Fingerprint Basics
ANCIENT HISTORY OF FINGERPRINTING
2000 BC
Fingerprints were used for
business transactions in Babylon.
221-206 BC
China had records about using
hand
prints as evidence during
investigation.
221 BC- 220 AD
to
Fingerprints were used on clay seals
“sign” documents.
14th Century
Official government documents
contained fingerprint impressions.
Brief History
Began with Sir William Herschel in 1858
 Required fingerprints and signatures on civil
contracts
 Noted that fingerprints of same people over a
number of years did not change with age
Alphonse Bertillon – 1879
 Developed a system of identifying people using
body measurements
 Some disputes led scientists to develop a more
accurate means of identifying people
Brief History
Sir Francis Galton – 1892
 Publishes first book on fingerprints
 Identifies individuality and uniqueness of
fingerprints
Juan Vucetich – 1892
 Made first criminal fingerprint identification
 Identified the print of a woman who murdered
her 2 sons and cut her own throat to place
blame on another person; her bloody print was
found on a door post
Brief History
Edward Henry – 1901
 Develops first system of classifying fingerprints
AFIS – 1980
 First computerized fingerprint database
 Automated Fingerprint Identification System
 70 million cards on file in AFIS!!!
3 Basic Principles Regarding Prints
 A fingerprint is an individual characteristic; no two
people have been found with the exact same
fingerprint pattern.
 A fingerprint pattern will remain unchanged for
the life of an individual; however, the print itself
may change due to permanent scars and skin
diseases.
 Fingerprints have general characteristic ridge
patterns that allow them to be systematically
identified.
Types of Prints
 3 basic types of fingerprints
Arch
Loop
Whorl
 Each basic pattern can be divided into smaller groups
Arches
 5% of people have arches
 Simplest fingerprint pattern
 Formed when ridge enter on one side of the print and
exit on the other
 No deltas are present
Spike or “tent”
Plain Arch
Ridges enter on one side and
exit on the other side.
Tented Arches
Similar to the plain arch,
but has a spike in the center.
Loops
 60% of people have loops
 Have one or more ridges that enter on one side of the
print and exit on the same side
 Must have at least one delta
Delta
Radial Loop (Right
Thumb)
Loop opens toward
thumb or the radial bone.
Ulnar Loop (Right
Thumb)
Loop opens toward the
pinky or the ulnar bone.
NOTE: On the left hand, a loop that opens to the left would be an radial
loop, while one that opens to the right would be a ulnar loop.
Ulnar vs. Radial?
 Difference between Ulnar loop and Radial loop?
 Need to know where the ulna and radius are located in
arm
 Radius – Thumb side
 Ulna – Pinky side
 So, if loop opens toward thumb, it is called
a radial loop. If a loop opens toward the
pinky, it is called an ulnar loop.
Whorls
 35% of people have whorls
 Have ridges that tend to make a complete circle
 Have 2 deltas
Plain
Whorl
Central
Pocket
Loop
Whorl
To tell the difference between a plain whorl and central pocket
loop whorl, draw a line between the two deltas. If some of the
curved ridges touch the line, it is a plain whorl. If none of the
center core touches the line, it is a central pocket loop whorl.
Double Loops and Accidentals
Double Loop Whorl
Accidental Whorl
Delta
Delta
Double loop whorls are
made up of any two loops
combined into one print.
Accidental whorls contain two
or
more
patterns
(not
including the plain arch), or
does not clearly fall under any
of the other categories.
Identify each fingerprint pattern.
Double Loop
Plain Whorl
Loop
Tented Arch
Plain Arch