Because fingerprints are generally considered unique, prosecutors often present fingerprint evidence as strong proof in criminal cases. However, fingerprint analysis is not always as straightforward as television crime shows make it appear.
Fingerprint evidence is a type of forensic evidence used to connect a person to a crime scene, object, or location. Investigators collect fingerprints from surfaces such as weapons, vehicles, windows, phones, or packaging materials and compare them to known prints associated with a suspect.