Forensics: Chapter 15: Fingerprinting

The first systematic system of individual classification was introduced by: a)Alphonse Bertillon. b)Richard Henry. c)Willam Herschel. d)Francis Galton. e)none of the above.

A) Alphonse Bertillon.

The fingerprint pattern accounting for only 5 percent of all known patterns is the: a)arch. b)radial loop. c)whorl. d)ulnar loop. e)none of the above.

A) Arch

Fingerprints are formed: a)during fetal development. b)by the time a child is two years old. c)at birth. d)during first six months after birth. e)at conception.

A) During fetal development.

The fingerprint classification system used in most English speaking countries was devised by: a)Henry. b)Vucetich. c)Fauld. d)Galton. e)Herschel.

A) Henry.

Which person listed below attempted to destroy his fingerprints with corrosive acid? a)John Dillinger b)Carlo Gambino c)William West d)James Gotti e)Jimmy Hoffa

A) John Dillinger

Ninhydrin is used on a latent print to detect: a)protein material. b)riboflavin c)fatty acids. d)salt. e)oils.

A) Protein materials.

Physical developer contains: a)silver nitrate. b)ninhydrin. c)acrylate. d)iodine. e)none of the above.

A) Silver nitrate

In the primary classification system, a finger is assigned numerical value if its pattern is a(n): a)whorl. b)thumb. c)arch. d)loop. e)ulnar loop.

A) Whorl.

Prints impressed in a bar of soap are referred to as: latent. b)plastic. c)hidden. d)dusted. e)temporary.

B) Plastic.

Investigators can use ____________________ to detect latent fingerprints without use of chemicals or powder treatments. a)GC.MS b)RUVIS c)FTIR d)GRIM 3 e)AFIS

B) RUVIS

The pores of the sweat glands are located in the dermis. b)skin ridges. c)friction grooves. d)dermal papillae. e)knuckles.

B) Skin ridges.

A point-by-point comparison of a fingerprint's ____________________ must be demonstrated in order to prove identity. a)pattern. b)protein composition c)minutiae d)classification e)none of the above

C) Minutiae

The image produced from a digital file is composed of numerous square electronic dots called: a)cubic millimeters b)screen elements c)pixels d)bytes e)bits

C) Pixels

After successfully visualizing a latent print on an object an investigator should next: a)lift the print with adhesive tape. b)compare it to the suspect's prints. c)take a 1:1 photograph of the print. d)apply Super Glue to make the print permanent. e)classify the print.

C) Take a 1:1 photograph of the print.

It is estimated that there are as many as ______________ ridge characteristics in an average complete fingerprints. a)300 b)100 c)200 d)150 e)50

D) 150

Dusting to visualize a latent print on finished leather and rough plastic is best done with a: a)fiberglass brush. b)camel's hair brush. c)Magna brush. )all of the above e)A and C only

D) All of the above

Which statement is true of a partial fingerprint? a)any print can identify a criminal if it shows an adequate number of ridge characteristics. b)any point is sufficient for identification as long as there is enough to identify its basic pattern. c)it must show at least a little of all ten fingers. d)at least 75% of the pattern must be present for identification. e)none of the above

D) Any print can identify a criminal if it shows an adequate number of ridge characteristics.

The friction skin ridges: a)have no useful purpose other than identification. b)provide a firmer grip. c)resist slippage. d)both B and C e)all of the above

D) Both B and C

Francis Galeton, in writing his textbook on fingerprints, built on the groundbreaking work in this area by: a)Bertillon. b)Doyle. c)Vucetich. d)Fauld. e)Henry.

D) Fauld.

A chemical method used for developing prints on nonporous surfaces is: a)physical developer. b)ninhydrin. c)DFO. d)fuming with cyanoacrylate. e)all of the above

D) Fuming with cyanoacrylate.

Sublimation occurs with the use of: a)laser-print detection. b)cyanoacrylate. c)ninhydrin. d)iodine fuming. e)silver nitrate.

D) Iodine fuming.

Prints that are not readily visible are commonly referred to as: a)rolled. b)obscured. c)plastic. d)latent. e)open.

D) Latent.

Which of the following types of fingerprints are more likely to be found impressed in soft wax? a)visible b)latent c)hidden d)plastic e)none of the abvoe

D) Plastic

The AFIS ___________________ determines the degree of __________________ between the location and relationship of the minutiae between the questioned fingerprint and those in the database. a)identification system, minutiae b)software configurations, difference c)relative position, orientation d)search algorithm, correlation e)law enforcement community, cooperation.

D) Search algorithm, correlation

What item is NOT considered a process surface? a)paper b)cloth c)cardboard d)tile e)skin

D) Tile

Protein residues are the best developed into fingerprint impressions with: a)physical developer. b)iodine. c)dusting powder. d)ninhydrin. e)all of the above.

D) ninhydrin.

Livescan images of fingerprints: a)have eliminated the need for inked prints on paper cards. b)are sent to the AFIS database electronically. c)are captured when the subject's fingers and palms are placed onto a glass platen. d)do not need to be analyzed by people. e)A, B and C only

E) A, B, and C only

A fingerprint pattern having no delta is a(n): a)central pocket loop. b)loop. b)plain whorl.d)accidental. e)arch.

E) Arch

The most commonly encountered ridge characteristics (used by AFIS) are the: a)ridge ending and island. a)ridge ending and island. b)ridge crossing and short ridge. c)island and bifurcation. d)bifurcation and trifurcation. e)bifurcation and ridge ending.

E) Bifurcation and ridge ending.

Computerized fingerprint search systems match prints by comparing the position of _____________________ and ______________.

E) Bifurcations; ridge endings

AFIS is a(n): a)computer system programmed to analyze hair. b)method used to determine age of latent print. c)computer software designed to track fingerprint evidence within the chain of custody. d)assay technique used to identify drugs. e)computerized system for storing and retrieving fingerprint records.

E) Computerized system for storing and retrieving fingerprint records.

To permanently alter the fingerprint and produce scars, one must damage the: a)sweat glands. b)minutiae. c)ridges. d)epidermis. e)dermal papillae.

E) Dermal papillae

Will west was the man who: a)had a virtual "double" with a similar name. b)invented Superglue. c)was identified generations later by DNA analysis. e)devised the fingerprint classification system used in Spanish-speaking countries.

E) Devised the fingerprint classification system used in Spanish-speaking countries.

The most common ridge pattern is the: a)arch. b)whorl. c)tented arch. d)accidental. e)loop,

E) Loop

What is the minimum number of ridge characteristics necessary before two fingerprints can be identified as the same? a)16 b)22 c)10 d)12 e)no minimum. final determination must be based on experience and knowledge of the expert.

E) No minimum. Final determination must be made based on experience and knowledge of the expert.

Under which circumstances have two people been found to have identical fingerprints? a)siamese twins b)identical twins c)fraternal twins d)members of the same immediate family e)none to date

E) None to date