1. Fingerprints and Minutiae.

2. Three fundamental principals of Fingerprints
Individual characteristic
Will remain unchanged during the individual’s lifetime
Have general characteristic ridge patterns that permit systematic classification

3. History
Alphonse Bertillon started the identification process with his Anthropometry measurements in 1881
Francis Galton then upon studying fingerprints and Bertillon's method perfected the fingerprint system and published books in1892 and later Edward Henry simplified his system
In 1901 Juan Vucetich set up a workable system refining Galton's system and it was used in Spanish speaking countries. He was the first to officially identify a criminal using the fingerprint system

4. 3 TYPES OF FINGER PRINTS
Latent – prints are not visible until developed made by oils and chemicals this type can be found on any evidence including skin.
Visible –visible to naked eye—left by a finger that has touched material such as blood , paint etc.
Plastic or Physical--- Made in soft material such as putty, paint, soap etc.

5. 3 MAJOR PATTERNS OF FINGERPRINTS
3 main Patterns consisting of:
Arches – least common
Loops –most common-two sub groups …radial & ulnar
Whorls- 4 sub groups--- plain whorl- central pocket whorl- double loop whorl- accidental whorl
Approximately five percent of all fingerprints are Arches, 30% are Whorls and 65% are Loops.

6. METHODS OF OBTAINING PRINTS
Some of the most common techniques of finding and lifting prints include:
Dusting with carbon – dusting with white or black powder to cover print( most common) can be used with glass, solids plastics etc.
Super glue fuming – developed in 1970s--leaves white impression
Ninhydrin – reacts/amino acids in fingerprint and leaves purple image used on matchbooks, newspaper etc.
Silver nitrate- reacts with NACL left from perspiration in the fingerprint
Laser technology – laser images

7. INFO Fingerprints can last for years Loop most common
Fingerprints composed of salt, oil, & amino acids
Latent fingerprints can be left anywhere including skin
Prints can also be found in feet and palms even other parts of the body

8. Arch

9. Arch
The Arch pattern has no delta or core; but, it too, must be fully recorded so that its individual characteristics can be readily distinguished.
Simplest of all fingerprints

10. Tented arch

11. Whorl

12. Whorl
A Whorl pattern will have two or more deltas. For a whorl pattern, all deltas and the areas between them must be recorded.
Subdivided into 4 groups—plain whorl, central pocket loop whorl, double loop whorl, and accidental whorl

13. Loop

14. Loop In the Loop pattern there are two focal points:
the Core, or the center of the loop, and the delta.
The Delta is the area of the pattern where there is a triangulation or a dividing of the ridges.
Most common type
When recording fingerprints, the delta and the area between the delta and the core must be completely recorded
Two types of loop: Ulnar loop – opens toward the little finger and the Radial loop – opens toward the thumb

15. Different ridge characteristics in the finger prints
Minutiae
Different ridge characteristics in the finger prints

16. Ridge Ending Ridge ending a single ridge ending within
a friction ridge structure

17. Ridge characteristics/Bifurcation
The point at which one
friction ridge divides into two friction ridges

18. Enclosure or eye ridge A single friction ridge that bifurcates and
rejoins after a short course and
continues as a single friction
ridge

19. Island or short ridge a single friction ridge that
only travels a short
distance before
termination

20. Crossover ridge One ridge crosses Over another ridge
Will look like an x

21. Dot ridge
Small dot by itself
in the middle of two
or more ridges

22. Spur ridge
The spur has a single short ridge that looks like a hook that comes off of a longer ridge.

23. Triple bifurcation ridge
Similar to the bifurcation except it has three ridges coming of the main ridge looks sort of like a fork

24. Bridge
Two ridge points are joined together by a short ridge ≠

25. Other Characteristics
Scaring…..

26. Points used for identification
No legal requirements in the USA for the number of points that must match before deciding that a print matches
Criminal courts will generally accept 8-12 points.
Apx minutiae in properly rolled fingerprint.

27. Match the points

28. Are they fool proof?
Fingerprints cannot lie however analysis and identification are subject to error.
Example: Madrid bombings on March 11, 2004 coordinated train bombings in Madrid Spain killed 191 people ( 911 days after 9/11)
Bag found with fingerprints identifying Brandon Mayfield, an Organ lawyer..he was held for two weeks while investigated and it turned out after a more thorough analysis the prints were not an exact match…..FBI acknowledged “serious error” in the identification and apologized. Mayfield was not satisfied and sued the U.S. gov and settled for 2 million dollars.

29. AFIS Automated Fingerprint Identification System
FBI system that stores all fingerprints taken –over 200 million prints on file with FBI
Linked to countries around the world
Decreases the ability of criminals to flee the country or to commit murders in several different places.