German basic research, classification, and training in glove prints

The processing of glove prints still does not occupy the place it deserves in forensic practice. The extreme decline in dactyloscopy prints in criminal cases due to the wearing of gloves has not been compensated for decades. More than half of all criminals in Germany now wear gloves when committing crimes, but when criminals are apprehended, gloves are rarely seized, nor are glove prints secured in sufficient quantities at the relevant crime scenes. This is partly because many police officers are unaware that gloves in most cases have individual surfaces and can be directly linked to traces at the crime scene. On the other hand, forensic investigators are often unable to interpret glove prints during many operations and may confuse them with weather-induced structures. All coated gloves (including dot-patterned gloves), smooth and suede leather gloves, multi-surface gloves, and even disposable gloves can be identified. This article aims to highlight the basic possibilities of glove prints and to identify common types of gloves. In addition, there is an overview of the training program for forensic experts specializing in glove prints in Germany.