1st Edition

Courtroom Testimony for Fingerprint Examiners

By Hillary Moses Daluz Copyright 2022
266 Pages 48 Color Illustrations
by CRC Press

266 Pages 48 Color Illustrations
by CRC Press

266 Pages 48 Color Illustrations
by CRC Press

Fingerprint examiners today are expected to develop, research and defend the scientific basis of their conclusions. Recent emphasis placed on scientific rigor and transparency through documentation has created a culture shift in the field. Many examiners are baffled by the resulting cultural, procedural and scientific distinctions, often becoming overwhelmed when required to testify as an expert... Read more

Section I Courtroom Testimony.

Chapter 1: The Criminal Justice System. 

Chapter 2 The Forensic Expert.

Chapter 3 Testimony as Teaching.

Chapter 4 Preparing for Court.

Chapter 5 Pretrial Matters and Discovery.

Chapter 6 In the Courtroom.

Chapter 7 Landmark Court Decisions.

Section II Hot Topics for Fingerprint Examiners.

Chapter 8 Evidentiary Challenges to Friction Ridge Evidence.

Chapter 9 Relevant Publications.

Chapter 10 Standards Development and Nomenclature.

Chapter 11 Subjectivity and Bias.

Chapter 12 Quantitative Considerations.

Chapter 13 Cases of Error and Ethical Considerations. 

 Appendix A Sample Curriculum Vitae.

Appendix B Qualifying Questions.

Appendix C Daubert Hearing Transcript: US v Byron Mitchell.

Biography

Hillary Moses Daluz began her career at the Hayward Police Department in Hayward, CA as a Police Identification Specialist. After earning her Masters of Science degree in Forensic Sciences from the University of California, Davis she deployed to the Joint Expeditionary Forensic Facility at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq as a Latent Print Examiner with Ideal Innovations. After returning stateside she became a member of the faculty in the Forensic Sciences program at Chaminade University of Honolulu, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level. Daluz then accepted a management position as a Senior Latent Print Technician with American Systems in Washington, DC. She is currently an instructor for Tri Tech Forensics and a Forensic Specialist with Forensic Identification Services. Daluz is a Member on the Board of Directors for the International Association for Identification.