Rare instances of level II ridge formation non-correspondence absent clear distortion markers or red flags have occurred within a framework of corresponding ridge formations from the same individual.  Examples of such anomalies have been presented during examiner training [19] [20], presented at fingerprint identification seminars [21], posted on the internet [22] [23], found during the course of routine casework [24] [25] and published [26]. 

Images #1 and #2 are rolled fingerprint impressions made by the same individual recorded on ten-print cards.  The non-corresponding ridge event was found during the course of routine casework by the author and is absent any clear distortion markers or red flags.  The non-corresponding ridge event is located approximately 13 ridge counts above and slightly to the left of the core.  Examine it carefully! 

                                                                 Image 1

                                                               Image 2

Such events may be readily explained by the trained eye.  For example, David Ashbaugh describes how this particular artifact likely occurred:  “The tip is a double touch caused by a shift toward the crease during rolling which lifts the tip. Then the tip is pressured again but the tip ridges do not line up and create an artifact.  On yours, I believe the extra bifurcation, the one that comes to a point, should attach to the ridge above.”  

Although some non-corresponding ridge formation events allow for clear explanation, some are more ambiguous.  For example, the non-corresponding ridge formation event displayed in images #3 and #4, was found by Michelle Battaglia [25] during a routine ten-print search against an AFIS ten-print database at the San Jose Police Department Central Identification Unit.  The images are from scanned ten-print records of separate arrests belonging to the same individual.  The event is located below the core perpendicular to the delta and is absent any clear distortion markers or red flags.  The impression that displays the non-corresponding ridge formation event is extremely difficult if not impossible to identify with confidence absent the examination of additional exemplar impressions.  Examine it carefully!

                                                                Image 3

                                                                 Image 4

A third example of a non-corresponding ridge formation event nearly absent any clear distortion markers that was presented by David Ashbaugh during examiner training [19].  The event is depicted in Images 5 and 6 which are known print impressions from the same individual.  It is located approximately 5-7 ridges above the core in each impression.  Again, examine it carefully!

                                                                Image 5

                                                                Image 6

See Pre-Determined Minimum To Exclude for close-ups of samples of the largest and best amount so non-corresponding ridge features seen in a match.

"The One-Dissimilarity Doctrine is bunk."

David Ashbaugh [19]