Chapter 4: Fingerprints “Fingerprints can not lie, but liars can make fingerprints.” —Unknown

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprints You will learn: Why fingerprints are individual evidence. Why there may be no fingerprint evidence at a crime scene. How computers have made personal identification easier. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprints You will be able to: Define the three basic properties that allow individual identification by fingerprints. Obtain an inked, readable fingerprint for each finger. Recognize the general ridge patterns (loops, whorls, and arches) Identify friction ridge characteristics and compare two fingerprints with at least ten points of identification. Explain the differences among latent, plastic, and visible fingerprints. Develop latent prints (make them visible) using physical and chemical methods. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprints Recording Prints – kept for comparison rolling inked prints primary identification number FBI has national database called AFIS Lifting Prints – retrieved from the scene Black, white and fluorescent powder Chemicals—ninhydrin, iodine, silver nitrate, cyanoacrylate Other Types of Prints – can be individual too! What are some other types? Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprints Interesting Stuff Fingerprints begin to develop in the 6th week of gestation inside the womb Fingerprints go from the epidermis (top layer) to the dermis (under layer) Epidermis Dermis Fingerprints grow back and are very hard to destroy…however not impossible! Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprints John Dillinger – Public Enemy # 1 in the 1930’s Paid a doctor $5000 plus $25 room and board to dissolve his fingerprints and perform some minor surgery on his face… Although the center of his fingerprints became obscure there was plenty of minutiae around the edges to identify him. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Dactyloscopy The study of fingerprints Historically 1889 - Alphonse Bertillon—proposed body measurements as a means of identification; termed anthropometry …he believed no two people are alike…devised a measurement system of people…and until the William West and Will West case in 1903 it was a good method Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Dactyloscopy The study of fingerprints Historically 1890’s - Francis Galton—developed a primary classification scheme based on loops, arches and whorls. 1890’s - Juan Vucetich—developed a fingerprint classification based on Galton’s that is used in Spanish-speaking countries 1901 – Sir Edward Richard Henry—in collaboration with Galton instituted a numerical classification system… The 10 print classification system…this system is still used today! Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Dactyloscopy The study of fingerprints Historically Adopted Fingerprints as Main ID System 1904 – US Penitentiary System (Will and William West Case) 1905 – US Army 1907 – US Navy 1908 – US Marine Corp. 1924 – FBI Established – currently over 200 million cards 1980 – AFIS introduced – Automated Fingerprint Identification System Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints A fingerprint unique and is an individual characteristic. A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s lifetime. Fingerprints have general characteristic ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

