JS 113 –Fingerprint LectureI. Pre-class activities

a. Quizb. Announcements and Assignments

II. Learning objectivesa. List 3 major fingerprint patterns and respective subclassesb. Name individuals that have made significant contributions to

acceptance and development of fingerprintsc. Define ridge characteristicsd. Explain visible, plastic vs. latent printse. Understand the primary classification of the Henry systemf. List techniques for developing latent prints on non porous

objectsg. Describe chemical techniques for developing prints on porous

objectsh. Describe the proper procedure for preserving a developed latent i. Explain how a latent fingerprint image can be enhanced by

digital imaging

Announcements and Assignments • Quiz is open book - Fill it out during class and be sure to hand it in before

you leave

• Assignments/Schedule/Lectures: – Student led Chapter reviews – 09/24/07 : Your team must email me the chapter summary- 2-3 pages total – BY FRIDAY

09/21/07 and provide a hard copy of the summary on Monday 09/24/07– EXAM I is Weds 09/26/07 covering Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 – Video on Weds 10/03/07

• Guest Lecturers– October 8th Supervisor Tom Abercrombie Oakland PD: Crime Scene, Drugs and

Latents– October 10th Dr. Sandra Sachs- Forensic toxicology

• Exam 1: 09/26/07

BASIC PATTERNS

1 2 3

8 DIFFERENT TYPES OF FINGERPRINTS

Remembered by:

L A W

No Fingerprints! Rare Disorder but it happens.

… defects in the protein keratin 14 may be responsible for both diseases, known as Naegeli syndrome and dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis (DPR). But the lack of fingerprints is not the diseases' only, or even most serious, impact. Patients also experience thickening of their palms and soles of their feet. They suffer from anomalies in the development of their teeth, hair, and skin, where pigmentation can appear patchy and uneven. Most dangerously, they have skin issues that can inhibit their ability to sweat normally.

A brief history of fingerprints (1)

• 1883 The first systematic attempt at personal identification was by Alphonse Bertillon-anthropometry

• Dimensions of human bone system remained fixed from age 20 to death

• For 2 decades it remained the most accurate method.

A brief history of fingerprints (2)

• Chinese used to sign legal documents 3000 years ago with fingerprints (ceremonial of for human ID still unknown)

• In India years before Bertillon, William Hershel started the practice of requiring natives to sign contracts with imprints of their right hands

• 1880, Henry Fauld working in a Japanese hospital published a suggestion that skin ridge patterns could be important for the identification of criminals… Offered to Scotland yard but rejected

A brief history of fingerprints (3)• 1892 Francis Galton published his classic textbook

Finger Prints, - anatomy of fingerprints and suggested methods for recording them.

• Galton proposed assigning three pattern types: – Loops, Arches, and Whorls

• Book demonstrated that no two prints were identical and that they remained unchanged from year to year

• 1891 Juan Vucetich created a classification system• 1897 Sir Edward Richard Henry created another

classification system adopted by US.

A brief history of fingerprints (4)

• 1903, Will West at Ft Leavenworth prison. William West who was already in prison could not be distinguished by anthropometry nor photographs but by fingerprints

Will West vs William West

Other Look Alikeshttp://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2912199

Photos fromFrancois Brunellewww.francoisbrunelle.com

• 1901, NYC Civil Service commission adopts fingerprints for personal ID to certify all civil service applicants

• 1904, used at the World’s Fair in St. Louis for representatives of Scotland Yard

• 1924 BI records and Leavenworth records merged forming the nucleus ID records at the FBI – where the largest collection now exists

• 1999- Admissibility challenge in US v. BC Mitchell- Eastern PA. Argued, fingerprints could not be proven unique under Daubert.

• Following 4.5 days, upheld fingerprints as scientific evidence ruled that 1) human friction ridges are unique and 2) human friction ridge skin arrangements are unique and permanent.

A brief history of fingerprints (5)

FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS• Most familiar to public• Leaving a readable print depends on:

- Surface on item touched- Condition of fingers- Way item is handled

• Fingerprints are completely individual characteristics.• First Principle- A fingerprint is an individual

characteristic; no two fingerprints have yet been found to possess identical ridge characteristics

WHAT ARE FINGERPRINTS ?

• Friction Ridges – raised lines on skin that come together to form patterns also known as minutiae

• Designed by nature to provide our bodies with a firmer grasp and resistance to slippage

• Second Principle: Patterns formed by ridges never change throughout an individual’s life* . Fingerprint remains unchanged during an individuals lifetime

* individual marks and scars can be addedJohn Dillenger tried with acid- see figure 14.4

WHAT ARE FINGERPRINTS ?

• Third Principle: All prints have ridge characteristics that permit them to be systematically classified

• 60-65 % of the population has loops, 30-35 have whorls and only 5% have arches

• LAW form the basis for all classification systems

• Loops- ridge lines that enter from one side and curve around to exit from the same side of the pattern

• Arch- lines that enter from one side and exit from the other• Whorls- ridge patterns are rounded or circular in shape and have two deltas

THREE FORMS OF FINGERPRINTS

• Visible print – form of residue print– Touching a surface after the ridges have been in contact

with a colored material (blood, paint…)

• Plastic print – made in soft material – (putty, soap dust..)

