Crime Scene Aspects of Fingerprints

Vocabulary flashcards related to crime scene aspects of fingerprints.

Fingerprints in Ancient History

Ancient carvings from around 3000 B.C. that included figures depicting fingerprint patterns, indicating an awareness of patterns on fingertips.

Fingerprints in Ancient China

Around 3000 B.C., fingerprints were embedded in clay and used to seal documents and packages.

William Hershel (1860-70)

Confirmed that fingerprint patterns do not change over time and used fingerprints in India to control fraud in government contracts and pensions.

Henry Faulds (1880)

First to suggest using fingerprints in criminal investigations and offered to set up a fingerprint unit at Scotland Yard.

Ivan Vucetich (1890’s)

Set up Anthropometry ID system, developed a fingerprint classification system, and used a bloody fingerprint to solve a homicide.

Anthropometry

A series of 11 body measurements used to classify individuals.

Will West/William West Case

A case in Leavenworth Prison, Kansas, in 1903 where two men with nearly identical anthropometric measurements were distinguished by fingerprints, discrediting anthropometry.

Francis Galton (1892)

Studied minutiae of fingerprints, collected over 8000 sets of prints, and provided statistical proof of identity, laying the foundation for acceptance in court.

Sir Edward Henry (1900)

Credited with developing a fingerprint classification system for the British, known as the Henry System, which was adopted by Scotland Yard in 1901.

Fingerprints

Ridges in the upper layer of skin (epidermis) that provide friction for grasping, contain pores for perspiration and oil secretion, develop in the fetus, and never change.

Visible or Patent Prints

Prints made by fingers stained with colored materials such as blood, ink, paint, grease, or dirt, which are easy to find and document with photography.

Indented Prints / Plastic Prints

A pattern created by pressing fingers into a soft surface such as wax, putty, soap, or butter, which are easy to find and document with photography.

Latent Prints

Prints that are normally not visible and must be made visible through development to increase contrast.

Enhancement

Increase of contrast of a visible or partially visible print

Development

Increase in contrast to make visible an otherwise invisible print

Dusting

Simplest and most common method of fingerprint development, where powder adheres to perspiration and oils in print residue on hard, smooth surfaces.

Magnetic Powders

Contain iron compounds and colorant, use a wand applicator rather than a brush, and are good on leather, plastics, walls, and skin.

Luminescent Powders

Contain compounds that fluoresce or phosphoresce under UV or Laser light and are best with multicolored surfaces.

Cyanoacrylate

Active Ingredient in Super Glue

Alternate Light Source (ALS)

High intensity light beam with multiple wavelength possibilities that causes latent prints to fluoresce when illuminated.

Ninhydrin

Reacts with amino acids and is good for older samples.

DFO (diazefluorenone)

Used on money, less background

Amido Black

Water-based formulation used for blood enhancement.

Luminol

Used for blood enhancement

Live scan

Fingerprint scanned into computer (known)

AFIS

Computer identifies ridge endings and bifurcations for comparison. Software recognizes geometric patterns formed by these minutiae with core at center