FingerprintsFingerprints

Chapter 8Chapter 8

HistoryHistory Alphonse Bertillon: anthropometryAlphonse Bertillon: anthropometry

1892 Francis Galton-1892 Francis Galton-Finger PrintsFinger Prints

-UK-fingerprinting -supplement to Bertillon system-UK-fingerprinting -supplement to Bertillon system

HistoryHistory 1850’s: 1850’s:

-photographing inmates-photographing inmates

Allan Pinkerton: Allan Pinkerton:

-rogues gallery-rogues gallery

NYPD Detective Thomas Byrnes:NYPD Detective Thomas Byrnes:

-NYPD gallery-“mug” shots-NYPD gallery-“mug” shots

Mug shotsMug shotsNYPD: original NYPD: original

collection of mug collection of mug shotsshots

HistoryHistory Will West/William West (1903)Will West/William West (1903)-2 inmates/same anthropometrical -2 inmates/same anthropometrical

measurementsmeasurements-fingerprints ID’d them-fingerprints ID’d them

1904 World’s Fair: 1904 World’s Fair: -fingerprinting introduced to US Police-fingerprinting introduced to US Police

Mug shotsMug shotsCollection of mug Collection of mug

shotsshots

Mug ShotsMug ShotsJohn DillingerJohn Dillinger

Mug ShotsMug ShotsAlphonse CaponeAlphonse Capone

Mug ShotsMug ShotsJames BrownJames Brown

Mug ShotsMug ShotsNick NolteNick Nolte

What are fingerprints?What are fingerprints?

Friction ridge skin pattern

ridges (hills)/furrows (valleys)

Black = RidgesWhite = Valleys

Fingerprints

What are fingerprints?What are fingerprints?

embryonic development

genetics, detail-random

Fingerprints

3 types

1. Visible – dirt/grease/blood

Fingerprints

3 types

2. Impression – soft material (butter, putty, tar)

Fingerprints

3 types

3. Latent – requires processing

Fingerprints

invisible components

-sweat glands secrete onto fingers/palms

-Sweat contains:

Inorganic ions (Na+, Cl -) Proteins, amino acids

Lipids Other

Fingerprints > Analysis

Visible printsVisible prints

Fingerprint PrinciplesFingerprint Principles

3 principles: 3 principles:

1.1. Uniqueness:Uniqueness:

2.2. Permanence:Permanence:

3.3. Patterns:Patterns:

Principle OnePrinciple One UNIQUENESS:UNIQUENESS:

-no two people identical-no two people identical

-identification-ridge characteristics (minutiae)-identification-ridge characteristics (minutiae)

-> 150 minutiae on average finger-> 150 minutiae on average finger

Principle OnePrinciple OneDO NOT WRITE DOWN!DO NOT WRITE DOWN!

Points? How many required for ID in US Courts?Points? How many required for ID in US Courts?

-“no valid basis exists for requiring a predetermined -“no valid basis exists for requiring a predetermined minimum number of friction ridge characters minimum number of friction ridge characters which must be present in two impressions in which must be present in two impressions in order to establish positive identification”order to establish positive identification”

-sufficient number of friction ridge details present -sufficient number of friction ridge details present for conclusion 100%for conclusion 100%

Principle OnePrinciple One Conclusions: Conclusions:

MatchMatch no matchno match inconclusiveinconclusive

Principle TwoPrinciple Two PERMANENCE: PERMANENCE: Epidermis-outer layerEpidermis-outer layer

Dermis-inner layerDermis-inner layer

Form in womb/unchanged for lifeForm in womb/unchanged for life

PRINCIPLE THREEPRINCIPLE THREE

Patterns:Patterns:

-classification/filing-classification/filing

-3 patterns-3 patterns

DO NOT CONFUSE PATTERNS WITH DO NOT CONFUSE PATTERNS WITH PRINCIPLES!!!PRINCIPLES!!!

Principle ThreePrinciple Three

Pattern 1:Pattern 1:

Loop: Loop: -60 %-60 %

Principle Principle ThreeThree

Pattern 2: Pattern 2:

Whorls:Whorls:

35%35%

WhorlsWhorlsDouble Loop WhorlDouble Loop Whorl

Accidental WhorlAccidental Whorl

Principle ThreePrinciple Three ARCHES:ARCHES: Least commonLeast common

5%5% a. Plaina. Plain b. Tentedb. Tented

ArchesArches

PlainPlain TentedTented

Developing PrintsDeveloping Prints Surface=substrateSurface=substrate

Hard/nonabsorbent: powderHard/nonabsorbent: powder

Porous: chemicalPorous: chemical

Detecting PrintsDetecting Prints

Powders:Powders:-adhere to perspiration/body oils-adhere to perspiration/body oils

Iodine fuming: Iodine fuming: -iodine crystals release vapors-iodine crystals release vapors

Detecting PrintsDetecting Prints Ninhydrin:Ninhydrin: -amino acids/purple-blue-amino acids/purple-blue

