Our mission is to process items of physical evidence for the detection, preservation and comparison of latent prints. Latent prints are among the most valuable types of physical evidence examined by a laboratory. All objects at the scene of a crime are considered as possible sources of latent prints. Highly technical chemical, physical, digital and photographic processes can be used to develop and preserve latent prints. Friction Ridge analysts can compare latent prints with known fingerprint and palm print standards to determine whether or not the latent prints and standards are from the same source. Unidentified latent prints can also be searched in the FDLE state database, known as the Biometric Identification System, and the federal database, known as Next Generation Identification. These same databases may also be used in an attempt to establish the identity of unknown deceased persons. If needed by a court of law, an analyst may present their findings to a jury during a criminal trial.