Defining AFIS Latent Print "Lights-Out"

The criminal justice communities use the science of fingerprints to perform two major operations. The first is 10-print fingerprint operations with the primary purpose of establishing an individual’s fingerprint biometric identity and their respective criminal history record. The second is forensic latent print examinations with the primary purpose of supporting criminal investigations in an effort to solve crimes. Both operations are crucial in supporting subsequent legal proceedings. This paper introduces and explores an incremental approach to automating more of the forensic latent print examination process.