What is the function of a fingerprint database?

A fingerprint database is primarily designed to compare and identify individuals based on their unique fingerprint patterns. Each person has distinct fingerprint characteristics, which remain unchanged throughout their life, making fingerprints a reliable means of identification. The database allows law enforcement and forensic experts to search, match, and verify fingerprints collected from crime scenes against existing records. This function is vital in criminal investigations, as it helps establish connections between suspects and crime evidence.

The other options focus on different aspects of investigative processes. Storing photographs of crime scenes, collecting DNA samples, and cataloging eyewitness testimonies are essential parts of criminal investigations, but they do not pertain specifically to the role of a fingerprint database in identifying individuals. The unique ability of fingerprints to provide an accurate identification links directly to why the function of the fingerprint database is focused solely on fingerprint pattern comparison.