Forensics Fingerprinting

the study of fingerprints

One of the few mammals that has fingerprints.

Babylon-business transactions

Ancient China- clay seals

Persia - government papers

noted that fingerprints could prove or disprove identity; believed that all fingerprints were unique to the individual.

recognized the importance of fingerprints as a means of identification from crime scenes and devised a method of classification as well.

Father of contemporary fingerprinting; he published his book, "Fingerprints", establishing the individuality and permanence of fingerprints. The book included the first classification system for fingerprints.

Juan Vucetich made the first criminal fingerprint identification. He was able to identify Francisca Rojas (murdered her two sons )

The first official fingerprint card was developed

Fingerprints are first accepted by U.S. courts as a

reliable means of Identification.

the first person to be convicted of murder in the United States based on fingerprint evidence; executed in 1912

wrote that if 12 points (Galton's Details) were the same between two fingerprints, it would suffice as a positive identification.

True or False: there is "NO" required number

of points necessary for an identification.

What is the purpose of the ridges that make up a fingerprint?

The 3 classes of fingerprints

opens toward the thumb

opens toward pinky

Is the type of print (Loop, Arch or Whorl) class or individual evidence?

The individuality of a fingerprint is not determined by its general shape or pattern, but by the careful study of its ridge characteristics, known as

characteristics of ridges or patterns

The central pattern in the middle of the print

A small “up-side-down” V shape that appears within most fingerprint patterns

The ridges that diverge (separate) above and below the delta

Usually quite easy to see and may be in blood, ink, grease, oil or some other contaminant on the hands

Three-dimensional (3-D) in putty, or a similar soft material, that can reproduce the ridges cleanly

prints left behind from the oil and sweat from your hand; usually invisible to naked eye; referred to as invisible prints

developing latent prints:

adhere to both water and fatty deposits. Choose a color to contrast the background.

fumes react with oils and fats to produce a temporary yellow brown reaction.

reacts with amino acids to produce a purple color.

reacts with chloride to form silver chloride, a material which turns gray when exposed to light.

“super glue” fumes react with water and other fingerprint constituents to form a hard, whitish deposit.

The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System- This system most commonly compares ridge endings and bifurcations

the point where a ridge ends abruptly

Formation where ridge bifurcates and rejoins. to be one in a short distance

Point where a friction ridge forks and becomes two separate ridges.

a single friction ridge that begins, continues for a short distance longer than the width, and then ends, disconnected on both ends.