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NOTES ON CRIMINALISTICS

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

Criminalistics
= Is the application of the principles of various sciences in solving problems in
connection with the administration of justice.
= Also referred to as Forensic Science or Police Science.
The word forensic was derived from the Latin word “Forum” which means a
“market place”, a place where people gathered for “public discussion” . When it is
used in conjunction with other sciences it simply connotes the idea of application to law
or for the administration of justice. Sometimes it is also referred to as “legal”.

Dr. Hans Gross = An Australian magistrate to described Search for Truth as the
ultimate goal of all investigative and detective works. He is known as the Father of
Modern Criminalistics.

A. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
“Law of Multiplicity of Evidence” The greater number of similarities or
dissimilarities; the greater is the probability for the conclusion to be correct.
Alphonse Bertillion = Father of Personal Identification. The first to devise a
scientific method of identification called Anthropometry.
A fingerprint was first used in China before the birth of Christianity. They called it
Hua Chi.

I. Personalities in Fingerprints:
1. Nehemiah Grew (1684) – describes the ridges and pores of the hands and feet
(Philosophical Transaction) presented in Royal Society of London, England.
2. Govard . Bibloo – works on the sweat pores and ridges.
3. Marcelo Malpighi (1628-1694) – Professor at the University of Bolognia, Italy, known
for his discovery of the Epidermis and Dermis layer. Written the book entitled “De
Externo Tactus Organo” Father of Dactyloscopy.
4. J.C.A. Mayer (1788) – the first to state that fingerprints are never duplicated in two
persons ( Anatomiche Kuphertafeln).
5. Johannes Purkenjie (1823) – Professor at the University of Breslau, Germany.
Established a certain role for classification and be able to identify nine (9) types of
pattern although never associated to identification
6. Herman Welcker – took his own fingerprints twice with a lapse of forty-one years
and show the ridges formation remains the same.
7. William Herschel – the first to advocate the use of fingerprints as substitute for
signature from among Indian native to avoid impersonation.
Rajadhar Konai = the first person Herschel printed the palm.
8. Henry Faulds – A surgeoon at Tsukuji Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, who claimed that
latent prints would provide positive identification of offenders once apprehended ( A
Manual of Practical Dactyloscopy).
9. Francis Galton – Developed the Arch. Loop and Whorl Patterns as general
classification and identified nine (9) types of pattern. First to establish a Civil Bureau
of Personal Identification. He said that the possibility of two prints being alike was
1:65,000,000,000.
10. Edward Richard Henry – Developed the Henry System of Classification at Scotland
Yard which was accepted by almost all English-speaking country. Known as Father
of Fingerprint.
Khan Bahadur Azizul Haque and Rai Hem Chandra Bose – the two Hindu
police officers who have help Henry in attaining his goal.
11. Juan Vucetich – A Spanish counterpart of Henry who developed his own system of
classification in Argentina and was accepted in almost all Spanish Speaking
country.

IN AMERICA
Gilbert Thompson = a geologist in New Mexico, adopted the first individual use of
fingerprint in august 8, 1882 as a protection to prevent tampering with the pay order.
Isaiah West Tabor = Photographer in San Francisco who advocated the use of
the system for the registration of the immigrant Chinese.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens = An Englishman who informally introduced
Dactyloscopy in the United States in his book “ Life in the Mississippi” and “ Pupp n
Head Wilson”.
Francis Galton
Dr. Henry p De Forest = Utilized the first Municipal Civil use of fingerprint for
Criminal Registration on December 1902 (Mun. Civil Service Comm., New York).
Capt. James L. Parke = Advocate the first state and penal use of fingerprint
adopted in SingSing prison on June 5, 1903 later on Auburn Napanoch and Clinton
Penitentiaries.
Sgt. John Kenneth Ferrier = First fingerprint instructor at St. Louis Police Dept.
Missouri.
Maj. R. Mc Cloughry = warden of the Federal Penitentiaries of Leaven Worth.
Established the first official National Government use of fingerpprint.
Mary K. Holand = first American instructress in dactyloscopy.
FBI = identification unit herein was officially established by an act of congress in
1924.
Institute of Applied Science = First private school to install laboratories for
instruction purposes in dactyloscopy.
People vs. Jennings, Dec. 21, 1911 = United States leading case wherein the
first conviction based on fingerprint was recognized by the judicial authorities (14
points).

