Fingerprinting Study Guide

What is AFIS? IAFIS?

- AFIS is a computerized system capable of reading, classifying, matching, and storing fingerprints for criminal justice agencies. - Quality latent fingerprints are entered into the AFIS for a search for possible matches against the state maintained databases for fingerprint records to help establish the identity of unknown deceased persons or suspects in a criminal case. - The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), is a computerized system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 1999

Whorls

- Have at least one ridge that makes (or tends to make) a complete circuit. - Have at least two deltas. - If a print has more than two deltas, it is most likely an accidental. - Whorls can be plain, central pocket, double loop, or accidental. - Draw a line between the two deltas in the plain and central pocket whorls. If some of the curved ridges touch the line, it is a plain whorl. If none of the center core touches the line, it is a central pocket whorl - Double loop whorls are made up of any two loops combined into one print.

Loops

- Must have one delta and one or more ridges that enter and leave on same side. - These patterns are named for their positions related to the radius and ulna bones. - Ulnar loops open towards the ulna Radial loops open towards the radius

Latent prints (invisible prints)

- are caused by the transfer of body perspiration or oils present on the finger to the surface of an object. - Latent prints must be developed or made visible

Arches

-the simplest type of fingerprints that are formed by ridges that enter on one side of the print and exit on the other. -No deltas are present. -5% of prints are arches -plain or tented

What are the three fundamental principles of fingerprinting?

1. A fingerprint is an individual characteristic; no two people have been found with the exact same COMPLETE fingerprint pattern. 2. A fingerprint pattern will remain unchanged for the life of an individual; however, the print itself may change due to permanent scars and skin diseases. 3. Fingerprints have general characteristic ridge patterns that allow them to be systematically identified.

Read Ch. 14 in Death's Acre.

1. Detective Arthur Bohanan developed an apparatus to capture fingerprints from various surfaces by vaporizing what substance? cyanoacrylic 2. Cyanoacrylic is the scientific name for what substance? Super Glue 3. In what year did Dr. Bass conduct the experiment with body #4? 1993 4. What did Patricia Cornwell name her new novel? The Body Farm 5. Originally the name of Dr. Bass's Body Farm was ARF, what does acronym ARF stand for? Anthro Research Facility

What are the main ways to develop latent prints?

1. Fluorescent powder and UV lights- help them find latent prints on multi-colored or dark surfaces. 2. Magnetic powder- used to reveal latent prints. This type of powder works better on shiny surfaces or plastic baggies or containers. 3. Cyanoacrylate fuming method- (often called the super glue method) is a procedure that is used to develop latent fingerprints on a variety of objects. 4. Ninhydrin- a chemical that bonds with the amino acids in fingerprints and will produce a blue or purple color. It is used to lift prints from surfaces such as paper and cardboard. 5. Iodine Fuming- porous and non-porous such as paper, index cards, magazines, and cardboard. Theory that Sweat and oil will absorb iodine vapors. THIS IS TEMPORARY

A complete print has an average of at least how many ridge characteristics?

150

What percent of prints do examiners misidentify at least one print?

20%

What creates the fingerprints that we leave behind?

A fingerprint is made of a series of ridges and valleys on the surface of the finger.

Least common print type?

Arch, 5%

How many deltas are in each of the three basic groups of prints?

Arches- None Loops- one Whorls- At least 2

What type of evidence are fingerprints?

Individual

What creates temporary prints?

Iodine

Which mammal has prints that closely resemble human prints?

Koala Bear

What are the prints where the ridge structures change?

Minutiae

What type of ridge print are scars?

Speciality

Ridgeology

The study of the uniqueness of friction ridge structures and their use for personal identification

What is the minimum amount of matching points for a print to be a match in the US?

There is no minimum

When do fingerprints form?

Week 10 of pregnancy

Dactylograms

are otherwise known as fingerprints.

What works by heating superglue?

cyanoacrylate

Visible prints

made after coming in contact with colored material such as blood, paint, grease, or ink.

Plastic prints

ridge impressions left on a soft material such as putty, wax, soap, or dust.

Dactyloscopy

the study of fingerprint identification.