Forensic History Fingerprints Forensic History Fingerprints Forensic History
Who was Alphonse Bertillon?
The person who devised anthropometry, a method of personal identification based on physical measurements.
What case demonstrated the unreliability of Bertillon’s anthropometry?
The William West Case
What scientific instrument was used by the Italian physician, Malpighi, to study skin, lungs, kidneys, and the brain?
The Microscope
What forensic pioneer is famous for his “exchange principle”, the idea that where there is contact between two items, there will be a cross transfer of physical evidence?
Edmond Locard
Which forensic pioneer first used printer’s ink as a transfer medium for recording fingerprints?
Dr. Henry Faulds
What is the scientific basis for fingerprints?
1. They are permanent. 2. They are unique.
What famous American author identified a murderer by his thumbprint in the book entitled, “Pudd’nhead Wilson”?
Mark Twain, (a.k.a. Samuel Clemens), wrote of the use of fingerprinting to solve a murder, before fingerprinting had even come into official use as a crime detection method. This ironic novel tells the tale of folks who poked fun at Wilson, a new lawyer in town, who was branded a “pudd’nhead”, but was later proven to be anything but a simpleton.
Who is famous for discovering the characteristics of fingerprint patterns?
Sir Francis Galton
What forensic pioneer developed a system of identification that relies on fingerprint patterns?
Sir Edward Henry developed the Henry Classification System.
Why are fingerprints better than photographs as a method of personal identification?
Hair color, weight, and facial hair can all be modified to change one’s appearance. Fingerprints cannot be altered.
Which forensic pioneer is known for establishing the first police crime laboratory?
Edmond Locard, a French medical doctor, founded the first police crime laboratory in Locard’s “Exchange Principle” remains a fundamental rule of forensic science.
Who is Paul Kirk?
Paul Kirk, established criminalistics as an academic discipline while working as a professor at University of California, Berkeley. Kirk also wrote the classic textbook “Criminal Investigation” in 1953.
Who created the first U.S. crime lab?
August Vollmer, a Los Angeles Police Chief, developed the first crime lab in the U.S.
What is the purpose of the polygraph?
The polygraph, also known as the lie detector, is used to record changes in breathing, blood pressure, pulse, perspiration, which may take place while a suspect is being questioned.
Henry Faulds wrote an article in the scientific journal, “Nature”. What topic was discussed in the article?
Faulds described his observations concerning fingerprints and was the first to suggest they be used in criminal detection and identification.
In what year did the FBI become the largest repository of fingerprints in the World?
In 1946, the FBI received it’s 100 millionth fingerprint card, making it the world’s largest repository of fingerprints.
Who first described fingerprint patterns as loops, arches, and whorls?
Sir Edward Henry
Juan Vucetich, a police official from Argentina, devised a system based on fingerprint patterns typed by Sir Francis Galton and began the first established use of fingerprint files. In what countries is this system still used today?
Spanish – speaking countries
What are Galton’s details?
Galton’s details refer to the ridge minutiae and are used as a means of classifying fingerprints.
What is the name of this Galton detail?
An island
What is tele-forensics?
Tele-forensics is the use of wireless technology to capture audio and video evidence for use in the courtroom.
A person who is licensed to perform autopsies is called
A medical examiner or forensic pathologist
CODIS, the FBI database, contains millions of ______ profiles. This database enables federal, state, and local crime labs to exchange information that can identify suspects.
DNA
What is the term that describes the application of science to law?
Forensic Science
What type of records were used to identify airline passengers who perished in the Canary Islands when several planes collided in the fog?
Dental records