IN THE PHILIPPINES
Mr. Jones = one who first taught FP in the Phils. (1900)
Bureau of Prison = (1968) CARPETAS fingerprint was used.
 Generoso Reyes – First Filipino Fingerprint Technician employed by P.C.
Isabela Bernales – first Filipina Fingerprint Technician
Capt. Thomas Dugan, New York Police Dept. and Flaviano Guerrero, FBI
Washington – gave the first examination in FP in 1927 and Agustin Patricio of
the Phils. Top the Examination
People of the Phils. Vs. Medina- First conviction base on Fingerprint and leading
case decision in the Phil. Jurisprudence (10 points).
Plaridel Education Institute (PEI) now known as Phil. College of Criminology, first
government recognized school to teach the Science of Fingerprint and other Police
Sciences.
John Dellinger – known U.S. public enemy number one who attempt to destroy
his own prints using corrosive acids.
Robert James Pitts – works on Surgery to forged his own fingerprints and was
named “Man without fingerprint”
Lucila Lalu – the first Filipina Chop-chop lady who was identified through
fingerprint.
Alphonse Bertillion – known as the Father of the first scientific method of
Identification (Anthropometry)

DACTYLOSCOPY
Definition
Dactyloscopy – (derived from the Latin words Dactyl = finger and Skopien – to study
or examine) is the practical application of the science of fingerprints.
Dactylography – is the scientific study of fingerprint as a means of identification.
Dactylomancy – is the scientific study of fingerprint for purposes of personality
interpretation.
Dermatoglyphics = is the science which deals with the study of skin pattern. It is
derived from two Greek words, Derma which means Skin and Glype which means
Carve.

Basic Principles of Fingerprint

1. Individuality
No two persons have the same fingerprint (based on Statistic Probability)
2. Infallibility
That fingerprint is a positive and reliable means of identification. It cannot be
easily be forged.
3. Constancy or permanency
That the friction ridge once fully developed its arrangement will remains the same
throughout man’s life.

Fingerprints
Is an impression design by the first joint of the fingers and thumb on smooth
surface through the media of ink, sweat or any substance capable of producing visibility.

Related Sciences to the Study of Fingerprint:

1. Chiroscopy – ( Greek word “ Cheir” – a hand, “Skopien” –to examine) is the science
which deals with the study of the prints of the palms of the hand.
2. Podoscopy – ( Greek word “Podo” – the foot, and Skopien – to examine)is the
science which deals with the study of the footprints.
3. Poroscopy – (Greek word “poros” – a pare, and “Skopien” – to examine) is the
scientific study of the arrangement of the sweat pores. (Edmond Locard- Father of
Poroscopy)

Phalange = is the skeletal finger covered with friction skin. It is made up of three bones.
a. Basal or proximal phalange – it is located at the base of the finger nearest the
palm.
b. Middle phalange = the next and above the basal done.
c. Terminal phalange = the particular bone covered with friction skin, having all
the different types of fingerprint patterns and it is located near the tip of the
finger.

Friction Skin – is an epidermal hairless skin found on the ventral or lower surface of
the hands and feet covered with ridges and furrows.(Also called as Papillary skin).
Components of the Friction Skin
1. Ridge surface
a. Ridge – the elevated or hill like structure/ the black lines with tiny white dots.
b.  Furrow – the depressed or canal like structure/ the white space between        
ridges.
2. Sweat pores – the tiny opening/ the tiny white dots.
3. Sweat duct – the passage way.
4. Sweat glands – the producers of sweat.

Fundamental Layers of the Friction Skin

1. Epidermis – the outermost layer
a. Stratum Corneum,
b. Stratum mucosum
2. Dermis – the inner layer containing the blood vessel, dermal papillae, various glands
and nerves.

