FORENSIC SCIENCE

Prints

Prints
Dactyloscopy: the study of
fingerprints

Making Prints
Rolling prints
Modus Operandi--primary identification number

Lifting Prints
Black, white and fluorescent powder
Chemicals--ninhydrin, iodine, silver nitrate, cyanoacrylate

Other Types of Prints

Palm, lip, teeth, eye, ear, voice, shoe and feet prints

What is a Fingerprint?

Skin has an outer layer (epidermis) which has

ridges
g projecting
p j
g inward,, and an inner layer
y
(dermis) which has projections pressing into the
spaces between ridges
A fingerprint is a pattern made by the friction
ridges, which is left behind due to sweat and oil
th t sticks
that
ti k to
t them.
th
Fingerprints form during the fetal stage of
d l
development.
t
3

Fundamental Principles
of Fingerprints

A fingerprint is an individual
characteristic.

A fingerprint will remain unchanged

during an individual
individualss lifetime
lifetime.

Fingerprints have general

characteristics ridge patterns that
permit them to be systematically
classified.

Ridge Characteristics
Mi ti lines of the fingerprint
Minutia-ridge ending
bifurcation
short ridge
dot or island
enclosure
5

MINUTIA
BIFURCATION

RIDGE ENDING

MINUTIA
DOT or ISLAND

SHORT RIDGE

ENCLOSURE
7

Arch
An arch has friction ridges
that enter on one side of
the
h fi
finger and
d cross to
the other side while
risingg upward
p
in the
middle.
Types
Plain- the arch is mild
Tented- the arch is
spiked upward
8

Plain arch

Tented arch

10

Loop
A loop must have one or more
ridges entering and exiting from
the same side it began. Loops
must have one delta (aY
pattern from diverging ridges)
Types
Radial opens toward
Radial-t
d th
the th
thumb
b
Ulnar--opens toward the pinky
(little finger)

Which type of loop is this, if on the

11
right hand? Left hand?

Whorl
A Whorl has a minimum of 2
deltas.
Types
Plain- 2 symmetric deltas and a
p
ridge
g circuit ((circular in
complete
pattern)
Central Pocket- 2 asymmetric
deltas, one side appears to be
stretched
h d
Double Loop- 2 loops and 2 deltas
Accidental- a whorl that does not
fit the
th 3 above
b
pattern
tt
ttypes

Plain whorl

12

Central Pocket Whorl

13

Double Loop (whorl)

14

Accidental whorl

15

Human population fingerprint

distribution

Loops: 65%
Whorls: 30%
Arches: 5%

16

Primary Identification
Numbers- NOTE: fix this slide in your packet
Fingers are numbers 1 through 10 starting with the thumb on the
right hand and continuing through with the thumb on left hand.
Each finger is then given a point value as seen in the chart below.

1. right
th b
thumb

2. right
3. right
index
i d
middle
iddl

16

16

6. left
tthumb
u b

7. left
index
de

8
8. left
middle
dd e
2

4. right
ring
i
8
9. left
ring
g
1

5. right
little
littl
4
10.left
little
tt e
117

Primary Identification (cont)

NOTE: fix this slide in your packet

Sett up a ratio
S
ti off even numbered
b d fingers
fi
over odd
dd
numbered, adding one in both the numerator and
denominator.
2. right
4. right
6. left
8. left
10. left
index
ring
thumb
ring
little
16

1
+

16

1. right
thumb

3. right
middle

5. right
little

2
7. left
index

1
9. left
little
18

1
1

Fingers

16 8 8

16
4

19

Latent Prints
Latent fingerprints are those that are hidden
hidden
and are not visible to the naked eye. These
prints consist only of the natural secretions of
human skin and require
q
treatment to cause
them to become visible.
Most secretions come from three gglands:
Eccrine--largely water with both inorganic
(ammonia, chlorides, metal ions, phosphates) and
organic compounds (amino acids, lactic acids, urea
sugars)
Apocrine--secrete cytoplasm and nuclear materials
Sebaceous
S b
--secrete
t fatty
f tt or greasy substances.
bt
20

Lifting Latent Prints

Developing a print requires chemicals that react
with secretions that cause the print to stand out
against
g
its background.
g
It mayy be necessaryy to
attempt more than one technique, done in a
particular order so as not to destroy the print.
Powders--adhere to both water and fatty deposits.
Choose a color to contrast the background.
Iodine--fumes react with oils and fats to produce a
temporary yellow brown reaction.

21

Iodine Fingerprint

22

Ninhydrin Fingerprint

23

Lifting Latent Prints (cont)

Ninhydrin--reacts
Ninhydrin--reacts with amino acids to produce a purple
reaction.
Silver nitrate--react with chlorides to form silver chloride,
a material which turns gray when exposed to light.
Cyanoacrylate--super glue fumes react with water and
other fingerprint constituents to form a hard,
hard
whitish deposit.
In modern labs and criminal investigations, lasers and
alternative
l
i light
li h sources are used
d to view
i latent
l
fingerprints.
fi
i
It
I
was first used by the FBI in 1978. Since lasers can damage the
retina of the eye, special precautions must be taken and a filter
used.
24

Cyanoacrylate Fingerprints

25

Other Prints

Ears--shape, length and width

Face pictures being used in Florida to find criminals

Face--pictures

Voice--electronic pulses measured on a spectrograph

Feet--size of foot and toes; lines of the feet

Shoes--can be compared
p
and identified by
y type
yp of
shoe, brand, size and year of purchase
26

Other Prints

Palm--lines can be
identified and may be
used
d against
i
suspects.

27

Other Prints

Foot Prints are taken at

birth as a means of
identification for
infants.

28

Other Prints
The study of lip-prints is
called cheiloscopy
py
Lips--display one of five
common patterns
Short vertical lines
Long vertical lines
Rectangular
Rectangular lines that
may crisscross
Diamond
Branching
29

Other Prints

The use of lip prints is not yet firmly

established in our courts.
T ways to
Two
t potentially
t ti ll use lip
li prints:
i t
1- print patterns for identification
2- chromatography to match lipstick marks

30

Other Prints
Teeth--bite marks are
unique
q and can be
used to identify
suspects. These
i
imprints
i
were placed
in gum and could be
matched to crime
scene evidence.
31

Other Prints
The blood vessel
patterns may be
unique to individuals.
Theyy are used for
today various security
purposes.

32

FINGERED
Crazy Criminals
A New Jersey resident phoned
police after finding
p
g her back door
slightly ajar with a muddy palm
print on the glass. When the
officer questioned the woman, it
was determined that she had
been gardening.
gardening When he
compared her hand with the
lifted
ed p
print,, hee had
d a match!!
c !!
33