FORENSIC 2 – MIDTERM

CHAPTER 3 – PART 1
THE EVIDENCE AND STANDARD PRINTS

Value of Fingerprint as Evidence

Fingerprint evidence plays a vital role in criminal investigations because person's fingerprints are unique and do not change during the course
of their life. Fingerprints can be used to quickly and efficiently confirm or disprove a person's identity like in checking a suspect at a border
crossing. Latent prints collected at a crime scene have the potential to link a series of crimes together, or to place a suspect at the scene. It is also
important role in identifying victims following a disaster such as a cyclone, earthquake, bombing or other attack.

Nature of Latent Fingerprints

 The latent fingerprints, deposited by the fingertip pattern, is a complex mixture of natural secretions and contaminations from the
environment. Three types of glands are responsible for the natural secretions of the skin, the sudoriferous eccrine and apocrine glands, and
the sebaceous glands.

 The sudoriferous glands are distributed all over the body and produce the sweat. The secretory body of each gland is formed of a long
coiled tube situated in the subcutaneous layers of the skin. The glands transverse the epidermal layers to open at the summits of the
papillary ridges to form 'sweat' or sudoriferous pores. Sweat is an aqueous solution produced by the cells of the secretory body, without loss
of cell cytoplasm for the eccrine glands in contrast with apocrine glands - this explains the difference in chemical composition between
these two types of secretion. Eccrine sweat is approximately 98.5 per cent water, the remainder being principally made up of mineral salts,
eg, sodium chloride, organic acids, urea and sugars.

 The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet produce only eccrine gland secretions, whereas the apocrine glands are located in the groin,
in the arm pits, and in the perianal regions, where they generally open at the hair follicles

 The sebaceous glands are found on the chest and the back, where they are associated with hair roots, and on the forehead, the lips of the
vagina, the glands of the penis, and the mammary areolae. These glands secrete oil, the sebum, which serves to protect the skin and hair
against water, to act as a lubricant, and also to help absorb fat, lipid, soluble substances. The fatty substances secreted by the sebaceous
glands are not water-soluble.

 These three types of glands, therefore, have well defined functions and the chemical compositions of their secretions vary in consequence.

LATENT PRINTS - has been defined as the markings of oily matter or perspiration from the skin glands left upon surface which the hands and
fingers may have touched. It is best described as a combination of chemicals which is exuded by the pores on the surface of the skin.

How latent prints are produced?

The skin over most of the body is relatively smooth. Skin that consists of tiny raised lines or 'friction ridges', however, are found on the
digits, palms and soles. They are called 'friction ridges' because of their biological function to assist in our ability to grasp and hold onto objects.
Present on the tops of the friction ridges are very minute sweat pores that are constantly exuding perspiration. This perspiration to the surface of
the ridges. When the friction ridges come into contact with a suitable surface, this perspiration is transferred to that surface, leaving a or print, of
the friction ridges. This impression of friction ridge skin is comprised mostly of sweat but may also contain a variety of contaminates such as oil
and dirt.

CHANCE IMPRESSIONS - these are impressions left by chance at the crime scene

Types of Evidentiary Fingerprints

1. VISIBLE PRINTS - often impress on dust, blood oil or grease.
2. MOLDED PRINTS - those marks on the surface whenever fingers touch soft objects
3. INVISIBLE PRINTS - those prints that are made due to the sweat present in the fingers and thumb of a person that is transferred to
any object that he holds. SMUDGE PRINTS - those prints that are indistinct due to sliding motion of fingers at the time they are
impressed.
4. FRAGMENTARY PRINTS - those prints that show only a portion of the pattern or of the friction skin.
5. PLASTIC PRINTS (Plastic Impression) - prints formed on plastic material, such as melted paraffin from a pitch, paste on envelope
and stamps. This type of friction ridge impression is molded into the surface of material such as putty or modeling clay forming a three
dimensional impression.

 Latent Impression - This type of friction ridge impression is not readily visible. The term 'latent' is commonly applied to all chance or
unintentional impressions that are of evidentiary value.
 Patent Impression - This type of friction ridge impression is visible e.g. an impression found in blood
 Plastic Impression - This type of friction ridge impression is molded into the surface of material such as putty or modeling clay forming a
three dimensional impression.

Factors Affecting Latent Fingerprints

1. Climatic Condition
 Too much exposure to the elements would reduce the chance of their being recovered due to the following:
a. Heavy condensed moisture such as rain, snow or dew will immediately erase fingerprints.
b. Excessively high temperature caused by direct rays of the sun during summer months can destroy them in a matter of few
minutes.
c. Winds due to warm temperature will cause the disappearance of fingerprint evidence because of the increased evaporation of
watery substance.
d. Dust accumulated on finger impressions obliterates the identification of ridge characteristics.

2. Subject Factor - This refers to the physical characteristics of the individual. The distinction is deciphering finger marks left by a male or
female human being. The friction ridges or prints belonging to young female adults are found to be finer than those of men.
3. Nature of the surface - Latent fingerprints left on a smooth non-porous surface will formally retain their usefulness longer than those
impressed on a porous surface. These very rough surfaces may retain the deposits of latent print residue, but it is impossible to decipher the
ridge characteristics left behind due to the nature of the receiving surface.