Ridge Formation – (Ridges starts to form in the fingers and thumb during the 3rd to 4th
months of the fetus life.)
Dermal Papillae = are irregular pegs composed of delicate connective tissue
protruding and forming the ridges of the skin on the fingers, palms, toes and soles of the
feet.
Ridge Destruction – destruction of the friction skin can either be temporary or
permanent. Generally temporary destruction occur when only the epidermis layer of the
friction skin has been damage, while permanent damage can be injected to the friction
skin due to damage to the dermis layer.
General Rules on Ridge Destruction
a. Destruction of the Epidermis – temporary, dermis – permanent damage.
b. Cut == a depth of more than 1 mm will constitute permanent scar.
The Fingerprint Patterns
1. The Arch (5%)
a. Plain Arch (A) – is a pattern in which the ridges flows from one side to the other
side with a slight raise at the center.
b. Tented Arch (T) – is a type of pattern having either an angle, uptrust or an
incomplete loop form.
2. The Loop (60%)
Elements of loop
1. A core 3. A sufficient Recurve
2. A delta 4. At least one Ridge count
a. Radial Loop (RH=/. LH=\) is a type of loop pattern in which the slanting or looping
ridge flows towards the thumb finger.
b. Ulnar Loop (RH=\, LH=/) is a type of loop pattern in which the slanting or looping
ridge flows towards the little finger.
3. The Whorl (35%)
Basic Elements of Whorl
1. Two or more Deltas
2. At least one complete circuiting ridge
a. Plain Whorl (W)
At least one circuiting ridge is touched or crossed by the imaginary line
traversing between the two deltas.
b. Central Pocket Loop Whorl
No circuiting ridge within the pattern area is touched or cross by an
imaginary line drawn between the two deltas.
c. Double Loop Whorl
1. Two separate loop formation
2. Two Separate and distinct shoulder
3. Two deltas
d. Accidental Whorl
1. A combination of two different patterns with the exception of the plain arch.
2. Two deltas

Ridge Characteristics (Galton Details)

1. Ridge Dot (island ridge) – refers to a ridge formation in a form of a dot or period.

2. Bifurcation – a ridge formation in which a single ridge splits or divides into two or
more ridges. It resembles a fork shape.

3. Converging Ridge – two ridges that meets at a certain point

4. Diverging Ridge – two ridges that spread apart

5. Enclosure or Lake ridge – a single ridge that divides into two but does not remain
open and meet at a certain point to form the original single ridge.

6. Ending ridge – it refers to an abrupt end of a ridge

7. Type lines – is a diverging ridge that tends to surround the pattern area and serves
as a basic boundary of fingerprint impression.

8. Pattern Area – is a part of a loop of whorl pattern surrounded by the type lines and
consisting of the delta, the core and other ridges.

9. Recurving ridge – a single ridges that curves back to the direction where it started.

10. Sufficient Recurve – a recurving ridge which is complete with its should and free
from any appendage.

11. Appendage – is a short ridge found at the top or summit of a recurve

12. Rod or Bar – is a short of long ridge found inside the recurve and directed towards
the core

13. Obstruction ridge – is a short ridge found inside the recurve which blocks the inner
line of flow towards the core.

The Two Fingerprint Terminus (Focal Points)

1. The Delta (also called the outer terminus) is a point along a ridge formation found
at the center or near the center of the diverging type lines.
2. The Core (also known as the heart or the inner terminus) usually found at the
center or innermost recurve.

Types of fingerprint impression

1. Rolled Impression – are fingerprint impression taken individually by rolling each
finger from one side to the other side and from the tip to the end of the first joint.
2. Plain Impression – are impression made by simultaneously pressing the finger to the
card, use as a reference to classification.

Basic Instrument in taking prints:

1. Ink Slab – is a metallic or glass plate where the ink is spread for purpose
2. Ink Roller – is a rubber made roller designed to spread the fingeprint ink to
the slab.
3. Fingerprint Ink – is a special form of ink designed for taking fingerprint
impression sometimes submitted with a printer’s ink.
4. Fingerprint card – is an 8” x 8” card designed for recording fingerprint
impression
5. Card holder – usually a fixed card holder placed in a flat table designed to
prevent the movement of the card in the course of the taking of the fingerprint.
Basic Rule in taking Fingerprints:
1. Subject should be instructed to stand straight but relax facing the slab.
2. The subject hand should be completely dry
3. Thumb fingers are rolled towards the body while other fingers are rolled away
from the body.

