HISTORY OF FINGERPRINTS CLASS NOTES

Human Identification Human identification for many years have relied on anthropometry. Anthropometry is a system developed by Alphonse Bertillon where body parts are measured to determine a person’s age, race and stature.

Human Identification For two decades this was considered the most accurate method of identification. But in the early 20th century, police began identification based on classification of finger ridge patterns known as fingerprints.

Early Use of Fingerprints The Chinese used fingerprints to sign legal documents as far back as 3,000 years ago. In India, William Hershel, an English civil servant stationed there, had the natives sign contracts with imprints of their right hand.

Early Use of Fingerprints Henry Fauld, a Scottish physician working in Japan, published his views on the potential application of fingerprinting to personal identification.

Early Classification of Fingerprints Sir Francis Galton, in 1892, published a textbook called Finger Prints. The book discussed how to record them and classification by the three pattern types – loops, arches and whorls.

Early Classification of Fingerprints Most importantly the book demonstrated that no two prints are identical and that an individual’s prints remain unchanged from year to year. In 1897, Sir Edward Richard Henry, came up with another classification system that was adopted by Scottland Yard.

Adoption of Fingerprinting In 1901, the first systematic and official use of fingerprints for personal identification was adopted by the New York City Civil Service Commission. In 1924, the FBI began their collection of fingerprints for their database.

Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints FIRST PRINCIPLE: Fingerprint is an individual characteristic; no two fingers have been found to possess identical ridge characteristics. Ridge Characteristics / Minutiae are any pattern, indent, shape, etc unique to that individual fingerprint.

Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints SECOND PRINCIPLE: A fingerprint remains unchanged during an individuals lifetime. The dermal papillae are a boundary of cells separating the outer portion of the skin and the inner skin.

Fundamentals Principles of Fingerprints Because the dermal papillae do not change throughout life, the ridge patterns of fingerprints also do not change. Latent Fingerprints are made by the deposit of oils and / or perspiration; its invisible to the naked eye.

Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints THIRD PRINCIPLE: Fingerprints have general patterns that permit them to be systematically classified. The Three Classes of Fingerprints are: 1. Loops 2.Whorls 3. Arches

Percentage of Fingerprint Types 60 – 65% of the population have loops. 30 – 35% have whorls. 5% have arches.

Loops Loops are characterized by ridge lines that enter form one side of the pattern and curve around to exit from the same side of the pattern.

Ulnar vs Radial Loops If a loop open toward the little finger, it is called the ulnar loop. If the loop opens toward the thumb, it is called the radial loop.

Loops The pattern area of the loop is surrounded by two diverging ridges known as type lines. A fingerprint delta resembles the silt formation that build up as a river flows into the entrance of a lake.

Whorls Whorls are divided into four main groups: 1. Plain Whorl 2. Central Pocket Whorl 3. Double Loop Whorl 4. Accidental Whorl

Plain Whorls If an imaginary line drawn between the two deltas contained within these two pattern touches any one of the spiral ridges, the pattern is a plain whorl.

Central Pocket Whorl If no ridges is touched, the pattern is a central pocket whorl.

Double Loop Whorl The double loop is made up of two loops into one fingerprint.

Accidental Whorl Accidental Whorls consist of a combination loop and plain whorl or loop and tented arch.

Arches Arches are divided into two main groups: 1. Plain Arch 2. Tented Arch

Plain Arches Plain arches is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns; it is formed by ridges entering from one side of the print and exiting on the opposite side.

Tented Arches Tented arches rise smoothly at the center and spike.