If there is serious thought about making change with "Major case prints", It may again be helpful to consider the Palmar Zone Code (PZ-Code) as well. This can be found in the CLPE's archives. We use the PZ-Code here in the Spokane Forensic Unit, to the immense benefit of latent print examiners. Our communication and documentation regarding crime scene latent prints are much improved.
We also have much better communication with our jail when they are requested to print a specific PZ-Code area. This information for a particular area of the palm and case number is entered into the local computer database regarding that person. The jail booking officers see this information request at booking and provide standard exemplars plus the requested PZ-code area. Our medical examiner also uses the PZ-Code for their morgue print documentation and communication with our office.
I would hate to see such a great benefit overlooked. It's not that our system is broken or that "major case prints" is unusable, it is that we have no working system and "major case prints" is insufficient for the task.
I would like to see our profession step into the next century. Maybe a simple name change is just not enough.
Sincerely,
Craig Coppock.