3 Basic Patterns of Fingerprints Arch Loop Whorl 5% 65% 30% Population Breakdown by % Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Arch Plain Arch An arch has friction ridges that enter on one side of the finger and cross to the other side while rising upward in the middle. They do NOT have type lines, deltas, or cores. Types Plain Tented Exit here Enter here Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Arch Plain Arch Tented Arch Arch not as high Arch higher in center pp. 53 in your book Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Loop A loop must have one or more ridges entering and exiting from the same side. Loops must have one delta. Types Radial—opens toward the thumb Ulnar—opens toward the “pinky” (little finger) Which type of loop is this, if it is on the right hand? Left hand? Enter and exit from this side Delta Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Loop Opens toward thumb Opens toward pinky pp. 52 in your book Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Whorl Core Whorls have at least two deltas and a core. A plain or central pocket whorl has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. A double loop is made of two loops. An accidental is a pattern not covered by other categories. Types Plain Central Pocket Double Loop Accidental Two Deltas Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Whorl whorls have at least two deltas and a core. pp. 53 in your book A plain or central pocket whorl has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. An accidental is a pattern not covered by other categories. A double loop is made of two loops. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Ridge Characteristics Minutiae—characteristics of ridge patterns Ridge ending Short ridge Dot or fragment Bifurcation Double bifurcation Trifurcation Bridge Island Enclosure Spur pp. 57 in your book Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Fingerprint Minutiae pp. 57 in your book Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Comparison There are no legal requirements in the United States on the number of points. Generally, criminal courts will accept 8 to 12 points of similarity. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Primary Classification The Henry—FBI Classification Each finger is given a point value right left Allows all fingerprints to be classified into only 1024 categories Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Primary Classification Assign the number of points for each finger that has a whorl and substitute into the equation: 16 8 4 2 1 right right left left left index ring thumb middle little + 1 = Left right right right left left thumb middle little index ring +1 16 8 4 2 1 That number is your primary classification number Right Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Primary Classification The Henry—FBI Classification Each finger is given a point value Only two of my fingers have whorls…so I assign values 2 1 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Primary Classification Mr. Stoudnour’s Primary Classification is right right left left left index ring thumb middle little + 1 1 ______ = 4 right right right left left thumb middle little index ring +1 2 1 This is one of the 1024 categories…Who else in this room is in Mr. S’s category? Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Types of Prints Plastic prints – indented or molded prints – made from pressing a finger into a plastic-like material to form a negative impression. Visible prints – left by a finger that has touched a colored surface such as blood, paint, ink, grease, mud or dust. Latent prints – invisible prints that must be developed by chemical or physical means. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Plastic Prints Indented or molded prints – made from pressing a finger into a plastic-like material to form a negative impression. Take pictures of the print Recover the whole item the print is on and send to lab Enlarge the picture This is silly putty Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Visible Prints left by a finger that has touched a colored surface such as blood, paint, ink, grease, mud or dust. Take pictures of the print Lift the print (these could be impossible to lift) Recover the whole item the print is on and send to lab These are sharpie marker prints Enlarge the picture Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Latent Prints Invisible prints that must be developed by chemical or physical means. Use a dusting powder or chemical means to develop the print Take pictures of print Lift the print when possible If you can’t lift the print…Recover the whole item the print is on and send to lab Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Latent Prints The reason you get these prints is because you secrete different substances from your skin. Most secretions come from three glands: Eccrine (Sweat)—largely water, salts and amino acids (protein) Apocrine—secrete pheromones and other organic materials. Sebaceous—secrete fatty or greasy substances. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Developing Latent Prints Developing a print requires substances that interact with secretions that cause the print to stand out against its background. Different types of surfaces (porous or non- porous) dictate what method of print development is to be used. It may be necessary to attempt more than one technique, done in a particular order so as not to destroy the print. In modern labs and criminal investigations, lasers and alternative light sources are used to view latent fingerprints. These were first used by the FBI in 1978. Since lasers can damage the retina of the eye, special precautions must be taken. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Developing Latent Prints 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. Ninhydrin—reacts with amino acids to produce a purple color. Silver nitrate—reacts with chloride 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, whitish deposit. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Partial Prints You do not need to lift a complete fingerprint to have sufficient ridge detail (minutia) present for an identification. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Documenting Prints Lift the print and put it on an index card Case Number Victim Information Incident Location Incident Date Recovering Officer Name Object or Location of Recovered Lift Method of Development Orientation if Needed Diagram where you found it Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Put all pertinent information on the card

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Documenting Prints Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Iodine Fingerprint Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Ninhydrin Fingerprint Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Cyanoacrylate Fingerprints Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints Ears—shape, length and width Voice—electronic pulses measured on a spectrograph Foot—size of foot and toes; friction ridges on the foot Shoes—can be compared and identified by type of shoe, brand, size, year of purchase, and wear pattern. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints Palm—friction ridges can be identified and may be used against suspects. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints Footprints are taken at birth as a means of identification of infants. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints Lips—display several common patterns Short vertical lines Short horizontal lines Crosshatching Branching grooves Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints Teeth—bite marks are unique and can be used to identify suspects. These imprints were placed in gum and could be matched to crime scene evidence. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Other Prints The blood vessel patterns in the eye may be unique to individuals. They are used today for various security purposes. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company AFIS The Automated Fingerprint Identification System - a computer system for storing and retrieving fingerprints Began in the early 1970’s to: Search large files for a set of prints taken from an individual Compare a single print, usually a latent print developed from a crime scene By the 1990’s most large jurisdictions had their own system in place. The problem - a person’s fingerprints may be in one AFIS but not in others IAFIS—the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification system which is a national database of all 10-print cards from all over the country Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Biometrics Use of some type of body metrics for the purpose of identification. (The Bertillon system may actually have been the first biometry system.) Used today in conjunction with AFIS Examples include retinal or iris patterns, voice recognition, hand geometry Other functions for biometrics—can be used to control entry or access to computers or other structures; can identify a person for security purposes; can help prevent identity theft or control social services fraud. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company More about Prints For additional information about prints and crime, check out Court TV’s Crime Library www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/fingerprints/1.html Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company