SWEAT CONTENT
1. Amino Acid
2. Water
3. Salt
4. Oil

PURPOSES OF SWEAT
1. Regulate temperature of the bod
2. Moisten the skin
3. To remove waste and other toxic materials
4. Means of identification

Latent Print Development

 Latent print development requires knowledge and skills to ensure before a friction ridge identification specialist can enhance a print,
he/she must first find it. In most cases this is easier said than done. Recognition of the areas where one is most likely to find latent
prints is an extremely important step in the examination of latent print evidence.
 Once the potential area which is most likely to yield fingerprint evidence is selected, a variety of techniques such as physical and
chemical methods can be used to process the surface and to develop friction ridge impressions.

Three important factors in the selection of methods in the development of latent prints:
1) Nature of the surface e.g. porous or non-porous, wet, dirty etc.
2) The apparent composition of the fingerprint residue or matrix (e.g.moisture contaminated with oil and dirt and;
3) Condition of the friction ridge impression.

Steps in the examination of any potential latent print

1) Visual examination (followed by photography if appropriate)
2) Fluorescence examination (followed by photography if appropriate).
3) Selection and application of an appropriate enhancement method(s) - physical and/or chemical and/or digital enhancement followed by
photography after each process.

Materials for Collection of Latent Fingerprint

1. Fingerprint powders - refers to the powder used in developing latent prints found at the scene of the crime. They are normally found
in two; the black and the white or gray, which is applied depending upon the contrasting background.
2. Finger print brushes - used for developing latent prints using non-magnetic powder. There are three variations of brushes used: the
fiber glass, magnetic and feather type.
3. Magnetic Wand - use in powdering latent prints using magnetic powder.
4. Fingerprint Lifting tape - refers to a tape used for lifting developed latent prints which is quite harder than an ordinary tapes.
5. Latent Print Transfer Card - refers to a card used in preserving lifted latent prints which is either white or black in background.
6. Fingerprint cameras - use in photographing the developed latent prints

Basis of Selecting the Powder

1. COLOR - for proper or appropriate contrast
2. ADHERENCE - avoid of slip and stick

One of the oldest, most common and most readily available methods for the development of latent fingerprints is that of dusting a surface
with a fine powder of contrasting color. The use of powders depends on the object upon which the search is being conducted. A wide range of
powders is commercially available and their formulation differs with each manufacture.

Types of Powder

Pure Grey Powder General materials

Powder Black Powder Paper, unglazed pottery, eggshells, synthetic resins
White Powder Leather, rubber, oily fingerprints
Copper Powder Plant stem and leaves, fruit rinds
 Gold Powder Rough surface metals, synthetic resins
Yellow Power Leather, rubber
Lycopodium Powder General materials, oily fingerprints
Dragon Blood Powder Rough surface metals, stone
Indigo Powder Synthetic resins, frosted glass, metal frames, eggshell
SP Black Powder Aluminum building materials
Ultranium Powder Synthetic resins
Aluminum Powder Glass, ceramics, lacquer
Pure Aluminum Powder Synthetic resins, plated metal
Lead Carbonate Powder Synthetic resins, leather
Stone Powder Leather, rubber, oily fingerprints
Fluorescence Powder Color print paper (viewed under UV light)
Anthracene Powder Leather, rubber
Magnetic Powder Paper (works with brush or wand)

Types of Lifting Tapes

1. Hinge lifters - come in many different color backgrounds to allow for the visualization fingerprints developed with different color
powders.
2. Rubber lifter - is a plastic cover with adhesive side.
3. Cellophane tape - is a high quality clear transparent tape.

Latent Fingerprint Techniques

1. Brush it with aluminum powder
2. The marks became visible
3. Put a black rubber lifter on it
4. The marks are on the lifter
5. Put a plastic sheet over it
6. Ready to search!

Latent Fingerprint Techniques

1. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
 When we touch something we leave behind some of our sweat and this in turn can leave behind an impression of the ridge detail
on your fingerprint, thus leaving a fingerprint impression.

 A fingerprint can be left on many types of surfaces. It can be made visible by brushing it with a powder or treating it with
chemicals in a laboratory. Similarly, if the fingers are coated with ink or another substance such as paint, oil or blood, then a
permanent impression may be left on a particular item.

PROCEDURES IN DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS

1. Select the proper powder to conform to the properties of the surface and to give good photographic contrast.
2. Pour a small amount of powder onto a piece of paper or into a shallow bowl.
3. Touch the tips of the brush to the powder being careful not to pick up too much. Gently tap the brush to remove any excess.
4. Apply the powder to the surface gently, using short strokes. When a print to appear, begin making the brush strokes to conform to the
pattern of the ridges. If the print is too faint, try adding additional powder as necessary.
5. Once the print is fully developed, remove all the excess powder from the brush by first tapping, then wiping it back and forth on a
clean sheet of paper.
6. Next, go back over the latent with the clean brush to remove any excessive build up between the ridges.
7. Photographed the developed latent print."