I have just invented a new word that has a specific meaning.
Background: Working an 8 year old cold case I am able to obtain hit in AFIS on a palm print that took some work from PS CS (several hours) and a little imagination. After getting it peer reviewed (verified) I get access to the reports. The latent was developed on a piece of paper that has some drawing on it and was submitted by Detective 11 months after crime occurred. In reviewing reports there is no mention in any of the 52 reports of a piece of paper with some drawing on it. Looking up evidence control the note or piece of paper is not listed (interesting) . Come to find out that the piece of paper has no affirmative link to the crime, the victim, or the suspect (you know the Physical Evidence Triangle). It was just submitted in case and if print ID would then determine if affirmative link is there.
NEW WORD: FLUFF
DEFINITION: Any item that is submitted for processing that has no affirmative link to the victim, crime, or suspect.
From the word Fluff in the Dictionary: 3) Something of little consequence.
USAGE: You know that item that Dick Tracey submitted for latent print processing. It was just a piece of FLUFF.
If you are the person receiving the item to be processed you could say you have been FLUFFED.
The person submitting the item to be processed is the FLUFFER (not to be confused with the type used in the Porno world although their may be some similarities).
The above scenario is hypothetical and did not exist or is never to likely exist. I disavow any knowledge that the above scenario ever occurred.
...so, the recipient of fluff could be referred to as the fluffee?
I like it. I'm going to start using it.
When I was working in the document section, I had what I termed "dart board suspects" - that is, when asked for the names of possible suspects, it seemed as though the detective in charge of the case pulled a dart board out of the closet....
"You remember Joe, he was the fluffee on that last set of 132 beer cans submitted by Detective Fluffer."
We had at one time another word it was called "Fishing Expeditation". I think most know what I mean by that term.
Well one day when handed a list of 46 possible suspects in a Burglary case the LPE (in a joking way) referred to the list as a "Fishing Expeditation". The Detective took offense at the concept and she talked to her Sgt. who then got a piece of my supervisors ear. The Sgt. made it very plain that his investigators did not just submit names out of the air but used their investigative experience to develop possible suspects. My supervisor then instructed us in very strong terms not to use the word "Fishing Expeditation".
So now we use the term "FE". When asked what that means we respond that it means "Fine Example of Investigative Insight". 8)
"Hey Paul I got a "FE" here with 32 names on it. Isn't it your turn to do one."
. Come to find out that the piece of paper has no affirmative link to the crime, the victim, or the suspect (you know the Physical Evidence Triangle). It was just submitted in case and if print ID would then determine if affirmative link is there.
The Sgt. made it very plain that his investigators did not just submit names out of the air but used their investigative experience to develop possible suspects. My supervisor then instructed us in very strong terms not to use the word "Fishing Expeditation". 
