CRIMINALISTICS

DEFINITION OF TERMS

DACTYLOSCOPY
· the science of identification by means of fingerprints .

DACTYLOGRAPHY
· the science of fingerprint classification for the purpose of identification .

DACTYL
· Latin word for “finger”

POLYDACTYL
· a person with excessive number of fingers, usually, an extra pinky or thumb

APLLIED SCIENCES

1) POROSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of sweat pores.

2) CHIROSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of palm

3) PODOSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of soles of the feet.

4. DACTYLOGRAPHY – Is the science which deals with the study of fingerprint as a means of
identification. It embraces four allied subjects within its scope namely: Dactyloscopy, Poroscopy,
Chiroscopy and Podoscopy.

5. RIDGEOLOGY – The study of poroscopy, edgeoscopy, and ridge characteristics for the
purpose of the positive identification of fingerprints.

6. EDGEOSCOPY – The study of the characteristics formed by the sides or edges of papillary
ridges as a means of identification

FINGERPRINT

· the impression or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the last joint of the finger and
thumb on any smooth surface through the media of ink, sweat or any reagent capable of producing
visibility

A. Polydactylism – appearance of extra fingers as anatomically known.

B. Syndactyl – having two or more fingers or toes joined together, congenital abnormality.
C. Brachdactyl – in this condition, the fingers or toes are abnormally short.

D. Ectrodactyl – the congenital absence of one or more digits. Sufferers may be born with as few
as two fingers and a thumb on one or both hands

E. Polydactylism – appearance of extra fingers as anatomically known.

F. Macrodactyl – this is a congenital abnormal largeness of fingers or toes.

G. Orthodactyl – here, the fingers or toes cannot be flexed, ordinarily as a result of symphalangy.

THREE DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS

1. PRINCIPLE OF CONSTANCY – The papillary ridges are immutable, perennial or individual

for the third month of the embryonic period till decomposition sets in after death.

2. PRINCIPLE OF VARIATION – That no two prints of the different persons nor the neighboring
fingers of the same person have ever been found to be identical in all respects.

3. PRINCIPLE OF INFALLIBILITY – That man fingerprint cannot be changed.

LAYERS OF FRICTION SKIN

1. EPIDERMIS - Outer layer of the skin.

2. DERMIS – Inner layer of the skin

HOW FINGERPRINTS PRODUCED

FRICTION SKIN- absence of hair

A. SWEAT PORES – Tiny opening across the ridge.

B. SWEAT DUCT – It is a passage way towards to sweat pores.
C. SWEAT GLANDS – Producing the sweat.

NON FRICTION SKIN- presence of hair

KINDS OF FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS

1) ROLLED
2) SIMPLE/PLAIN
ROLLING
- the manner of placing fingerprints

a) thumb – rolled towards the body

b) remaining four fingers – rolled away from the body

LATENT FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS

- hidden, fingerprints found at the crime scene

TYPELINES
- the two innermost lines which are parallel or about parallel which diverge, surround or tend to
surround the pattern area
- the boundaries of a fingerprint pattern

- PATTERN AREA
- that part of the loop or whorl in which appears the delta, core and other ridges
- the area of concern in classification
- always enclosed by the type line

Appendage – A short ridge at the top or summit of a recurve usually at right angle.

Furrows – Are depressions or canals between the ridges which maybe compared with the low area
in a tire tread.

RIDGES
- tiny, elevated, hill-like structures on the surface of the skin of the fingers
- the basis of examination, comparison and identification .

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION – a system of recognizing and identifying a particular person

based on his/her characteristics as different from the other.

BC 200s China

Chinese records from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) include details about using handprints as
evidence during burglary investigations.

Clay seals bearing friction ridge impressions were used during both the Qin and Han Dynasties
(221 BC - 220 AD).

ALPHONSE BERTILLON – father of personal identification

The first to devise a scientific method of identification called ANTHROPOMETRY, 1ST used by
the police in identifying criminals.

Will & William West - a case questioned the science of anthropometry.

The West Case

For many years, scientists did not use fingerprinting as a serious tool for identifying criminals.
Instead, they used a system which recorded the dimensions of certain skeletal body parts (known
as the Bertillon System). But in 1903, Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary received a prisoner by the
name of Will West.

-Admin Santi