Latent Fingerprint Examiner - City of Birmingham

04/04/2025 Grade 21 Full time The City of Birmingham is seeking Latent Fingerprint Examiners. Latent Fingerprint Examiners perform technical work related to preserving, analyzing, and comparing latent fingerprints discovered during criminal investigations and testifying to their results in a court of law. Employees in this job class are responsible for the application of a precise and detailed process in collecting, examining, and filing fingerprint records. Individuals are also responsible for keeping detailed records and regularly produce a variety of reports documenting their work. An employee in this job class follows well established procedures to complete their work, and work is reviewed under the close supervision of a Latent Fingerprint Examiner Supervisor with overall results reviewed by a Lieutenant or Captain. The City of Birmingham provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is presented below:

Birmingham: $46,904 - $72,779

• Completion of a course in Basic Fingerprints from an accredited college, the FBI, the International Association of Identification (IAI) or similar school.

• Additional coursework related to fingerprinting (e.g., latent prints, palm prints, shoe prints, evidence gathering).
• Experience using fingerprinting classification.
• Experience comparing latent prints (e.g., unknown to known).

• Performs administrative duties such as completing department reports, processing and maintaining records, and updating files and paperwork using digital and analog filing methods and other office equipment in order to document the department’s activities and expenditures.
• Processes latent fingerprints using an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and visual assessment to categorize and classify prints and compare them with known fingerprint records in order to establish identity or non-identity of individual or suspect.
• Categorize fingerprints using the Henry Classification system (e.g., arches, loops, whorls, and composites) in order to establish print-specific identification.
• Creates case folders for identified prints by placing all evidence, prints, and reports into an envelope in order to establish a record of identity.
• Creates latent fingerprint analysis records and documents by completing a comparison sheet and recording the case number, name of detective, name of suspects, name of fingerprint examiner, and analysis results.
• Grades latent prints on quality to determine if they are identifiable or of no value.
• Processes fingerprint cards using an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) for computer or visual comparison of prints from previous records to establish or confirm identity or non-identity of individuals.
• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.
• Certifies fingerprints for requests made by the District Attorney’s office, task forces and other criminal justice units and agencies.

Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods. May involve occasional light lifting of items or objects weighing up to 25 lbs. Work involves physical ability necessary to visually inspect fine details in order to identify similarities and differences in physical appearance associated with job-related objects or materials. Work is conducted almost exclusively indoors in an office setting. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc., as well as specialized equipment related to taking fingerprints.