Colorado POST Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Colorado POST Exam with essential study materials including multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Achieve your goal of becoming a licensed peace officer!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What are latent fingerprints?

Visible prints made with ink
Impressions left on a surface
Colloquial term for smudged fingerprints
Patterns created on glass

The correct answer is: Impressions left on a surface

Latent fingerprints are typically not visible to the naked eye and are formed when the natural oils and sweat from a person's skin are transferred onto a surface, leaving behind an impression. Unlike visible prints, which are made when a finger comes into contact with colored substances like ink, latent prints require special techniques to be visualized and collected, such as dusting for fingerprints or using chemical treatments. This definition aligns with the choice that describes them as impressions left on a surface. The nature of latent fingerprints makes them significant in forensic investigations, as they can provide crucial evidence in identifying individuals who have touched an object or surface at a crime scene.