Chapter 4 Fingerprints Fingerprints can not lie but
Chapter 4: Fingerprints “Fingerprints can not lie, but liars can make fingerprints. ” —Unknown Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Fingerprints Students will learn: § Why fingerprints are individual evidence. § Why there may be no fingerprint evidence at a crime scene. § How computers have made personal identification easier. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 1
Fingerprints Students will be able to: § § § Chapter 4 Define three basic properties that allow individual identification by fingerprints. Obtain an inked, readable fingerprint for each finger. Recognize the general ridge patterns (loops, whorls, and arches) Identify friction ridge characteristics and compare two fingerprints with at least ten points of identification. Explain the differences among latent, plastic, and visible fingerprints. Develop latent prints (make them visible) using physical and chemical methods. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 2
The History of Fingerprinting Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
The Chinese LIn the eighth century during China’s T’ang dynasty, Chinese used thumbprints to seal important documents and on business contracts. LThere is no record of whether they were actually used for identification, and there was no systematic classification. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 4
Quntilian, the Roman Lawyer LMade use of a bloody handprint in a murder case in 1000 AD Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 5
A number of people throughout history noted fingerprints and even commented on the different ridge patterns. However, the science of dactyloscopy, the study of fingerprints, (comes from the Greek word daktulos, meaning finger) really started in the 19 th century in India with William Herschel. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
William Herschel LHighly placed civil servant who decided to require Indians to add their fingerprint to contracts. LLater (1877) he introduced the use of fingerprints as a means of identifying prisoners. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 7
Henry Faulds LIn Japan, molded fingerprints in old pottery piqued the interest of Henry, a health missionary in Tokyo. LHe published a scientific paper in 1880 about the possibility of using fingerprints to identify criminals. LThought that fingerprints were unique. LCould be used for classification LSaid fingerprints did not change over a lifetime. LFirst to use fingerprints to solve a crime. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 8
Prisoners LIdentification has always been a problem for the criminal justice system. LPrisoners were often branded or tattooed or even had hands or fingers chopped off so they would be recognized as criminals. LThis practice was generally abolished in the Western world in the early 1800’s. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 9
Photography LThe advent of photography helped, but without a means of classification, the police records were soon overwhelmed with too many photographs to be useful. LThey often employed men with “photographic” memories. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 10
Alphonse Bertillon L 1881 LEmployed as a ledger clerk at the police headquarters in Paris, suggested using 11 body measurements to identify habitual offenders. LWas accepted almost everywhere. LThe science of human measurements was called anthropometry. LThis was initially the system that most police departments used for personal identification. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 11
Francis Galton L 1891 A British anthroplogist - Published two books in which he showed how to classify fingerprints using loops, whorls, and arches. LHe showed that: L 1. a person’s fingerprints stay the same from birth until death. L 2. no two fingerprints are identical L 3. prints cannot be altered LAnd said it is possible to classify a very large number of prints. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 12
Sir Edward Richard Henry L 1897 – Inspector general of police in Bengal, India. LSimplified Galton’s classification system in India LEstablished the Henry System of Classification which replaced Bertillon’s system. LEngland’s (FBI) Scotland Yard, adopted the Henry System LHenry System is used in most English speaking countries. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 13
Juan Vucetich L 1901 – Argentinean police official LSet up a workable fingerprint classification system based on Galton’s method LUsed in most Spanish speaking countries. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 14
Juan Vucetich L 1902 – a year later, Vucetich first officially identified a criminal using fingerprints. LIn a small town in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a woman named Francesca Rojas had murdered her two sons and blamed the attack on a neighbor. LUsing Vucetich’s methods, police identified bloody fingerprints on a door post as Rojas’s, which led to her confession. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 15
Civil Service Test L 1902 – The New York Civil Service began the practice of fingerprinting everyone who took a civil service exam. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 16
Leavenworth Prison L 1903 - The death of Bertillon’s anthropomorphic classification. . Mainly because. . . L A man named Will West arrived there to serve time. L When convicted, he received an extra severe sentence because he was a repeat offender. L He protested the sentence, stating that he had never been convicted before. L As was done with all prisoners on admission, his Bertillon measurements were taken and compared to existing files. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 17
Will and William West LPrison officials were astonished to find that another man who was serving a life term for murder had almost identical measurements, and even more amazing, his name was William West. . . And he looked almost the same as the new prisoner! LThe two men’s fingerprints were taken and, of course, were quite different! Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 18
