanderkolk received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Forensic Studies and Psychology from
Indiana University in 1979. He worked as an Indiana State Police Trooper from 1979-1983,
became a Crime Scene Technician in 1983, and then a Criminalist (latent prints,
footwear/tiretrack, physical comparisons) from 1984-1996. He has been a Laboratory
Manager/Criminalist since 1996.
John is a distinguished member (2005) of the International Association for Identification (IAI),
served on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Forensic Identification since 1991 and the
Forensic Identification Standards Committee. He was a member of the Scientific Working Group
for Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) since 1996.
He has presented at a variety of international, national and regional seminars and has been
published in The Journal of Forensic Identification and the Cognitive Psychology Journal Vision
Research. The topics include: “Ridgeology, Animal Muzzleprints and Human Fingerprints”,
“Class Characteristics and ‘Could Be’ Results”, “Identifying Consecutively Made Garbage Bags
Through Manufactured Characteristics”, “Forensic Individualization of Images Using Quality and
Quantity of Information”, “Levels of Quality and Quantity in Detail”, “ACE+V: A Model” and
“Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence for Configural Processing in Fingerprint Experts”
by Dr. Tom Busey, Indiana University Department of Psychology with John Vanderkolk, Vision
Research, 45 (February, 2005) 431-448.
Verbov, Professor Julian MD FRCP FRCPCH CBiol FRSB FLS
Professor Julian Verbov is Professor of Dermatology at the University of Liverpool UK and has
been a consultant to The Fingerprint Society since 1991. His MD Thesis in 1971 was on
“Dermatoglyphics and Other Findings in Health and Disease”. He is author or contributor to
more than 300 publications including 30 books and his particular specialty is Pediatric
Dermatology. He founded the journal, Pediatric Dermatology, is a founding father of British
Pediatric Dermatology, is a past Editor- in- Chief of the British Journal of Dermatology. He was
awarded the Sir Archibald Gray Medal in 2006 by the British Association of Dermatologists, their
highest accolade, for outstanding services to Dermatology. His invited lectures include visits to
USA, Canada, Norway, Greece, France, Germany, Israel and the UK. He was keynote lecturer at
the inaugural meeting of the Israel Society for Pediatric Dermatology in 2004. He is an
Honorary Member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the British Society for Paediatric
Dermatology, the North of England Dermatological Society, and the Dr Henry Faulds- Beith
Commemorative Society, Scotland. He has been a Magistrate for the City of Liverpool since
1983.
Apart from his dedication to Dermatology, he has also been a teacher in Old Testament Studies
at the University of Liverpool Dept of Philosophy. A polymath, some of his other many interests
include his family, classical and brass band music, editing, teaching all age groups, writing poetry,
etymology, clichés, humour, ties and tie design, apes and lay preaching.
His publications relating to dermatoglyphics include:
* Clinical significance and genetics of epidermal ridges – a review of dermatoglyphics.
J Invest Dermatol 1970;54: 261-271
* Hypohidrotic (or Anhidrotic) Ectodermal Dysplasia – an appraisal of diagnostic methods. Br J
Dermatol 1970;83:341-348
* Editorial: Dermatoglyphics in Medicine Lancet 1972:1:417
* Anonychia with Bizarre Flexural Pigmentation – an autosomal dominant dermatosis Br J
Dermatol 1975;92:469-474 (now sometimes referred to as Verbov Syndrome)
* Palmar Ridge Appearances in Normal Newborn Infants, and Ridge Appearances in Relation to
Eccrine Sweating. Br J Dermatol 1975;93:645- 648
* Mummified Skin – An Exercise in Preservation Int J Dermatol 1983;22:46- 60
* KRT 14 haploinsufficiency results in increased susceptibility of keratinocytes to TNF-alphainduced apoptosis and causes Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn Syndrome.
J Invest Dermatol 2008;128:1517-1524 (multi-authored paper)
* Many contributions to Fingerprint Whorld and Educational Lectures and advice to The
Fingerprint Society.
Verification
“Verification is a form of peer review and is part of most sciences. Many organizations
erroneously use verification as a method of protecting against errors in place of adequate
training. While verification may prevent the occasional error, its purpose is to verify process and
objectivity as opposed to only check results. It is also an excellent vehicle for training.” David
Ashbaugh
Detail 28 http://www.clpex.com
Verification ensures objectivity and unbiased results, it does not ensure accurate results or
conclusions.
Proof; confirmation of a process.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
The final step of the ACE-V method. A review and independent analysis of the conclusion of
another examiner.
SWGFAST, Glossary 07-28-2009 ver. 2.0
The independent application of the ACE process as utilized by a subsequent examiner to either
support or refute the conclusions of the original examiner; this may be conducted as blind
verification. Verification may be followed by some level of review as specified by agency policy.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
See Blind Verification and Double Blind Verification.
Verification Shopping
Seeking verification that is in agreement with the desired outcome.
Vestiges
A group of ridges that run parallel to each other and end abruptly into the surrounding ridges. A
vestige is commonly aligned with squared nosed loops on each end and is typically seen in the
thenar area of a palm print.
Erratic local disarrangements of ridges not conforming to surrounding ridge formations.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
Virgin Islands v. Austin Jacobs (2001)
A burglary case that failed a Daubert challenge. The judge decided to exclude the fingerprint
testimony because the prosecutor hadn’t provided information to the defense to determine if the
fingerprint evidence was scientifically reliable. The defense asked for the CV of the examiner
(Maureen Richardson) and for an explanation of the methodology to determine if a basis and
reason existed for the findings. The prosecutor failed to provide these items.
Visible Light
Visible light is a series of electromagnetic wavelengths that we can see. These wavelengths
range in frequency from 400-700nm and are seen as different colors. The combination of all the
colors in the visible light spectrum is referred to as white light.
Volar
Related to the palmar and plantar surfaces.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
http://www.swgfast.org/Glossary_Consolidated_ver_1.pdf
To do with the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
Volar Pads
Palmar and plantar fetal tissue growth that affects friction ridge skin development and patterns.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
http://www.swgfast.org/Glossary_Consolidated_ver_1.pdf
Swelling of the mesenchyme cells during fetal growth. There are 11 volar pads are on each hand
of a fetus.
Vollmer, August (1876-Nov. 4, 1955)
A Chief of Police in Los Angeles, California who started the first crime laboratory in the United
States. Vollmer, along with Paul Kirk, also established criminology and criminalistics as an
academic discipline. In 1950 the University of California Berkeley began offering criminal justice
degrees.
Vollmer’s obituary appears in the January 1956 issue of Fingerprint and Identification Magazine.
Vucetich, Juan (AKA Vucetic, Ivan and Vucetic, Josip and Vucetic, Ivo) (1858-1925)
Working in Argentina, Vucetich is credited with deriving the classification system used in South
America. His classification system was originally called ‘The Icnofalangometric(ia) system’ but
after some modifications the name was changed to ‘Dactiloscopy’ or ‘Dactiloscopia’, at the
suggestion of another fingerprint pioneer- Dr. Francisco Latzina,. Vucetich is also credited as
being the first person to use a latent fingerprint to solve a crime. The real person who collected
the evidence and made the identification was Inspector Eduardo Alvarez, in 1892, but historically
Vucetich is given the credit because it is felt that Alvarez would have never done this without the
influence of Vucetich. Confronted with the fingerprint evidence, Francesca Rojas confessed to
murdering her two sons.