Investigation Techniques

CHAPTER 5: SUSPECT
IDENTIFICATION
 CHAPTER 5: LEARNING
OUTCOMES
• Upon completion of the topic, students should be
able to:

q DNA identification
q Biometric identification
q Fingerprint Identification
 DNA IDENTIFICATION

•DNA is the most powerful tool

if:
- properly collected &
preserved
- achieved in both legal &
scientific ways

•Development in digital
technology enable DNA
identification
 CODIS
softwar
e

• Every state has their own DNA

database:

allow DNA profiling from criminals

convicted with different crimes
allow comparison of DNA profiling
between state, local & national crime
laboratories
allow the linking of suspect to serial
 CODIS
INDICES

Missing persons
Criminal index index

Convict Unidentifi Referenc

Referenc
ed Forensic
Forensi
offender c index
index ed persons ee index
index
index index
 CONVICTED OFFENDER
INDEX

•DNA profiling of
criminals convicted of
specific crimes
•Ranging from
misdemeanors to
sexual assault &
murder
•Convicted criminals
must provide a
biological sample to be
 FORENSIC INDEX

•DNA profiling of
crime scene
evidence
•Blood, saliva,
semen
MISSING PERSONS INDEX

Unidentified Reference index

persons index

DNA profiling from

recovered remains:
- hair/bone/teeth

DNA profiling from related missing

persons
 CODIS
INDICES

1) Matching profiles between convicted

offender and forensic indices -> could
identify suspect(s)

1) Matching profiles within forensic index

can link different crime scenes together
-> could identify serial criminals
 CODIS
INDICES

1)Matching profiles could be used as

“probable cause” before arresting
the suspect:
-for obtaining a new evidence
from the
suspect to be further confirmed
by the
crime laboratory, prior to arrest
 CODIS
DESIGN
1) Local DNA Index System (LDIS)
- DNA profiling can be transmitted
to state &
national levels
2) State DNA Index System (SDIS)
- communication path between the
local &
national levels
3) National DNA Index System (NDIS)
- allow state laboratories to
 BIOMETRIC
IDENTIFICATION

• retina
• iris
• fingerprint
• handprint
• face
• signature
• voice
 RETINA SCAN

• Based on the network of capillaries

at retina
- aka retinal capillary pattern
• Must align with the eye
• Must in close contact
• Can change due to cataracts,
glaucoma, diabetes
• Exposure to the light can have
 IRIS SCAN

• Based on the colored part of the eye

- aka retinal capillary pattern
• Must align with the eye
• Can be taken from a greater
distance
• Stable throughout life
• Does not affected by contact lenses &
glasses
 Eye Scan Retina Iris
Type
Distance Close 5-10
contact feet
Initial scan 40 sec 20 sec

Subsequent 20 sec 2sec

scan
 FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION

•An impression formed by friction ridges

of a human finger or palm
•Every friction ridges form:
-> various characteristics or shapes
-> appear at different place or
sequence
 FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION

•No two fingers have the same ridge

characteristics
-> fingerprint individuality
•Fingerprint individuality does not
depend on:
1) age
2) size
3) gender
4) race
 FINGERPRINT
CLASSIFICATION

5 MAIN CLASSES

•Arch/plain arch
•Tented arch
•Right loop
•Left loop
•Whorl
 FINGERPRINT
CLASSIFICATION

ARCH/PLAIN ARCH

• Formed by ridges entering from one side of

the print & exit on another

TENTED ARCH

• Similar with arch, but has a spike or “tent”

in the center
 FINGERPRINT
CLASSIFICATION

RIGHT/RADIAL LOOP

• Based on the direction towards

radius (thumb/radial) bones

LEFT/ULNAR LOOP

• Based on the direction towards

ulna (pinky finger)bones
 FINGERPRINT
CLASSIFICATION

WHORL

• Spiral pattern

ACCIDENTAL WHORL

• is the combination of 2 different

patterns
•DELTA: point where lines from
three directions meet with one
another
-> arch-no delta
-> loop-1delta
-> whorl-2 deltas

•CORE: point of center area

-> maybe multiple cores or no
cores
•LOOP is the most
common fingerprint
pattern

•less common patterns

-> double-loop
-> peacock’s eye/
central pocket whorl
-> accidental whorl
FINGERPRINT MINUTIAE

•Points where
ridge structure
changes
-> end of the ridge
-> branching of the
ridge
 FINGERPRINT DETECTION

3 FINGERPRINT TYPES

•Patent print
•Plastic print
•Latent print
 PATENT PRINT

•Readily visible as
fingerprint by naked-
eye
•Fingers colored by
materials
-> chocolate, blood, ink,
paint, oil or toner
 PLASTIC PRINT

•Readily visible as
fingerprint by naked-
eye
•Fingers come into
contact with soft
things:
-> wet cement, wet
putty, wet plaster, dust,
soap
 LATENT PRINT

•Not readily visible as fingerprint by

naked-eye
•Print visualization/development:
1) powders
2) ninhydrin
3) silver nitrate
4) superglue fuming
5) small particle reagent (SPR)
 POWDERS

•Varying color, density, polarity &

consistency
•Powder will react with moist & oil in
the fingerprint
 NINHYDRIN

•Reacts with amino acids in sweat

•Purple-blue
•Good with porous surface
•Paper, cardboard, light-colored woods
(unvarnished)
•Reaction time 1-24 hr (faster with
heating to 100˚C)
 SILVER NITRATE

•Reacts with chlorides in skin

secretions
-> form silver chloride
•Black
•Good with porous surface
•paper, plastics, cardboard, light-
colored woods (unvarnished)
 SUPERGLUE FUMING

•Cyanoacrylate reacts with residues

bearing latent print in an airtight
container
•Whitish deposit
•Good with rough, nonporous
surface
•metal, plastic bags, formica,
SMALL PARTICLE REAGENT
(SPR)

•Reacts with fatty components in skin

secretions
•White, grey or black deposit
•Process items that are wet/have been
in water
HANDLING & PRESERVING
PRINTS

•Must be photographed
•Lift the print or preserve item where
fingerprint lies upon
•Using transparent adhesive lift tape
•Lift tape is provided with a
black/white card
-> it is used to place the lifted
 Links for extra reading:
• http://www.m2sys.com/blog/biometric-hardware/iris-recognition-vs-
retina-scanning-what-are-the-differences/
• http://handlines.blogspot.com/2005/09/do-you-have-unusual-
fingerprints.html