L 1903 – The New York State prison system started fingerprinting all the inmates. L 1904 – because of the William West case, Leavenworth Penitentiary also switched to fingerprinting as its primary means of personal identification. L 1905 – the U. S. Army began using fingerprints , and the U. S. Department of Justice set up the Bureau of Criminal Identification in Washington D. C. to centralize and standardize the use of fingerprinting. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 19
L 1907 – The Navy began using fingerprints, and the Bureau of Criminal Identification was moved to Leavenworth Penitentiary. L 1918 Edmond Locard recommended that 12 points of comparison be required to prove the identity of an individual. L 1924 – the U. S. Congress established the FBI as the central repository for all fingerprint information. LBy 1946 it held 100 million fingerprint cards. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 20
IAFIS L 2004 – The FBI crime lab identification section began using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). L It can search 47 million records in 5 minutes! L Assuming good quality, IAFIS requires only one print for a match! L The final identification however, is always done by hand by a forensic expert. L The more than 250 million fingerprint cards already collected are still kept on file. L If piled on top of each other, these records would make 133 stacks as high as the Empire State Building! Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 21
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Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints § 1. Fingerprints are unique. A fingerprint is an individual characteristic. § 2. Fingerprints do not change with age. A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s lifetime. § 3. Fingerprints display patterns. Fingerprints have general characteristic ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 23
Classification of Fingerprints Loops Whorls arches Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Patterns LAll fingerprints can be classified into three basic patterns: LLoops LWhorls LArches Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 25
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Loop § A loop must have one or more ridges entering and exiting from the same side. § Loops must have one delta. § Have a core near the center. § This is the most common type of fingerprint. § Types § Radial—Opens toward the thumb – 5% § Ulnar—opens toward the “pinky” (little finger) – 60% Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 27
§ Which type of loop is this, if it is on the right hand? Left hand? Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 28
Whorls have at least two deltas and a core. § Types § Plain § A line between two deltas will bisect a circle – 20% § Central Pocket § A line between two deltas will not bisect a circle § Double Loop § made of two loops. § Accidental § An accidental is a pattern not covered by other categories Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 29
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Arch Least common; simplest An arch has friction ridges that enter on one side of the finger and cross to the other side while rising upward in the middle. They do NOT have type lines, deltas, or cores. Types § Plain - 4% § Tented – 1% Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 31
Frequency of Fingerprint Patterns Loops Whorls Arches Ulnar Radial Plain Other Plain Tented 60% Chapter 4 5% 20% 10% 4% 1% Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 32
Racial Variations LThere are racial variations in the distribution of the three patterns. LPeople of African ancestry have more arches LPeople of European background have many loops LAsians/Orientals have a higher frequency of whorls. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 33
Other Variations LCertain patterns are more likely to be found on particular fingers; for example LForefingers have most of the radial loops. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 34
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Sir Richard Edward Henry LDeveloped a method of classifying fingerprints, later modified by the FBI, that allowed all sets of ten fingerprints in the world to be divided into 1, 024 groups. LSecondary and even more complex classifications were created to allow for even more groups. LThis is done so that when prints are submitted to the FBI for comparison, most of the millions of sets of prints on file can be weeded out so that only a few dozen sets have to compared by hand. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 36
Primary Classification The Henry—FBI Classification Each finger is given a point value It is based on the whorl pattern. It requires all ten fingerprints right Chapter 4 left Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 37
Primary Classification Assign the number of points for each finger that has a whorl and substitute into the equation: right index right ring left thumb left middle left little +1 right thumb right middle right little left index left ring +1 = That number is your primary classification number Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 38
Complete Your Henry System Classification Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
The Anatomy of a Fingerprint Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
LHuman skin is the body’s first line of defense against invasion and infection. LThe hills and valleys (ridges and grooves) you saw when examining your fingers with a magnifying glass make up the skin pattern that is yours alone. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 41
Identical Twins. . . LFriction ridges as they are called, can also be found on your palms, feet, and lips. LMost amazing, the patterns made by the friction ridges are not genetically controlled, so even identical twins who have the same “DNA fingerprint” will have different fingerprints. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 42
Skin and Papillae L Is made up an outer epidermal layer separated from the inner dermal part by the papillae. L The papillae form a boundary that determines the friction ridge structure of the epidermis. L The friction ridge pattern of a fingerprint is established by the dermal papillae. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 43
