What is the main purpose of conducting fingerprint comparisons?

The main purpose of conducting fingerprint comparisons is to establish identity or non-identity of two sets of prints. Fingerprints are unique to each individual, and their patterns, ridges, and other characteristics allow forensic experts to determine if two prints come from the same person or different individuals. This process involves a meticulous examination of various features such as ridge count, bifurcations, and whorls, which can help in either confirming a match or ruling out potential suspects in a criminal investigation.

Fingerprints cannot be used to determine a person's age, as they do not provide temporal information. Additionally, while fingerprints may be collected as part of a crime scene investigation, they are not used to collect samples for DNA profiling, which requires biological material like blood or saliva. Analyzing the quality of the ink used is irrelevant in the context of fingerprint comparisons, as the primary focus is on the unique patterns of the skin ridges rather than any materials associated with writing or printing. Therefore, establishing identity through fingerprint comparison is a crucial method in forensic science and criminal justice.