Fingerprint Classification Formula:

1. Checking
2. Blocking-out – is the process if placing under each pattern the letter symbols
representing their pattern interpretation prior to the actual classification
formula.
3. CLASSIFICATION FORMULA
a. Primary Division. Always represented by a numerical value assigned
to whorl patterns depending on what finger they appear.
Arch and Loop are non-numerical patterns.
A, T, / \ = Zero (0)
Whorl patterns.(WCDX)
Finger 1 and 2 Right Thumb and Right Index (16)
Finger 3 and 4 Right middle and Right Ring (8)
Finger 5 and 6 Right little and Left Thumb (4)
Finger 7 and 8 Left Index and Left middle (2)
Finger 9 and 10 Left Ring and Left Little (1)

The sum of the numerical value assigned to even number of finger represent the
numerator and the sum of the assigned value to odd number represent the denominator
Plus the pre-established fraction of l/1 to complete the primary.
b. Secondary – Represented by Capital and small letter combination
based on interpretation made during the blocking.
Capital letter – derived from the index fingers which can be
(A, T, U, R, W, C, D or X).
Small letter – derived from the thumb, middle, ring and little
fingers.
It only includes the radial loop (r), plain arch (a) and tented arch (t).
c. Sub-secondary Division – derived by ridge counting of loop and ridge
Tracing of whorl found at the index, middle ring fingers only.

c.1 Ridge Counting of Loop

Index Finger 1 to 9 Ridge Count =I
10 or more =0
Middle Finger 1 to 10 Ridge Count =I
11 or more =0
Ring Finger 1 to 13 Ridge Count =I
14 or more = 0

c.2 Ridge Tracing of Whorl

 Inner Whorl (I) When the tracing goes above or inside the right delta
and there are three (3) or more intervening ridges.

Outer Whorl (O) when the tracing ridge goes below or outside the
right delta and there are three (3) or more intervening ridges.

Meeting Whorl (M) when there are only two orless intervening ridge/s

c.3 Plain Arch and Tented Arch are always dash (-)

d. Major Division (Taken from Thumb fingers only)

d.1 Whorl = Ridge tracing = I, O, or M.
d.2 Loop = Ridge Counting = S, M or L
Table 1 Table 2
1 to 11 = S         1 to 17 = S
12 to 16 = M 18 to 22 = M
17 or more = L 23 or more = L
d.3 Arch = dash (-)

e. Final Division (derived from the little fingers only).

e.1 Loop and Whorl are both subject to ridge counting.
Radial or Ulnar
Plain or Central pocket loop Whorl = will be treated as an ulnar
loop.
Double loop Whorl – get the ridge count of the top loop
Accidental Whorl = get the least ridge count.
e.2 Arch = dash (-)

f. Key Division = derived by getting the ridge count of the first (l) loop
except the little fingers. In the absence of the loop, the first whorl will be
ridge counted for the purpose.

Reference Classification Formula = is an additional formula serve as a reference in case

of doubtful prints. Place the bottom of the classification formula.
Latent Prints = prints found at the scene of the crime.

Types of latent prints

1. Visible prints = are those prints which are readily visible to the naked eye. It can
either be: Molded prints or Prints made by contamination with colored
substance.
2. Invisible prints = prints that are generally made by sweat or perspiration that
requires developing for visibility.

Factors Affecting Stability or Prints at the Crime Scene

a. Subject Factor
b. Nature of the surface
 c. Climatic Condition

Methods of Developing Prints:

1. Dusting Method = considered as the simplest and traditional methods used in
developing prints at the scene of the crime. (Use of Powder and Brush)
2. Rolling Method = basically used in developing prints in paper done by simply
rolling the paper with powder spreading in its surface.
3. Fuming Methods = done by using chemical fumes such as Iodine and
Ammonium Fumes.
4. Silver Nitrate method – done by spraying a 5 percent solution of silver nitrate
to the surface of the paper.
5. Ninhydrin Method = is considered as one of the best method used in
developing prints in paper.
6. Laser Method = is a modern method of tracing and developing prints.
Post Mortem Fingerprints = are prints taken from a diseased person.