JS 113 –Fingerprint Lecture
I.
Pre-class activities
a. Quiz
b. Announcements and Assignments
II. Learning objectives
a. List 3 major fingerprint patterns and respective subclasses
b. Name individuals that have made significant contributions to
acceptance and development of fingerprints
c. Define ridge characteristics
d. Explain visible, plastic vs. latent prints
e. Understand the primary classification of the Henry system
f. List techniques for developing latent prints on non porous
objects
g. Describe chemical techniques for developing prints on porous
objects
h. Describe the proper procedure for preserving a developed latent
i. Explain how a latent fingerprint image can be enhanced by
digital imaging
Announcements and Assignments
• Quiz is open book - Fill it out during class and be sure to
hand it in before you leave
• Assignments/Schedule/Lectures:
– Student led Chapter reviews – 09/24/07 : Your team must email me the chapter summary- 2-3
pages total – BY FRIDAY 09/21/07 and provide a hard copy of the summary on Monday 09/24/07
– EXAM I is Weds 09/26/07 covering Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14
– Video on Weds 10/03/07
• Guest Lecturers
– October 8th Supervisor Tom Abercrombie Oakland PD: Crime
Scene, Drugs and Latents
– October 10th Dr. Sandra Sachs- Forensic toxicology
• Exam 1: 09/26/07
BASIC PATTERNS
1
2
3
8 DIFFERENT TYPES OF
FINGERPRINTS
Remembered by:
L A W
No Fingerprints! Rare Disorder but it happens.
… defects in the protein keratin 14
may be responsible for both
diseases, known as Naegeli
syndrome and dermatopathia
pigmentosa reticularis (DPR). But
the lack of fingerprints is not the
diseases' only, or even most serious,
impact.
Patients also experience thickening
of their palms and soles of their feet.
They suffer from anomalies in the
development of their teeth, hair, and
skin, where pigmentation can appear
patchy and uneven.
Most dangerously, they have skin
issues that can inhibit their ability to
sweat normally.
A brief history of fingerprints (1)
• 1883 The first systematic attempt at
personal identification was by Alphonse
Bertillon-anthropometry
• Dimensions of human bone system
remained fixed from age 20 to death
• For 2 decades it remained the most accurate
method.
A brief history of fingerprints (2)
• Chinese used to sign legal documents 3000 years
ago with fingerprints (ceremonial of for human ID
still unknown)
• In India years before Bertillon, William Hershel
started the practice of requiring natives to sign
contracts with imprints of their right hands
• 1880, Henry Fauld working in a Japanese hospital
published a suggestion that skin ridge patterns
could be important for the identification of
criminals… Offered to Scotland yard but rejected
A brief history of fingerprints (3)
• 1892 Francis Galton published his classic textbook
Finger Prints, - anatomy of fingerprints and
suggested methods for recording them.
• Galton proposed assigning three pattern types:
– Loops, Arches, and Whorls
• Book demonstrated that no two prints were
identical and that they remained unchanged from
year to year
• 1891 Juan Vucetich created a classification system
• 1897 Sir Edward Richard Henry created another
classification system adopted by US.
A brief history
of fingerprints (4)
• 1903, Will West at Ft
Leavenworth prison.
William West who
was already in prison
could not be
distinguished by
anthropometry nor
photographs but by
fingerprints
Will West vs William West
Other Look Alikes
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2912199
Photos from
Francois Brunelle
www.francoisbrunelle.com
A brief history of fingerprints (5)
• 1901, NYC Civil Service commission adopts fingerprints
for personal ID to certify all civil service applicants
• 1904, used at the World’s Fair in St. Louis for
representatives of Scotland Yard
• 1924 BI records and Leavenworth records merged forming
the nucleus ID records at the FBI – where the largest
collection now exists
• 1999- Admissibility challenge in US v. BC MitchellEastern PA. Argued, fingerprints could not be proven
unique under Daubert.
• Following 4.5 days, upheld fingerprints as scientific
evidence ruled that 1) human friction ridges are unique and
2) human friction ridge skin arrangements are unique and
permanent.
FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS
• Most familiar to public
• Leaving a readable print depends on:
- Surface on item touched
- Condition of fingers
- Way item is handled
• Fingerprints are completely individual
characteristics.
• First Principle- A fingerprint is an individual
characteristic; no two fingerprints have yet been
found to possess identical ridge characteristics
WHAT ARE FINGERPRINTS ?
• Friction Ridges – raised lines on skin that come
together to form patterns also known as minutiae
• Designed by nature to provide our bodies with a
firmer grasp and resistance to slippage
• Second Principle: Patterns formed by ridges never
change throughout an individual’s life* .
Fingerprint remains unchanged during an
individuals lifetime
* individual marks and scars can be added
John Dillenger tried with acid- see figure 14.4
WHAT ARE FINGERPRINTS ?
• Third Principle: All prints have ridge
characteristics that permit them to be
systematically classified
• 60-65 % of the population has loops, 30-35 have
whorls and only 5% have arches
• LAW form the basis for all classification systems
•
•
•
Loops- ridge lines that enter from one side and curve around to exit from the
same side of the pattern
Arch- lines that enter from one side and exit from the other
Whorls- ridge patterns are rounded or circular in shape and have two deltas
THREE FORMS OF
FINGERPRINTS
• Visible print – form of residue print
– Touching a surface after the ridges have been in contact
with a colored material (blood, paint…)
• Plastic print – made in soft material
– (putty, soap dust..)
