A preliminary assessment of latent fingerprint evidence damage on mobile device screens caused by digital forensic extractions

Mobile devices continue to feature heavily in criminal investigations and often bear multiple forms of
potentially relevant evidence. In the context of identifying the owner of a device, both latent
fi
ngerprints
and resident digital data may be crucial to investigations, yet each individual process may have a
detrimental impact on the other. Fingerprint development techniques are known to impact device
hardware, whilst digital extraction processes can destroy latent prints. This article examines the impact
of mobile device extraction procedures on resident screen
fi
ngerprints. The impact of bare
fi
ngered,
cotton gloved, latex gloved and stylus screen press and swipes on latent print destruction are examined.
Results indicate that all forms of interaction cause print damage, but to a variable extent. Provisional
device handling recommendations are offered