New term for "Major Case" Prints

[Kasey Wertheim]

SWGFAST turns to the latent print community for suggestions on a potential new name for what we have always called "major case" prints. I think we would all agree that the name itself implies that impressions of tip and joint fingerprints are only needed in "major cases", whatever those are! Then, of course, there is the problem with defining what is a "major case".

SWGFAST came up with a few suggestions that have associated acronyms:

Fully Acquired Comparison Standards (FACS)

Comprehensive Acquired Ridge Detail Standards (CARDS)

Total Area Print Standards (TAPS)

Fully Obtained Comparison Usable Standards (FOCUS)

SWGFAST would like your input! This week, please post your suggestions as replies to this thread. Next week we will have a vote to rank them in popularity. A catchy acronym is a big positive in this endeavor, but is not required for entry into this contest. Whoever comes up with the number 1 voted name gets two free CLPEX.com t-shirts. If that happens to be one of the names above, then the SWGFAST member who proposed the name will get the shirts.

Here are some additional words that SWGFAST used in their brainstorming efforts:

Full
Fully
Acquired
Maximal
Extended
Total
Complete
Comprehensive
Total

Case
Hand
Area
Known
Latent
Palmar
Friction Ridge
Ridge
Detail
Finger and Palm
Palmprint
Print
Area
Comparison
Usable

Prints
Recording
Exemplars
Acquisition
Impressions
Standards

Have fun!!

[ident1]

Complete Rolled Impressions for Major Events (CRIME)

Superior Prints Are Required To Aquire Criminals Under Suspicion (SPARTACUS)

Complete Aquisition of Ten-prints Standard (CATS)

Complete Rolled Aquisition Protocol Standard for Major Events And Terrorism (CRAPS for MEAT)

Major Events And Terrorism Holistic Enrollment And Display System (MEATHEADS)

[ident1]

Ident 1 is Dave Charlton by the way.........cheers


Dave

[Ident1]

Standard Complete Rolled Aquisition Protocol for Major Events And Terrorism (SCRAP for MEAT)

[Mike French]

I like the idea of renaming these prints. The current name always seems to create a hassle.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Complete Friction Ridge Exemplars

or,

Total Friction Ridge Exemplars

[Steve Everist]

This is an interesting idea - to change a term that I'm assuming the majority of those in the profession agree upon what the term means. We don't have a lot of those to begin with, and maybe this does cause confusion for those in law enforcement who aren't in the field, but why do we need to change it?

I'll just go on the assumption that we're all thinking the same thing when the term "major case" prints is used. If that's the case, a new term, name, acronym, etc... would probably cause more confusion than continuing on with the same term.

Not only will it continue to confuse those already confused by "major case" prints, but it will also confuse those in the field that aren't familiar with the new term. If you request them from another agency, then they ask, "what's that?," then you reply "major case" prints, and they say, "oh, why didn't you say that?" Then we've created more problems than we've solved.

I guess my point is that, if I'm going to have to explain a term to those not in the field anyhow, I may as well use a term that has been recognized by the majority of those in the field.

[Pat Wertheim]

I agree with Steve. The term "Major Case Prints" has been around a long time and is used universally. The only objection I heard at SWGFAST to its continued use was that jailors sometimes think they only need to do it in "major" cases. But that is a training problem, not a reason to discontinue its use. Many of the jailors I have known are so harried they look for shortcuts to finish the paperwork in the booking process, so mandating the taking of major case prints through a live-scan protocol should ensure their acquisition. I am put off by all the clever acronyms and, if anything, should we decide to change the terminology, I would stick with something simple such as "full case prints."

[Terry Andrew Smith]

Total-Hand Friction Ridge Impressions would be my preference if the consensus is that we should change from current terminology. The term is self-explanatory despite it's lack of being cleverly acronymable .

I agree with Steve and Pat who both suggest that the term 'major case prints' has caused confusion to some folks, even if most of them are outside the Ident office.

Changing terminology within the science illustrates to the world that we are not stagnant. Time and time again on this and other boards I read that we need to 'better articulate' what it is that we do. What better way is there to accomplish this than by reveiwing the terminology that, while we all understand it, confuses jailors, detectives, or worse yet, jurors?

[Cindy Homer]

I agree with Pat and Steve. The term “major case prints”, as unfortunate as it is, seems to be what people know. I already get a dumbfounded look when I refer to a fingerprint as a friction ridge impression. I’ve learned to speak in terms that others understand, even if the term isn’t perfect. It is definitely a training issue and its something I address when I train. But, if there is a burning desire to change the term, “full case prints” would be my preference. It is simple and to the point.

[Danny L. Harness]

I also agree that the term "Major Case Prints" should be left as it is. I disagree with others that say it may cause confusion. What ever you name it, some one will always question it and you will have to explain it anyway. So what's the advantage? It just seems that those in authority are trying to re-invent the wheel. I think some of the examples I've read, are a bit out there and would be equally hard to explain to a jury. SWGFAST may be doing some fine work but in this case I think their time should be devoted to more meaningful efforts.
Thanks

[Steve Everist]

I think when we start trying to create words to fit a catchy acronym we can potentially cause even greater problems - unless it's so obvious that it's a no-brainer.

I often use "MCP's" in place of the full word in my notes. I'm sure most in the field know what this acronym means. But it was created from an existing term, not the term being created for the acronym to exist.

Even the term "10-Print" card isn't completely accurate anymore, now that there are 20 prints on the card. This can be explained, but like most specialized fields there are terms that aren't common or obvious for those outside of the field.

[Charles Parker]

I vote to leave it the way it is. If someone outside the discipline does not understand the term then educate them.

I object to the words "Total" "Complete" "Full". Most Major Case Prints will still not record "ALL" the friction ridge on the hands. Those words to me are kind of like "PARTIAL LATENT". A oxymoron. If you use those words are you also going to take foot impressions.

On Ten-Prints, the name where I am from---came from the idea that the card was used to determine patterns and classification from the ten fingers of the hands, that just happen to have been taken twice.

Yes there are 20 images on the card but they only supposed to represent the 10 fingers. Ten fingers = ten print card.

Now someone is going to post me by saying well someone could only have 9 or 8 fingers, the others being amputated. And yes they would be right.

Back to the issue at hand. Leave Major Case Prints alone.

[Guest]

I have to agree with Steve and Pat. Anyone remotely familiar with the field knows what "major case prints" are. As Pat stated, the "training problem" that does exist should be addressed as such. I've lost count of how many times "major case prints" have been requested on a case and someone who didn't know better thought it sufficient to obtain rolled finger impressions and a full hand slap impression completely ignoring the fingertips, writer's palm, etc. If someone left me no choice but to call them something different I would suggest "comprehensive known impressions". I still feel that a greater good would be served with proper training rather than a catchy name.

[RL Tavernaro]

My general inclination is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", and I'm not convinced the term Major Case Prints is broke.

However, I would hope that if a replacement was adopted that it be kept simple, like:
Complete Palmar Exemplars (COPEX or COMPEX ?)

[cats]

In South Africa we refer to it as a "Full Set", plain and simple.