Fingerprint Identification Basics

Biometrics

uses measurements and statistical analyses of someone's physical characteristics to aid in their identification

Fingerprint

an impression left on any surface that consists of patterns made by the ridges on a finger

Latent Fingerprint

a concealed fingerprint that is made visible through the use of powders or forensic techniques

Minutiae

the combination of details in the shapes and positions of ridges in fingerprints that makes each unique; also called ridge characteristics

Plastic Fingerprint

a three-dimensional fingerprint made in soft material such as clay, soap, or putty

Whorl

(plain whorl) a fingerprint pattern that resembles a bull's-eye

Arch

a fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern originates from one side of the print and continues to the other side

Delta

a triangular ridge pattern created when ridge patterns diverge

Loop

a fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern flows inward and returns in the direction of the origin

Patent Fingerprint

a visible fingerprint produced when fingers coated with blood, ink, or some other substance touch a surface and transfer their print to that surface

Core

a center of a loop

IAFIS

FBI's national database with 76+ million criminal fingerprints and histories

Ridge Count

the number of ridges between the center of a delta and the core of a loop

Ridge Pattern

the recognizable pattern of the ridges found in the end pads of fingers that form lines on the surfaces of objects in a fingerprint. They fall into three categories: arches, loops, and whorls. They are also visible on the soles of feet and bottoms of toes

Ten Print Card

a form used to record and preserve a person's fingerprints