Which statement about AFIS and Livescan is correct?

• A. They require good quality prints and cannot clear up poor quality.
• B. They do not require good quality prints and can clear up poor quality by comparison.
• C. They replace the need for old prints in the system.
• D. They are used only for non-criminal investigations.

Answer: (A)

AFIS and Livescan identify people by comparing detailed fingerprint ridge patterns and minutiae. Because the match quality relies on those features, clear, complete impressions are essential. If a print is poor—smudged, partial, or low contrast—the system has fewer reliable features to work with, making a confident match difficult or impossible. Digital enhancement can help a little, but it can’t fully overcome major quality deficiencies. So prints must be of good quality for reliable identification, and the system cannot reliably “clear up” poor quality by comparison. These tools also work with existing records rather than replacing old prints, and they are used in criminal investigations as well as other investigations.