Fingerprint Evidence in the Courts: Reliability, Standards, and Judicial Review
Honors Capstone Project
1
Advisor(s)
Dr. Harold Schueler
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Paper
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
21-4-2026 4:30 PM
End Date
21-4-2026 4:45 PM
Abstract
In the criminal justice system, defendants are granted the right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment. To ensure that a trial is fair, there are certain procedures put in place to prevent any injustice. One subject in the legal field that has led to numerous arguments, legal discussions, and implementation of procedures is expert witness testimony, specifically regarding fingerprint comparison. Fingerprints are used in criminal cases to identify suspects that came in contact with surfaces at a crime scene. However, fingerprint evidence and the currently practiced methodology are criticized by some as not meeting the legal thresholds to be permitted, causing debates in the legal and scientific community. To examine these debates, three resources have been analyzed: general information gathered from both law review journals and reports created by scientific and legal communities that detail the use of fingerprint evidence; a judicial review in chronological order of how fingerprints have come to be an admissible form of evidence; and cases where fingerprint evidence was determined incorrect. Overall, while fingerprints are currently accepted in the courts, there are clearly instances of misuse and error that warrant scrutiny and potential policy changes.
Recommended Citation
Heskett, Nathaniel R., "Fingerprint Evidence in the Courts: Reliability, Standards, and Judicial Review" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 9.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Papers/9
Open Access
Available to all.
Fingerprint Evidence in the Courts: Reliability, Standards, and Judicial Review
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
In the criminal justice system, defendants are granted the right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment. To ensure that a trial is fair, there are certain procedures put in place to prevent any injustice. One subject in the legal field that has led to numerous arguments, legal discussions, and implementation of procedures is expert witness testimony, specifically regarding fingerprint comparison. Fingerprints are used in criminal cases to identify suspects that came in contact with surfaces at a crime scene. However, fingerprint evidence and the currently practiced methodology are criticized by some as not meeting the legal thresholds to be permitted, causing debates in the legal and scientific community. To examine these debates, three resources have been analyzed: general information gathered from both law review journals and reports created by scientific and legal communities that detail the use of fingerprint evidence; a judicial review in chronological order of how fingerprints have come to be an admissible form of evidence; and cases where fingerprint evidence was determined incorrect. Overall, while fingerprints are currently accepted in the courts, there are clearly instances of misuse and error that warrant scrutiny and potential policy changes.