Henry-FBI Classification
• Developed by Edward Henry
• Allowed all sets of ten fingerprints in the
world to be divided into 1024 groups
• Secondary and more complex classifications
were created to allow for more groups
Primary Classification
The Henry—FBI Classification
Based on WHORLS
Each finger is given a point value
right
left
Primary Classification
Assign the number of points for each finger that has a
whorl and substitute into the equation:
That number is your primary classification number
Individualization
• Henry-FBI Classification
– Narrows into a group
• Ridge Classification
– Uses minutiae to individualize fingerprints
– In U.S. there are no legal requirements for # of
points
– Criminal courts accept 8 to 12 points
– 150-200 minutiae in a good rolled print