INTRODUCTION:

Fingerprints are a reproduction of friction skin ridges found on the palm side of the fingers and
thumbs. The basic principles underlying the use of fingerprints in criminal investigations are that
(1) a fingerprint is an individual characteristics because no two fingers have yet been found to
possess identical ridge characteristics, (2) a fingerprint remains unchanged during an individual's
lifetime, and (3) fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically
classified. All fingerprints are divided into three classes on the basis of their general pattern:
loops, whorls and arches.

Fingerprint classification systems are based on knowledge of fingerprint pattern classes. The
individuality of a fingerprint is not determined by its general shape or pattern, but by a careful
study of its ridge characteristics. The expert must demonstrate a point-by-point comparison in
order to prove the identity of an individual. AFIS aids this process by converting the image of a
fingerprint into digital minutiae that contain data showing ridges at their points of termination
(ridge endings) and their branching into two ridges (bifurcation).

OBJECTIVES:
Students should be able to:

1. Become familiar with the main features of human fingerprints.

2. Develop skills in dusting and lifting latent fingerprints.
3. Compare fingerprints of suspects to fingerprints lifted from a simulated crime scene.
MATERIALS:
1. Fingerprint card
2. Fingerprint ink pad
3. Glass or ceramic container from which prints can be lifted
4. A4 paper
5. Tape for lifting prints
6. Black fingerprint dusting powder and brush
7. Magnetic fingerprint powder

PROCEDURE:
PART A: Taking your own fingerprints

1. A right forefinger was rolled lightly across the fingerprint pad provided.
2. The finger filled with ink rolled across the A4 paper and labelled as "Right forefinger".
3. Steps 1 and 2 repeated for each of the fingers.
4. Fingerprint types were identified whether it was arch, loop or whorl patterns.
5. The individual features determined using a magnifying lens.
6. All the fingerprints passed in together with lab report.

PART B: Lifting a latent print

1. A clean, flat lightly coloured surface chose to apply fingerprints.

2. The surface was cleaned before apply the print.
3. The surface of the object touched using finger filled with oil gather from surface of nose.
4. Firm pressure applied to protect fingerprint from smudging.
5. The powder brush was dipped gently into the fingerprint powder.
6. The surface of the object with print was brushed lightly. The brushing process continued
until a clean print obtained.
7. The process were repeated if good print did not acquired.
8. A fingerprint lifted and transferred to the white cue card after a clean print was obtained.
9. Tacky side of the tape placed onto the latent print was rubbed to ensure the print
completely transferred.
10. The tape was removed.
11. The tape was placed with the print on a cue card.
12. A cue card was labelled with name, date and a description of the print.
QUESTIONS:
1. Using the fingerprints below, identify each of the following features; a lake, bifurcation,
island and ridge ending. Circle the feature and label it. You only need to identify each
feature once, and you may not need to use all of the prints for this exercise. In addition,
identify the fingerprint pattern (arch, loop or etc.) for each print.

LOOP PATTERN WHORL PATTERN WHORL PATTERN

ARCH PATTERN ARCH PATTERN

WHORL PATTERN

Ridge ending

Lake

Island

Bifurcation
 2. As stated earlier, there is some controversy over the veracity of fingerprint evidence,
particularly in light of the Daubert standards. Imagine you are a trial judge faced with
defence attorneys arguing that fingerprint evidence should not be introduced in a trial
because no systematic study or studies have been conducted to determine the accuracy
with which a partial print can be matched to a fingerprint, and no uniform standards for
determining whether a match exist. Briefly explain your position on the admissibility of
fingerprint analysis is a reliable science under the Daubert guidelines.

The trial judge was assigned to ensuring that an expert's testimony tests on a reliable foundation
and also relevant to the case. The " gatekeeping " role of trial judge applied not only to testimony
based on "scientific" knowledge but also to testimony based on " technical " and " other
specialized " knowledge.

Fingerprint is an individual characteristics, no two fingers have yet been found to possess
identical ridge characteristics. Fingerprint remains unchanged during an individual's lifetime.
Fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified.