LChemically or physically erasing the epidermal structure, as John Dillinger tried to do, causes only pain because the original print will soon grow back. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 44
LSweat pores along the ridges release perspiration, which is 98 – 99 % water. LSo, a fingerprint is composed mostly of water. LIt is estimated that a fingerprint initially may weight 0. 1 milligram, so after evaporation of the water, we have left about 1 microgram of residue. LThis residue is made up of half salt and half complex organic compounds such as amino acids, lipids, vitamins, and additional body oils picked up on the finger by touching oily or hairy parts of the body. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 45
This doesn’t leave much for the investigator to work with! Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Individualization Ridge Classification Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Individualization of Fingerprints You have now classified fingerprints according to general patterns or groups, but to individualize them, you must use the fine structure of ridge characteristics or minutiae. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 48
Lunitedstreaming. com - Search Results: fingerprinting Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 49
Ridge Characteristics Minutiae—characteristics of ridge patterns § § § § § Ridge ending Short ridge Dot or fragment -about as long as it is wide Bifurcation – a single friction ridge that splits into two ridges. Double bifurcation Trifurcation Bridge Island Enclosure Spur Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 50
Fingerprint Minutiae Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 51
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Comparison L There are no legal requirements in the United States on the number of points. . Generally, criminal courts will accept 8 to 12 points of similarity when comparing fingerprints for a match. L There are 150 – 200 minutiae in a properly rolled fingerprint. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 53
Changes in Fingerprints? ? LCertain professions can affect a fingerprint. LFor example: LThe ridges of a concrete worker and plasterer can become rather indistinct over time because of the alkalinity of cement and gypsum can dissolve proteins. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 54
John Dillinger LPublic Enemy Number One in the early 1930’s paid a doctor $5, 000, plus $25 per day for room and board to “dissolve” his fingerprints and perform some minor surgery on his face. LWas a notorious bank robber who tried to remove his fingerprints by using a corrosive acid Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 55
John Dillinger LHe had the outer layers of the skin (the epidermis) removed by acid and had plastic surgery performed on his face to conceal his identity. LThe operation created lots of scar tissue that obscured the ridges in the centers of his fingers, but there were still plenty of minutiae for identification. LHe was shot and killed on July 22, 1934, during the famous “lady in red” incident outside the Biograph Theater. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 56
“Lady in Red” LThe term lady in red derives from the incident in which the FBI was looking for Dillinger, and an informant, Ana Cumpanas, stepped forward and said she would be going to theater with him in the near future. LShe wanted the cash reward offered for the capture of Dillinger and to be allowed to stay in the United States (she was scheduled for deportation back to Romania as an undesirable alien). Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 57
LShe was told to wear a bright red dress so that the agents waiting outside theater could easily spot both her and her date, John Dillinger. LWhen she exited theater, the agents attempted to arrest the man she was with, but he fled. LThe agents shot and killed the man, but there was some question whether he was truly John Dillinger. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 58
LThe fingerprints of the dead man were taken, and in spite of the presence of a tremendous amount of scar tissue, the FBI was able to match them to those of John Dillinger from fingerprint records taken earlier in his career. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 59
Types of Prints Plastic Visible Latent Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
1. Plastic Prints LPrints that are indented or molded LAre made by pressing a finger against a plastic-like material to form a negative impression of a fingerprint. LPaint, putty, soap, candle wax, gum on envelopes or stamps, a candy bar that has softened in ones hand. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 61
2. Visible Prints LPrints that are easily seen. LLeft by a finger that has touched colored material such as blood, paint, ink, grease, chalk, mud, or sometimes dust. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 62
3. Latent Prints LSo called “invisible” prints that must be developed by chemical or physical means. LThey result from deposits of perspiration and body oils. LA fingerprint on the skin could be an example of a latent print. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 63
Visualizing Latent Prints Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Latent Prints § Latent fingerprints are those that are not visible to the naked eye. These prints consist of the natural secretions of human skin and require development for them to become visible. § Most secretions come from three glands: § Eccrine—largely water with both inorganic (ammonia, chlorides, metal ions, phosphates) and organic compounds (amino acids, lactic acids, urea, sugars). Most important for fingerprints. § Apocrine—secrete pheromones and other organic materials. § Sebaceous—secrete fatty or greasy substances. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 65
Developing Latent Prints § Developing a print requires substances that interact with secretions that cause the print to stand out against its background. It may be necessary to attempt more than one technique, done in a particular order so as not to destroy the print. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 66
