FORENSIC SCIENCE
CHAPTER 4
FINGERPRINTS & FOOTPRINTS
“FINGERPIRNTS CANNOT LIE, BUT LIARS CAN MAKE FINGERPRINTS.” ~UNKNOWN
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this chapter, students will be able to:
1. Name those individuals who have made significant contributions to the acceptance and development of
fingerprint technology.
2. Define and know the common ridge characteristics
3. Explain why a fingerprint is a permanent feature of the human anatomy
4. List the three major fingerprint patterns and their respective classes
5. Classify a set of fingerprints by the primary classification of the Henry system
6. Explain what is meant by visible, plastic, and latent fingerprints
7. Describe the concept of an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS)
8. List the techniques for developing latent fingerprints on nonporous objects
9. Describe chemical techniques for developing prints on porous objects
10. Describe the proper procedures for preserving a developed latent fingerprint
11. Distinguish between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional footwear impression
12. List and explain the significance of footwear impressions
13. Describe the methods of locating and recovering footprints
Chapter Outline:
FINGERPRINTS & FOOTPRINTS
I.
II.
History of Fingerprinting
A. William Herschel
B. Alphonse Bertillon
1. Anthropometry
2. Portrait Parlé
C. Henry Fauld
D. Francis Galton
1. Finger Prints
E. Dr. Juan Vucetich
F. Sir Edward Richard Henry
G. Civil Service Commission – 1901
H. United States v. Byron C. Mitchell
Fundamental Principles of Fingerprinting
A. Individual Characteristic
1. Ridge characteristics
B. Remain Unchanged
1. Friction skin ridges
2. Skin
1. Epidermis
2. Dermis
3. Dermal Papillae
3. Latent fingerprints
C. Fingerprints can be classified
1. Loops
1. Ulnar loop
2. Radial loop
2. Whorls
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III.
IV.
V.
VI.
1. Plain
2. Central Pocket loop
3. Double loop
4. Accidental
3. Arches
1. Plain arch
2. Tented arch
Classification of Fingerprints
A. Henry System
B. Primary Classification – FBI
1. Whorl pattern – presence or absence
2. Pair fingers
1. Fraction obtained
C. Automated Fingerprint Identification System
1. Computer
2. Speed & accuracy
3. IAFIS
4. Livescan
Methods of Detecting Fingerprints
A. Three kinds
1. Visible (patent)
2. Plastic
3. Latent
1. Locating Prints
a. RUVIS
2. Developing Prints
a. Methods
i. Regular powders
ii. Magnetic powders
iii. Fluorescent powders
iv. Iodine fuming
v. Ninhydrin
1. DFO
vi. Physical Developer
vii. Silver nitrate
viii. Super Glue fuming
3. Visualize Prints
a. Fluoresce
b. Alternate light sources
Preservation of Developed Prints
A. Photograph
B. Transport
1. Entire Object
2. Lifting
1. Adhesive tape
2. Hinge Lifters
Footwear Evidence
A. Two types
1. 3-dimensional
2. 2-dimensional
B. Significance of footwear impressions
1. Identify footwear
2. Elimination of footwear
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3. Participation in the crime
4. Determination of shoe brand
5. Determination of shoe size
6. Gait characteristics
7. Number of perpetrators
C. Locations and recovery
1. Location
1. Some obvious
a. Bloody shoe print
2. Slow visual search
a. Oblique lighting
3. More aggressive techniques
4. Other items to consider
a. Glass
b. Paper, magazines
c. Dust
2. Photograph
3. Recovery
1. 2-dimensional
a. Electrostatic lifting
b. Fingerprint powder
2. 3-dimensional
a. Cast
i. Dental stone, plaster
D. Identify and compare
1. Examine
1. Design
2. Physical size and shape
3. Wear
4. Individual identifying characteristics
Vocabulary:
AFIS
Anthropometry
Arch
Core
Cyanocrylate
Delta
Dermal Papillae
Dermis
DFO
Electrostatic Lifting
Epidermis
Fluoresce
IAFIS
Iodine Fuming
Latent Fingerprints
Livescan
Loops
Ninhydrin
Physical Developer
Plain Arch
Plastic Prints
Portrait Parlé
Radial Loop
Ridge characteristics (Minutiae)
RUVIS
Sublimation
Super Glue Fuming
Tented Arch
Three-dimensional Footprints
Two-dimensional Footprints
Ulnar Loop
Visible (patent) Prints
Whorls
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Tentative Schedule:
Day 1: History
Day 2-3: Lab Experiment - Bertillionage
Day 4-5: Fundamental Principles
Day 6: Balloon Activity
Day 7: Classification Systems
Day 8-9: Lab Experiment – Fingerprinting Basics (Flinn)
Day 10: FBI Card Activity
Day 11: Methods of Detecting Latent Fingerprints
Day 12-13: Lab Experiment: - Detection of Latent Fingerprints
Day 14: Methods of Detecting Latent Fingerprints
Day 15-16: Footprint analysis
Day 17-18: Lab Experiment: Footprint Analysis
Day 19: Review
Day 20: Chapter 4 Test
Day 21- 22: Lab Experiment – Putting It all Together
Assignments – due day of test!!:
1. Vocab Words!
2. p.455-456 #1-40
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