Fingerprinting: CJ101

Fingerprinting

Infallible means of personal identification, essential explanation for establishing identities of criminal relevant to admit previous arrests

How long has fingerprinting helped governments worldwide?

100+ years

Can two prints be the same?

No

What is the basis for criminal history foundation at every agency

Fingerprinting

What is the most commonly used forensic evidence worldwide

Fingerprinting

which type of forensic examination outnumber all the other's in number of casework worldwide

Fingerprinting

Which type of identification system outperforms DNA and other human identification systems

Fingerprinting

How many times more unknown suspect cases than DNA cases in most jurisdictions

10 times

why is fingerprinting better than visible human characteristics

visible characteristics change, fingerprints dont

What did officer's rely on before the mid 1800s?

"Camera eyes"

What are camera eyes?

when law enforcement officers with extraordinary visual memory identify previously arrested criminals.

What lessened the burden of memory on police officers?

Photography

Why didn't photography help?

people changed their personal appearances

What are the two types of impressions

Rolled impressions and Plain impressions

what are rolled impressions?

upper 10 boxes on a booking card, each finger done individually, finger rolled from one side of the nail to the other to obtain all ridge detail

What are plain impressions

Bottom of the card, fingers are taking simultaneously without rolling

Why are plain impressions used?

to verify sequence and accuracy of rolled impressions

What is the first step of fingerprinting?

Fingertips are clean and dry.

What is the second step of fingerprinting?

Standing to the right and at arms length from the machine.

What is the third step of fingerprinting?

Individual must be relaxed and focused on something different.

What is the fourth step of fingerprinting?

Grasp hand at base and cup the finger and roll with the other hand.

What is the fifth step of fingerprinting?

Ink spread from one end of the nail to the other as well as joint creasing.

What is the sixth step of fingerprinting?

Roll finger from one side to the other in appropriate space and lift finger when removing to prevent smudging.

What is the seventh step of fingerprinting?

Plain impressions done at a 45 degree angle at the bottom of the card. Print both thumbs simultaneously in appropriate space.

1000-2000 BC

Ancient Babylon- fingerptints used on clay tablets for business transactions

3rd Century BC

thumbprint used on clay seals in china to "sign documents"

1686

Malpighi, a professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna, noted that ridges on the hands are for grip and the ridges on the feet are for traction. Noted spirals and loops with microscope

1823

Purkinje- published his thesis discussing 9 different print patterns. He didn't mention the value of fingerprints for identification. laid groundwork for organization and filing

1858

Sir William Hershel- used handprints to sign deals with the native indians to make it binding and personal. He realized all fingerprints are different. He fingerprinted himself 50 years apart and realized they don't change. He noticed impressions can prove and disprove identity. Noted that fingerprints are unique to the individual and are permanent throughout that person's life

1880

Dr. Henry Faulds- British surgeon discussed fingerprints as a means of personal identification and use of printer ink as fingerprinting method. Credited with the first fingerprint identification, a greasy print left by a worker on an alcohol bottle.

1892

Vucetich- made the first criminal fingerprint identification in 1892. A women shot her two sons and cut her throat to bame husband, her bloody print found on the post of the door proved her identity as a murderer.

1888

Galton- first to prove no fingerpirnts are alike and remain the ame throighout oes life. 1 in a 64 billion chance of having the same print. He wrote a book called "fingerprinting" describing hoe to take them as well as the arch, loop, and whorl patterns

1901

Sir Edward Richard Henry- created a fingerprinting program for all prisoners. Developed a classification system that organized prints in a like making it easier to search. It is still used today

FIrst systematic use of fingerprints in the U.S. by ______________

Dr. Henry P. Deforrest who pioneered U.S. fingerprinting in 1902

1915

International Association for identification (IAI) Logo is a fingerprint of Sir Francis Galton's right index finger

2007

Largest IAFIS repository in America is operated by the Dept. of homeland security including USA visit program. 74 million fingerprints are in the IAFIS. it is a national database with mugshots, criminal history and physical characteristics

Fingerprint patterns

1. Whorl- Ridges that are circular

2. Loop- ridges that enter one side re-curve and pass out from the same side it entered from

3. Arch- ridges enter from one side make a rise from the center and exit generally on the opposite side

Loop

found in 60%-70% of prints

2 focal points: 1. the core or center of the loop, 2. a delta which is the area of a pattern where there is a triangulation or dividing of ridges

Whorl

2 or more deltas. must record deltas and space between them for identification. 25%-35% of prints

Arch

No core or delta. Must be fully recorded. 5% of patterns. 2 types: plain or tented

Are humans the only ones with fingerprints

No, some primates like gorillas, chimpanzees and koala bears have their own unique prints

What is significant about koala bear prints?

Koala bears have prints that are impossible to distinguish when compared to human prints.

What is the main difference between koala bears and human fingerprints?

koalas only have ridges on their fingertips and humans have it on their palms as well.

Quality checklist

1. Impressions in appropriate block

2. Rolled nail to nail

3. In a loop delta and core are present

4. Impressions are clear and distinct

5. Impression isn't too light or too dark.

Bertillon

Named after Alphonse Bertillon and was an accepted system for 30 years.

Why did this system end?

a man named Will West was sentenced to the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. There was another person named William West that had the same Bertillon measurements.

What is significant about Will and William West?

They were identical twins but under the Bertillon system they were identified as the same person but fingerprints identified them as two different people

1882

Alphonse Bertillon devised anthropometry which is the system to measure and record dimensions of 11 body parts.