Key Concepts in Forensic Science and Fingerprint Analysis

Father of forensic toxicology

Mathieu Orfila

First scientific system of personal identification

Alphonse Bertillion

First definitive study of fingerprints

Francis Galton

Procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

Leone Lattes

Comparison microscope for bullet analysis

Calvin Goddard

Fundamental principles of document examination

Albert Osborn

Utilization of microscopy in evidence examination

Walter McCrone

First treatise on scientific principles in criminal investigation

Hans Gross

Incorporation of Hans Gross' principles into crime laboratory

Edmond Locard

Locard's Exchange Principle

When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs.

First responsibility of responding police officer

Acquiring medical assistance for injured victims

Reason medical personnel avoid disturbing evidence

It may compromise the integrity of the evidence

Action after detaining suspects or witnesses

Secure the crime scene

Requirement for securing the crime scene

Using only verbal warnings to keep people away

Restricted access to crime scene

Civilians and unauthorized personnel

Type of log kept at crime scene

A detailed log of personnel movements, including names and times

What investigators should avoid at the crime scene

Altering the crime scene

Handling the area surrounding the crime scene

It must be secured to prevent contamination of evidence

Three methods for crime scene recording

Notes, Photography, and Sketches

Ideal approach for recording a crime scene

Combining notes, photography, and sketches

Prohibition of photography at crime scenes

Personnel and monetary limitations

Method of recording involving visual representation

Sketches

Importance of notes in crime scene recording

They document observations and actions taken by investigators

Primary function of the Henry System

To classify and organize fingerprint records

Year Henry System adopted by Scotland Yard

1901

Classification of ridge patterns in Henry System

By converting them into a series of numbers and letters arranged in a fraction

Modification of Henry System by the FBI

Because of an increase in the number of fingerprints

Primary classification in the FBI system

The first classification step in the FBI system

Purpose of AFIS technology

To scan and digitally encode fingerprints for high-speed processing

Aid of AFIS in classifying fingerprints

By converting fingerprint images into digital minutiae

Digital minutiae in AFIS

Contain information about ridges at their points of termination and branching

Ridge endings in fingerprint analysis

The points where ridges stop or terminate

Bifurcation in fingerprint terminology

The branching of a single ridge into two ridges

Ultraviolet image converter for detecting latent fingerprints

The Reflected Ultraviolet Imaging System (RUVIS)

Iodine fuming process

Heating iodine crystals that transform it into vapors (sublimation)

Fading of iodine prints

They fade over time

Action after developing iodine prints

They need to be photographed immediately

Ninhydrin reaction in latent prints

Reacts with amino acids

Color produced by ninhydrin reaction

Purple-blue

Purpose of Physical Developer

To develop prints when other chemical methods are ineffective

Usefulness of Physical Developer

Especially useful for developing prints on wet porous objects

Definition of latent prints

Invisible fingerprints caused by the transfer of perspiration or oils

Creation of visible prints

When fingers touch a surface after being in contact with a colored material

Definition of plastic prints

Ridge impressions left on a soft material

Examples of soft materials for plastic prints

Putty, wax, soap, or dust

Type of fingerprint considered invisible

Latent prints

Cause of latent prints on an object

The transfer of body perspiration or oils from finger ridges

Requirement to visualize latent prints

Special lighting or chemicals

Fingerprint pattern characterized by ridges entering from one side

Loop

Loop fingerprint opening toward little finger

Ulnar loop

ACE-V process in fingerprint identification

Analyze, Compare, Identify, Verify

First step in ACE-V process

Analysis

Three levels of analysis in Comparison step

Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3

Level of comparison involving general ridge flow

Level 1

Focus of Level 2 comparison

Locating and comparing ridge characteristics or minutiae

Examination during Level 3 comparison

Ridge pores, breaks, creases, scars, and other permanent minutiae

Three possible conclusions during Identification step

Identification, Exclusion, and Inconclusive

Meaning of 'Identification' conclusion

The latent print and exemplar are from the same source

Purpose of Verification step in ACE-V process

To confirm the examiner's conclusion by a second examiner

Importance of ACE-V process in forensic science

It provides a structured approach for analyzing fingerprints

CODIS

Combined DNA Index System

Primary function of CODIS

To enable electronic exchange and comparison of DNA profiles

Number of DNA profiles in CODIS from unsolved crime-scene evidence

710,000

Entities utilizing CODIS database

State and local crime laboratories

Use of CODIS in solving cold cases

By comparing DNA evidence

Year Gerald Wallace's body was discovered

1975

Location where Gerald Wallace was found dead

On his living room couch

Condition of Gerald Wallace when found

He had been savagely beaten, and his hands were bound

Action taken by detectives after discovering Gerald Wallace's body

They searched his house and cataloged evidence

Outcome of evidence collected from Gerald Wallace's crime scene

None of it led to the murderer

Outer layer of the skin

Epidermis

Layer of the skin beneath the epidermis

Dermis

Primary function of the hypodermis

To absorb shock and insulate the body

Dermis

Which layer of the skin lies beneath the epidermis?

Hypodermis (superficial fascia)

What is the primary function of the hypodermis (superficial fascia)?

Connective tissue

The hypodermis is primarily composed of:

Dermal papillae layer

What does the dermal papillae layer do?

Loop in fingerprint analysis

What defines a loop in fingerprint analysis?

Ulnar loop

An ulnar loop opens toward which finger?

Radial loop

A radial loop opens toward which finger?

Type lines in a loop

What are type lines in a loop?

Delta in fingerprint analysis

What is the delta in fingerprint analysis?

Deltas in a loop

How many deltas must a loop have?

Core in a loop fingerprint

What does the core refer to in a loop fingerprint?

True statement in fingerprint analysis

In fingerprint analysis, which of the following statements is true?

Loop fingerprint pattern

Which fingerprint pattern is characterized by ridges that enter from one side, curve around, and exit from the same side?

Radial loop classification

If a loop fingerprint opens toward the thumb, it is categorized as:

ACE-V process

ACE-V is a four-step process to identify and individualize a fingerprint:

Level 1 comparison

Which level of comparison involves the general ridge flow and pattern configuration?

Level 2 comparison

What does Level 2 comparison focus on?

Level 3 comparison

What is examined during Level 3 comparison?

Possible conclusions during Identification step

What are the three possible conclusions during the Identification step?

Identification conclusion

What does an 'Identification' conclusion indicate?

DNA profiles in CODIS

How many DNA profiles were reported to be in CODIS from unsolved crime-scene evidence?

Use of CODIS

The use of CODIS helps to:

Location of Gerald Wallace's body

Where was Gerald Wallace found dead?

Condition of Gerald Wallace

What condition was Gerald Wallace found in?

Detectives' action after discovering Gerald Wallace's body

What did detectives do after discovering Gerald Wallace's body?

Outcome of evidence collected from the crime scene

What was the outcome of the evidence collected from the crime scene?

Epidermis

What is the outer layer of the skin called?