Major case prints are utilized to do which of the following?

• A. Record ALL of the friction ridge skin of the hands
• B. Are never used in investigations
• C. Are only used for training
• D. Are utilized to make accurate and conclusive comparisons with all latent prints obtained during an investigation

Answer: (D)

Major case prints provide the known reference material for comparing friction ridge details with latent prints collected at a scene. By capturing rolled impressions of all ten fingers (and often palms), they give a complete, high-quality record that investigators use in the comparison step of the analysis process to determine whether a latent print matches a specific individual. The strength here is that the detailed ridge minutiae available on these prints allow for accurate, conclusive identifications (or exclusions) when compared against all latent prints obtained during the investigation. While these prints do record extensive ridge skin, the key purpose is to enable reliable comparisons, not merely to record prints, train, or be unused.