The admissibility of fingerprint analysis is reliable because:

i. The scientific technique or theory can be (and has been) tested.

ii. The technique or theory has been subject to peer review and publication.
iii. The technique's potential rate of error.
iv. Existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique's operation.
v. The scientific theory or method has attracted widespread acceptance within a relevant
scientific community.
RESULTS:
PART A: FINGERPRINT BY USING THE INK PAD

RIGHT HAND:

THUMB INDEX FINGER MIDDLE FINGER

RING FINGER LITTLE FINGER

LEFT HAND:

THUMB INDEX FINGER MIDDLE FINGER

RING FINGER LITTLE FINGER

PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION FINGERPRINTS:

RIGHT FINGERPRINTS:

RIGHT THUMB RIGHT INDEX RIGHT MIDDLE RIGHT RING RIGHT LITTLE
0 16 8 8 4

LEFT FINGERPRINTS:

LEFT THUMB LEFT INDEX LEFT MIDDLE LEFT RING LEFT LITTLE
4 2 0 1 1

FORMULA FOR CALCULATING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION:

RIGHT INDEX + RIGHT RING + LEFT THUMB + LEFT MIDDLE + LEFT LITTLE + 1
RIGHT THUMB + RIGHT MIDDLE + RIGHT LITTLE + LEFT INDEX + LEFT RING + 1

= 16 + 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 + 1
0+8+4+2+1+1

= 30
16

= 15
8
PART B: FINGERPRINT BY USING DUST POWDER

LEFT THUMB RIGHT THUMB

PART C: FINGERPRINT BY USING MAGNETIC POWDWER

LEFT THUMB RIGHT THUMB

PART D: LIFTING FINGERPRINT CARD

CLOSE UP IMAGE
PART E: COMPARISON BETWEEN INKED FINGERPRINT AND DEVELOPED
FINGERPRINTS
Island

Ridge
ending

Ridge
ending
Delta Bifurcation
DISCUSSION:
The objective of this experiment is to make students become familiar with main features of
human fingerprints. All fingerprints are divided into three classes on the basis of their general
pattern which are loops, whorls and arches. Loops must have one or more ridges entering from
one side of the print, recurving, and exiting from the same side. If the loop opens toward the little
finger, it is called an ulnar loop while if it opens toward the thumb, it is called radial loop. A
fingerprint delta resembles the silt formation that builds up as a river flows into the entrance of
lake. All loops must have one delta. The core is the approximate centre of pattern. Whorls are
actually divided into four distinct groups: plain, central pocket loop, double loop and accidental.
All whorl patterns must have type lines and at least two deltas. A plain whorl and a central
pocket loop have at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. If an imaginary line drawn
between two deltas touches any one of the spiral ridges, the pattern is a plain whorl. If no such
ridge is touched, the pattern is a central pocket loop. The double loop is made up of two loops
combined into one fingerprint. Any whorl classified as an accidental either contains two or more
patterns or pattern not covered by other categories. Arches are subdivided into two distinct
groups: plain arches and tented arches. The plain arch is formed by ridges entering from one side
of the print and exiting on the opposite side. The tented arch is similar to the plain arch except
that instead of rising smoothly at the centre, there is a sharp up thrust or spike, or the ridges meet
an angle that less than 90 degrees. Arches do not have type lines, deltas or cores.

There are three fundamental principles of fingerprints. First principle is a fingerprint is an

individual characteristics, no two fingers have yet been found to possess identical ridge
characteristics. Second principle is a fingerprint remains unchanged during an individual's
lifetime. Third principle is fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be
systematically classified. With this three principles shown that fingerprint is the most valuable
evidence that can be collected in the crime scene, because it leads directly to the person that
involved to the crime case.

CONCLUSION:
As a conclusion, fingerprint can leads to the suspects that involved in the crime scene and it will
saving time and cost during tracking process. In this experiment, students also able to learn a
correct technique in using the fingerprint powder and magnetic fingerprint powder to trace the
fingerprint of the suspects. Students be able to learn the importance of correct ways in lifting a
fingerprint from the crime scene because it will affect the result of the experiment.
REFERENCES:
Richard Saferstein. Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science, 11th edition; Pearson
Global Edition, 2015.
 FRS 531: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
EXPERIMENT 2:
A LAB ON FINGERPRINTS

NAME: RAHAYU BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN

NO ID: 2016666766

GROUP: AS2533B2

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 3RD MARCH 2017

LECTURER'S NAME: SIR EZLAN ELIAS