Although evidence supports the uncertainty and unreliability of fingerprint evidence in criminal cases, it is still reliable in identifying suspects

A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of the finger. There are sweat glands in the skin of a finger that produces a solution that coats the ridges of the prints. When one touches a surface the residue is left with the pattern of ones fingers. This residue left on a surface is called a latent print.
A latent print is different from a suspect print in that a latent print is the print found at a crime scene while a suspect print is one collected from a suspect for matching purposes.
In identifying and lifting latent prints, fingerprint dust has to be used to dust the surface and adhesive tape is used to lift that print. A common misconception is that this process is foolproof but it is not. For example, if the latent  print is on a moist surface, then dusting the surface will distort the print.


A study has found that there is a 0.1 false positive error rate and 7.5 false negative error rate

In a research conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academies, researchers sought to measure the accuracy and reliability of latent print examiners' decisions such as the ones in the Brandon Mayfield Case. In this study, 169 latent print examiners each compared approximately 100 pairs  of latent and exemplar fingerprints. The results of the study are very significant. 3 percent of the examiners made at least one false positive error for an overall rate of 0.1 percent. False positive means that the examiner stated that the latent print and the exemplar matched when in fact they do not match. 85 percent of the examiners made at least one false negative error for an overall rate of 7.5 percent. False negative means that the examiner stated that the latent print and the exemplar do not match when in fact they do.
When asked whether or not he thought that the results of this study represents the error rate in the fingerprint community, Professor of Criminalistics at the University of Maryland, Tom Mauriello stated that matching fingerprints is an art and not a science so an error rate is expected. He states, "If it was science, then we would have to give the correct answer every time" and because of this, we have to expect mistakes to be made.
















With the error rates cited in a study, it is not enough for fingerprint evidence to be rejected in courts
When asked whether or not the error rates were high enough to be concerning to the forensic field, Professor Mauriello said no. Specifically, when asked about the false negative errors in which the examiners stated conclusively that the fingerprints do not match when in fact they do, Mauriello states, "No one piece of evidence should be the deciding factor between finding a defendant guilty or not guilty."

Ellen10's thoughts on the future of digital communications and the effectiveness of the iCourse format

The leader of Nigeria's extremist group Boko Haram, claims that the 200 kidnapped girls are converted to Islam and have gotten married for as low as $12 as a bride price

The leader of Nigeria's extremist group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau released a video where he claims that the over 200 girls that were kidnapped in April have now converted to Islam and they have all been married off to people for as little as $12. He also claims that there has not been a cease-fire talks as the Nigerian government claims.

Articles listed at the bottom of the main article includes the personalization aspect of P-I-C-K

At the end of the article, there were suggested links for other articles that I, as a reader can read. The articles are personalized for me because I read more about crimes. 

The ability to be able to watch the news clip and post the article on several social media networks creates interactivity 

The article includes the news clip about the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. This creates interactivity in the article because there is a news clip about the article itself. One is able to watch the clip as a supplement to reading the article. There are also icons to post the article on several social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and also emailing it to a friend if one chooses to. 

Although the photographs in the article create contiguity in the article, they are not 100% effective

This article includes photographs of key parts of the article. The article includes photographs of the captured girls, a mother of one of the captured girls holding a picture of her daughter, and the photo of the leader of Boko Haram with the flag of al-Qaeda behind him.

Although the photographs create contiguity, I do not think that they are effective. The photographs are not in the right place. The photograph of the mother of one of the captured girls should not have been in the paragraph about what the Boko Haram leader was wearing in the video. This photograph should have been in the second paragraph about the grief of the parents of the kidnapped girls. The photograph of the Boko Haram leader with the al-Qaeda flag in the background should be in the seventh paragraph that describes the photo itself in the article. The photograph of the kidnapped girls should be in the first paragraph of the article that talks about the over 200 kidnapped girls. These photographs would have been effective if they had been in the correct places.

The advertisement is not very effective in making the reader understand the article
This article uses personalization, interactivity, and contiguity, there are, however some  kick-outs such as this advertisement. There are several things wrong with this advertisement such as the fact that it is in Spanish, and it also had nothing to do with the article. Other than the advertisement, there were no kick outs in the article.

Video Chatting and Instant Messaging are only two of the ways in which students communicate with each other!

Manchester United still losing!

Even after signing a new coach, Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United is yet to win a game. They even lost to MK Dons by four points.