Cause:

No or missing notation of amputations, partial amputations, crippled or deformed fingers, bandaged fingers, fingers missing at birth, or failure to print finger.

Solutions:

In order to obtain an accurate search of the AFIS data base, it is necessary that missing fingers be clearly explained on the fingerprint card.  Amputations should be notated in the proper finger block.  If a portion of the first joint of a finger is amputated, the remaining portion of the first joint should be inked and printed and, in addition, a notation such as "TIP AMP" should be placed in the appropriate finger block.

Crippled or bent fingers may be printed individually using a spoon or similar device onto Retabs (FBI approved) which are placed on the fingerprint card in their proper sequence.  Only in those cases where the fingers are so badly bent or crippled that they are touching the palms and cannot be moved is the notation "Too crippled to print" appropriate.  Cards which do not have all of the fingers printed because of fresh cuts or bandages will not be searched or retained in the AFIS data base unless identified with a card on file.

Some individuals are born without certain fingers and, in those instances, the notation "Missing at birth" should be used rather than just using the word "Missing".