• Latent print – result of perspiration or oils present
on ridges INVISIBLE NEED DEVELOPING
* can be more easily developed on
smooth, nonporous surfaces
COMPARISON OF PRINTS
• In identifying a
fingerprint, the analyst
must also look at ridge
characteristics which are
independent of the
patterns (aka minutiae)
IDENTITY, NUMBER
AND LOCATION IMPART
INDIVIDUALITY
Recognition, Collection and
Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence
• Recognition of fingerprint evidence is
similar to recognition of evidence in general
– Training and Experience
– Points of entry, weapons… MAY VARY CASE
TO CASE
– Appropriate tools (Alternate Lighting)
– Documentation- photo, notes, sketches
Recognition, Collection and
Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence
• General Rule: objects believed to have latent
fingerprints should be collected intact and
submitted
– Necessary materials brown paper bags, cardboard box
for firearms/weapons, manila envelopes for documents
• If item cannot be submitted to Fingerprint section
of lab, must develop at scene and use a tape lift or
carefully photographed using 35mm or top quality
digital cameras-scale
• Marked/TAPE-SEALED/ CHAIN OF CUSTODY
Recognition, Collection and
Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence
• Considerations for preservation of latent
print evidence
– Is there biological evidence ?
– Type of material on which the print is present
DEVELOPING LATENT
PRINTS
• IN GENERAL:
• - Powders are used to develop prints
on smooth, nonporous surfaces
- Chemicals are used to develop prints
on porous or absorbent materials like paper or
wood
EFFECTS OF SURFACES
• Hard or glossy, non-porous surfaces retain latent
impression fairly well
• Rough, coarse or porous surfaces do not receive or
retain latent impressions well; textured glass or rough
paint
* The age of a latent print can not be
determined with any specificity
except when the area was cleaned
PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES:
POWDERS
• The oldest and least sophisticated method
for latent prints
• Should be primarily used on non-porous
material
• Best when used in conjunction with Super
Glue Fuming
* Over 85% of fingerprints developed
by this method
FUMING TECHNIQUESSUPER GLUE (Cyanoacrylate)
• Develops latent print
to produce white color
print
• Best utilized on nonporous items or
physical evidence
• White ridge detail is
enhance by moisture
• Contrast of print
improved by
application of dyes or
powders
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
• The type of surface on
which a fingerprint is
deposited has a lot to
do with the type of
print that will be
deposited on the
physical evidence
• The use of sequential
processing techniques
can increase the
number of prints
found and improve the
quality of the prints
already developed
AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT
INDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
• AFIS –The ability to compare a fingerprint
found at the crime scent with a criminal
fingerprint computer data base
• Cold Searches – searching a data base of
several million prints against a single latent
print in about 10 minutes
Group assignment- Classifying
fingerprints
• Using your knowledge of fingerprints, classify all
10 fingers of each member of your team into loop,
arch or whorl (or appropriate type).
• Count the total numbers of L, A and W and
provide the % of each type on the chart on the
board.
• Does the observed % equal the expected %?
• What are some potential reasons the observed
might not equal the expected?
• Design an experiment to test your hypothesis.
FINGERPRINT LAB
PART ONE today
A. Your Inked or pencil
Prints
– What fingerprint
patterns ?
– Print all fingers onto
your fingerprint card
– Fill it out
– Enlarged print (at least
one characteristic)
B. Super Glue
– Reading only
PART Two next time
C. Black Powder
– 2 different
surfaces:
• Smooth glass
slide and tile
D. Magnetic Powder
– 2 different
surfaces
– Smooth glass
slide and tile
E. Evidence Sample
• Everyone will get an item to process for fingerprints
using techniques you have learned/ MUST LIFT A
PRINT
• HOWEVER!!! MUST SWAB BOTTLE FOR
SALIVA FIRST (lightly moistened swab)
– Allow swab to dry while you work on item
– When dry package in envelope
– Once swabbed, dry the swab and then place into envelope
and fill out the chain of custody
– Be sure to take notes on the evidence and sketch on the
card.
REMINDERS
• MAKING A LATENT PRINT VISIBLE
• Place some powder in lid, not too much, circular sweeping
motion, just grazing surface
REMINDERS
• LIFTING A LATENT PRINT ONTO A
FINGERPRINT CARD
Fingerprint card glossy side
Don’t forget info on other side!
SOURCES
•
•
•
•
Criminalistics/ Chapter 14 / Saferstein
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/org/lpu.htm
http://www.onin.com/fp/
Kendall FG, Rehn BW. 1983. Rapid Method of Super Glue® Fuming
Application for the Development of Latent Fingerprints. Journal of
Forensic Science. 28(3) 777-780.
• Lewis, LA. et al. 2001. Processes involved in the development of
latent fingerprints using the cyanoacrylate fuming method. Journal of
Forensic Science. 46(2): 241-246
• California Dept. Justice/ Physical Evidence bulletin-PEB 16-17
• International Association of Identification
– (IAI)-> http://www.theiai.org