• Latent print – result of perspiration or oils present on ridges INVISIBLE NEED DEVELOPING* can be more easily developed on

smooth, nonporous surfaces

COMPARISON OF PRINTS

• In identifying a fingerprint, the analyst must also look at ridge characteristics which are independent of the patterns (aka minutiae)

IDENTITY, NUMBER AND LOCATION IMPART

INDIVIDUALITY

Recognition, Collection and Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence

• Recognition of fingerprint evidence is similar to recognition of evidence in general – Training and Experience – Points of entry, weapons… MAY VARY

CASE TO CASE– Appropriate tools (Alternate Lighting)– Documentation- photo, notes, sketches

Recognition, Collection and Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence• General Rule: objects believed to have latent

fingerprints should be collected intact and submitted– Necessary materials brown paper bags, cardboard box

for firearms/weapons, manila envelopes for documents• If item cannot be submitted to Fingerprint section

of lab, must develop at scene and use a tape lift or carefully photographed using 35mm or top quality digital cameras-scale

• Marked/TAPE-SEALED/ CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Recognition, Collection and Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence

• Considerations for preservation of latent print evidence– Is there biological evidence ?– Type of material on which the print is present

DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS

• IN GENERAL:• - Powders are used to develop prints

on smooth, nonporous surfaces

- Chemicals are used to develop prints

on porous or absorbent materials like paper or

wood

EFFECTS OF SURFACES

• Hard or glossy, non-porous surfaces retain latent impression fairly well

• Rough, coarse or porous surfaces do not receive or retain latent impressions well; textured glass or rough paint

* The age of a latent print can not be determined with any specificity except when the area was cleaned

PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES: POWDERS

• The oldest and least sophisticated method for latent prints

• Should be primarily used on non-porous material

• Best when used in conjunction with Super Glue Fuming* Over 85% of fingerprints developed by this method

FUMING TECHNIQUES- SUPER GLUE (Cyanoacrylate)

• Develops latent print to produce white color print

• White ridge detail is enhance by moisture

• Best utilized on non-porous items or physical evidence

• Contrast of print improved by application of dyes or powders

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

• The type of surface on which a fingerprint is deposited has a lot to do with the type of print that will be deposited on the physical evidence

• The use of sequential processing techniques can increase the number of prints found and improve the quality of the prints already developed

AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT INDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• AFIS –The ability to compare a fingerprint found at the crime scent with a criminal fingerprint computer data base

• Cold Searches – searching a data base of several million prints against a single latent print in about 10 minutes

Group assignment- Classifying fingerprints

• Using your knowledge of fingerprints, classify all 10 fingers of each member of your team into loop, arch or whorl (or appropriate type).

• Count the total numbers of L, A and W and provide the % of each type on the chart on the board.

• Does the observed % equal the expected %?• What are some potential reasons the observed

might not equal the expected?• Design an experiment to test your hypothesis.

PART ONE today A. Your Inked or pencil Prints

– What fingerprint patterns ?– Print all fingers onto your

fingerprint card– Fill it out– Enlarged print (at least one

characteristic)

B. Super Glue– Reading only

FINGERPRINT LABPART Two next time

C. Black Powder– 2 different surfaces:

• Smooth glass slide and tile

D. Magnetic Powder– 2 different surfaces – Smooth glass slide

and tile

E. Evidence Sample • Everyone will get an item to process for fingerprints

using techniques you have learned/ MUST LIFT A PRINT

• HOWEVER!!! MUST SWAB BOTTLE FOR SALIVA FIRST (lightly moistened swab)– Allow swab to dry while you work on item– When dry package in envelope– Once swabbed, dry the swab and then place into envelope and

fill out the chain of custody– Be sure to take notes on the evidence and sketch on the card.

REMINDERS• MAKING A LATENT PRINT VISIBLE

• Place some powder in lid, not too much, circular sweeping motion, just grazing surface

REMINDERS

• LIFTING A LATENT PRINT ONTO A FINGERPRINT CARD

Fingerprint card glossy side

Don’t forget info on other side!

SOURCES

• Criminalistics/ Chapter 14 / Saferstein• http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/org/lpu.htm• http://www.onin.com/fp/• Kendall FG, Rehn BW. 1983. Rapid Method of Super Glue® Fuming

Application for the Development of Latent Fingerprints. Journal of Forensic Science. 28(3) 777-780.

• Lewis, LA. et al. 2001. Processes involved in the development of latent fingerprints using the cyanoacrylate fuming method. Journal of Forensic Science. 46(2): 241-246

• California Dept. Justice/ Physical Evidence bulletin-PEB 16-17 • International Association of Identification

– (IAI)-> http://www.theiai.org