Super GlueSuper Glue®:®:

--cyanoacrylate ester cyanoacrylate ester

Developing PrintsDeveloping Prints Fluorescence:Fluorescence:

-chemicals-fluorescence -high-intensity light-chemicals-fluorescence -high-intensity light

-photographs must be taken before attempts at -photographs must be taken before attempts at lifting lifting

Physical Development: Dusting

Powder adheres

Brush and Powder

Fingerprints > Analysis

Physical Development: Dusting

Magnetic Brush

and Powder

Fingerprints > Analysis

PowderPowderLatent print Latent print

developed with developed with powder powder

PowderPowder Print in dust:Print in dust:

Left-actual printLeft-actual print

Middle-developed Middle-developed with powderwith powder

Right-photographedRight-photographed

PowderPowder Shell casingShell casing

Chemical Development:

2. Iodine Fuming Iodine reacts w/ lipid

components Fuming wand/chamber

Dirty Brown Color

Fingerprints > Analysis

Chemical Development:

3. Ninhydrin Reacts with amino acids; purple color Painted or sprayed on area Heated to react

Fingerprints > Analysis

DevelopmentDevelopmentFingerprints on the Fingerprints on the

inside of a rubber inside of a rubber gloveglove

Development Development Fingerprints Fingerprints

developed on developed on plastic bagplastic bag

DevelopmentDevelopmentInside of rubber Inside of rubber

gloves treated with gloves treated with ninhydrinninhydrin

DevelopmentDevelopment NinhydrinNinhydrin

DevelopmentDevelopment Ninhydrin-Note Ninhydrin-Note

initials at top-initials at top-CHAIN OF CHAIN OF CUSTODYCUSTODY

DevelopmentDevelopmentSuper glue Super glue

developed printsdeveloped prints

DevelopingDevelopingLatent prints Latent prints

visulaized using visulaized using fluorescent powderfluorescent powder

DevelopingDevelopingDifferent colored Different colored

fluorescent powderfluorescent powder

Development and CollectionDevelopment and Collection Scene or Lab?Scene or Lab?

Small objects:Small objects:-preserved/transported-preserved/transported

Large immovable objects:Large immovable objects:-develop prints/lift -develop prints/lift

Digital ImagingDigital Imaging Digital imaging:Digital imaging:-picture converted-digital computer file-picture converted-digital computer file

Compare function:Compare function:-images side by side-images side by side

Collection of prints:

Sometimes a photograph will be the only permanent record.

Fingerprints > Collection

Fingerprint KitFingerprint Kit

How are fingerprints analyzed?How are fingerprints analyzed?

Categorized by pattern and minutiae

Fingerprints

How are fingerprints analyzed?How are fingerprints analyzed?

Patterns

Loop Whorl Arch

Fingerprints

How are fingerprints analyzed?How are fingerprints analyzed?

Minutiae

Dot

Bifurcation

Island

Ridge Ending

Fingerprints

AFISAFIS Computer scans/digitally encode fingerprints Computer scans/digitally encode fingerprints

-classifying /retrieving-classifying /retrieving

-digital minutiae-digital minutiae

-list of file prints-list of file prints

-examined by expert-examined by expert

Old system of fingerprintsOld system of fingerprints

Computer software compares the location of these minutiae.

Fingerprints

AFISAFISAFIS highlights all AFIS highlights all

the identifiable the identifiable minutia.minutia.

Madrid Bombing TimelineMadrid Bombing Timeline

March 11, 2004March 11, 2004– Terrorists bomb several trains in Madrid, SpainTerrorists bomb several trains in Madrid, Spain

March 13, 2004March 13, 2004– LPU receives electronic transmission of digital LPU receives electronic transmission of digital

images (no info, scale, etc.) images (no info, scale, etc.) 8 latent prints8 latent prints Known exemplars Known exemplars

March 19, 2004March 19, 2004– LPU identifies/verifies one latent LPU identifies/verifies one latent

fingerprint as a result of an automated searchfingerprint as a result of an automated search

April 13, 2004April 13, 2004– Spanish National Police (SNP) issues Spanish National Police (SNP) issues

‘negativo’ report regarding latent print‘negativo’ report regarding latent print April 21, 2004April 21, 2004

– LPU rep travels to Spain to provide basis LPU rep travels to Spain to provide basis of identification to SNPof identification to SNP

MadridMadrid

May 6, 2004May 6, 2004– Brandon Mayfield arrested by FBI Brandon Mayfield arrested by FBI

PortlandPortland May 19, 2004 (in California)May 19, 2004 (in California)

– Defense expert verifies FBI identificationDefense expert verifies FBI identification May 19, 2004May 19, 2004

– SNP informs FBI they have identified the SNP informs FBI they have identified the latent fingerprint with another individuallatent fingerprint with another individual

May 20, 2004May 20, 2004– Judge releases MayfieldJudge releases Mayfield

MadridMadrid

MADRID BOMBINGMADRID BOMBING