Forensic Science Chapter 16 pages 584-592

New York City Civil Service Commission (NYPD)

The first systematic and official use of fingerprints for personal identification was adopted by the _____ in 1901.

False; extremely small probability

The probability for the existence of two identical fingerprint patterns in the world's population is zero.

3 principles of fingerprints

(1) Fingerprint is an indivisual characteristic, no two fingers have yet been found to possess identical ridge characteristics (2) a fingerprint remains unchanged during an indicudual's lifetime (3) fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified

After Daubert, the judge upheld the admissibility of fingerprints as scientific evidence and ruled that

(1) Human friction ridges are unique and permanent and (2) human fricition ridge skin arrangements are unique and permanent

Will West Case

A case in which two inmates so closely resembled each other in physical characteristics that the traditional Bertillon method of identification was discredited

True

Although it is impossible to change one's fingerprints, some criminals have tried to obsure them

dermal papillae

Boundary of cells separating the epidermis and dermis; shape determines the form and oattern of the ridges on the durface of the skin

Dr. Juan Vucetich

Devised a classification system still used in most Spanish-speaking countries

Friction skin ridges found on the palm side of the fingers and thumbs

Fingerprints are a reproduction of....

Skin ridges

In an inked fingerprint impression, what are the black lines shown?

True

Most prints recovered at crime scenes are partial impressions, showing only a segment of the entire print

Third Step: evaluation

One of three decisions: Identification (the latent print and exemplar came from the same source); exclusion (the latent print and exemplar did not come from the same source); inconclusive (one cannot determine that the latent print and exemplar came from the same source, or not, to a sufficiently strong level of certainty)

Final step: verification

Requires an independent examination of the questioned and known prints by a second examiner; ultimately, a consensus between the two examiners must be arrived at before a final conclusion is drawn

Problem with Bertillon's system

Results were highly suspectible to error, particularly when the measurements were taken by people who were not thoroughly trained

150

The average fingerprint has as many as _____ individual ridge characteristics.

Henry Fauld

Used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect

No valid basis exists for requiring a predetermined minimum number of friction ridge characteristics which must be present in two impressions in order to establish positive identification; the final determination must be based on the experience and knowledge of the expert, with the understanding that others may profess honest differences of opinion on the uniqueness of a fingerprint if the question of minimal number of ridge characteristics exists

What did the International Association for Identification conclude in 1973?

Perspiration discharged, pile that may have been picked up by touching the hairy portions of the body transfer, causing an impression

What do the pores on each skin ridge cause?

8 to 16

What is most likely the number of ridge comparisons needed to identify two fingerprints as the same?

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

What is the purpose of friction skin?

FBI

Who has the largest collection of fingerprints in the world?

Francis Galton

Wrote book that demonstrated that no two pronts are identical and that an individual's prints remain unchanged from year to year

loop

a class of fingerprints characterized by ridge lines that enter from one side of the pattern and curve around to exit from the same side of the pattern; 60 to 65 percent of the population have it

arch

a class of fingerprints characterized by ridge lines that enter the prinf from one side and exit the other side; 5 percent have it

whorl

a class of fingerprints that includes ridge patterns that are generally rounded or circular; 30 to 35 percent have it

latent fingerprint

a fingerprint made by the deposit of oils and/or perspiration; it is invisible to the naked eye

fingerprint

a reproduction of friction skin ridges found on the palm side of the fingers and thumbs

anthropometry

a system of identification of indivuals by measurement of parts of the body, developed by Alphonse Bertillon

portrait parle

a verbal description of a perpetrator's physical characteristics and dress provided by an eyewitness

ACE-V Process

analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification; used to identify and individualize a fingerprint

United States v. Byron C. Mitchell

argued that fingerprints could not be proven unique under the guildlines cited in Daubert

early use of fingerprints

chinese used fingerprints to sign legal documents (unsure whether for personal identification)

Sir Edward Richard Henry

developed fingerprint classification system in most-English speaking countries

accidental

either contains two or mort patterns (not including the plain arch) or is a pattern not covered by other categories

plain whorl and central pocket loop

have at least one ridge that makes a circuit; ridge may be in the form of a spiral, oval, or any variant of a circle

ulnar loop

loop opens toward the little finger

radial loop

loop opens toward the thumb

double loop

made up of two loops combined in one fingerprint

Two groups of arches

plain arches and tented arches

four distinct groups of whorls

plain, central pocket loop, double loop, accidental

Second step: comparison

requires the examiner to compare the questioned print to the known print at three levels; Level 1: looks at the general ridge flow in pattern configuration, Level 2: includes locating and comparing ridge characteristicscharacteristics and details can individualize a print; Level 3: Includes the examination and Location of ridge pores, breaks, creases, scars, and other permanent minutiae (examiner compares the latent print side by side with an exemplar print in their totality)

First step: analysis

requires the examiner to identify any distortions associated with the friction ridges, as well as any external factors, such as surface or deposition factors or processing techniques, that may impinge on the print's appearance

Ridge characteristics (minutiae)

ridge endings, bifurcations, enclosures, and other ridge details, which must match in two fingerprints in order for their common origin to be established

tented arch

similar to the plain arch except that instead of rising smoohtly at the center, there is a sharp upthrust irnspike, or the ridges meet at an angle that is less than 90 degrees

plain arch

simplest of all fingerprint patterns; formed by ridges entering from one side of the print and exiting on the opposite side; tend to rise in the center of the print, formung a wavelike pattern

William Herchel

started requiring natives in India to sign contracts with the imprint of their right hand; before Bertillon

dermis

the inner skin

John Dillinger

tried to destory his own fingerprints by applying a corrosive acid to them; prints taken at the morgue after he was shot to death compared with fingerprints recorded from previous arrest proved his efforts had been fruitless