The first thing you want to do after visualizing a fingerprint is to photograph it! Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Latent prints can be developed using physical and chemical methods. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Developing Latent Prints Physical Methods Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Dusting LDust with a fine powder. LMost effective on hard, nonabsorbent surfaces. LAdhere to both water and fatty deposits. LColor is chosen to stand out against the surface. LThe developed print can then be “lifted” by means of clear sticky tape and collected for analysis. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 70
Chemical Methods of Developing Latent Prints LIodine fuming LNinhydrin LSilver nitrate – physical developer LCyanoacrylate – also called “superglue fuming” Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 71
Developing Latent Prints Chemical Methods Generally more effective for soft, porous surfaces such as paper, Styrofoam cups, leather, metal, etc. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Iodine Fuming § Iodine—fumes react with oils and fats to produce a temporary yellow brown reaction. § Iodine reacts with the fatty oils from the finger to form a visible but short lasting print. § Works best for prints on porous paper. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 73
Iodine Fingerprint Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 74
Ninhydrin LIs most commonly used with paper and porous surfaces. LIt reacts with amino acids left by the finger to make an orange to purple image. LEx - matchbook Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 75
Ninhydrin Fingerprint Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 76
Silver Nitrate § Also called physical developer. § Reacts with salt left from perspiration in a dried print to form silver chloride, a material which turns gray when exposed to light. § It is then converted to dark silver oxide. § This is the same process used in developing photographs. § This must be a last resort because it can wash away traces of fatty oils and proteins. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 77
Cyanoacrylate § An interesting method of chemically developing fingerprints was discovered by accident in Japan in the late 1970’s. § Is now widely used for developing latent prints on nonporous surfaces such as metals, glass, adhesive tapes, and plastic articles Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 78
Cyanoacrylate Fingerprints Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 79
Cyanoacrylate LIt involves evaporating superglue in an enclosed container. LThe glue, a cyanoacrylate ester, reacts with print residues to make a white, permanent impression that can then be treated with powders or fluorescent dyes to make a sharper contrast and allow easier photography or lifting. L“super glue” fumes react with water and other fingerprint constituents to form a hard, whitish deposit. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 80
Often, the order of the steps in developing prints is important! LWhen you have just one piece of evidence, first use tests that won’t harm that evidence. LYou want to get as much information as possible, so you may have to perform several tests. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 81
For example: LTo get the best image of latent fingerprints, you might first use iodine fuming; then you might try ninhydrin. LYou would save the silver nitrate method until last because this procedure will wash away traces of fatty oils and proteins. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 82
A fingerprint left at the scene of a crime may last for years. . . Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Lasers and Alterative Light Sources In modern labs and criminal investigations, lasers and alternative light sources are used to view latent fingerprints. These were first used by the FBI in 1978. Since lasers can damage the retina of the eye, special precautions must be taken. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 84
Other Prints § Ridge characteristics can be also found on footprints and palm prints. § Modern labs also utilize other evidences: § Ears—shape, length and width § Voice—electronic pulses measured on a spectrograph § Foot—size of foot and toes; friction ridges on the foot § Shoes—can be compared and identified by type of shoe, brand, size, year of purchase, and wear pattern. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 85
Other Prints Palm—friction ridges can be identified and may be used against suspects. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 86
Other Prints Footprints are taken at birth as a means of identification of infants. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 87
Other Prints Lips—display several common patterns § § Short vertical lines Short horizontal lines Crosshatching Branching grooves Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 88
Other Prints Teeth—bite marks are unique and can be used to identify suspects. These imprints were placed in gum and could be matched to crime scene evidence. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 89
Other Prints The blood vessel patterns in the eye may be unique to individuals. They are used today for various security purposes. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 90
Biometrics § Use of some type of body metrics for the purpose of identification. (The Bertillon system may actually have been the first biometry system. ) § Used today in conjunction with AFIS § Examples include retinal or iris patterns, voice recognition, hand geometry § Other functions for biometrics—can be used to control entry or access to computers or other structures; can identify a person for security purposes; can help prevent identity theft or control social services fraud. Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 91
More about Prints For additional information about prints and crime, check out Court TV’s Crime Library www. crimelibrary. com/criminal_mind/forensics/fing erprints/1. html Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 92
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