CRJ 311: Forensic Science

Lecture 9 - Fingerprints and Ballistics

1. History of Forensic Science “Bertillon’s System”
a. System of body measurements used to categorize and identify people using 9
measurements.
b. What is the probability of two people having the same measurements?

2. History of Fingerprinting
a. Francis Galton:
b. Who is Will West?

3. Anatomy of Skin
a. Skin is composed of three layers:
i. Epidermis:
ii. Dermis:
iii. Hypodermis:

4. Functions of Skin
a. Skin has many functions? What are they

5. What is a Fingerprint?
a. Fingerprint:

b. Three properties that make a fingerprint useful for identification are:

6. How are Fingerprints Formed?

a. Fingerprints are formed from what?

7. Classification of Fingerprints “Loops”

a. Loops:

b. Subgroups?
c. Delta and Core?

8. Classification of Fingerprints “Whorls”

a. Whorls:

b. Subgroups?
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 9. Classification of Fingerprints “Arches
a. Arches:

b. Subgroups?

10. Henry System of Classification

a. Henry System:

b. FBI System:

11. FBI System of Classification

a. How many groups?

12. Ridge Classification “Individualization”

a. Fingerprints are classified according to basic patterns or groups.
b. Who do you individualize them?
c. What are minutiae points?

13. Types of Fingerprints

a. Plastic:

i. Types?
b. Visible:

i. Types?
c. Latent:

i. How are they lifted?

14. Visualizing Latent Prints “Powder”

a. Powder:

b. What is it used on?

c. Color?

15. Visualizing Latent Prints “Chemical Methods”

a. More effective for what types of surfaces?
i. Iodine fuming:
ii. Ninhydrin:
iii. Superglue fuming:

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16. Other Impressions
a. Rolled:

b. Digital:

17. IAFIS
a. Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS):
b. How many records are in IAFIS?

18. Collection and Preservation of Prints

a. Small objects:
b. Large objects:
c. Where is the tape placed?

19. Presenting Prints as Evidence

a. Legal requirements?
b. How many minutiae points are generally accepted?

20. Introduction to Ballistics

a. Structural variations and irregularities?
b. Individualization?

21. Guns and Violence

a. High percentage?
b. What has advancements in forensic science helped?
c. ATF?

22. Beltway Snipers

23. Gun Barrel Markings & Striations

a. Markings:

b. Striations:

24. Collection of Firearm Evidence

a. How should firearms be handled?

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 25. Collection of Bullet Evidence
a. How are bullets collected?

26. Comparison Microscope “Firearms”

a. The microscope observes two bullets simultaneously within the same field of view.

27. NIBIN
a. National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN):

28. Tool Marks

a. Tool marks: any impression, cut, gouge or abrasion caused by a tool coming into contact
with another object.
i. What does it reveal?

29. Comparison Microscope “Tool Marks”

a. Used to identify the tool.
b. When practical, the entire or part bearing the tool mark should be submitted to the lab for
examination.
c. Should the investigator fit the suspect tool in the tool mark?