The Latent Prints Section collects, preserves, identifies and compares latent fingerprints from crime scenes and from physical evidence submitted to the lab by local law enforcement agencies. Latent prints are among the most valuable and common types of physical evidence. All objects at the scene of a crime are considered as possible sources of fingerprints, which may lead to the identification of the offender. The Latent Print Section provides four different services:

• Physical,     chemical     and   instrumental   processing to "lift" latent prints from evidence
• Comparison of latent prints to known inked prints of suspects
• Identification of unknown deceased
• Automated Fingerprint Identification System access

The term latent, used in connection with fingerprints, means "not clearly visible." When an object at a crime scene is touched, moisture from the pores in fingerprint ridges is left behind in the outline of the fingerprint. The print is latent at this point and is composed primarily of ordinary sweat, which tends to dry quickly. There are other components of the latent print that will remain on evidence longer, such as amino acids, lactic acid, glucose, riboflavin, potassium and sodium. To make the latent print clearly visible, the GBI latent print lab uses physical, chemical and instrumental processing procedures. The type of procedure used depends on the evidence being processed.