Personal Identification –

Ronaldo M. Sucgang, RCrim, MSCJ

What is Fingerprint?
• As an IMPRESSION:

It is the reproduction of on some smooth surfaces of the

pattern or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the
end joint of the fingers or thumb, through the medium of ink
or any coloring substance capable of producing visibility.
• As a SCIENCE:

is the most positive

means of personal
identification

It is the identification of person by means of the ridges

appearing on the fingers, on the palms and on the soles of

the feet.
PRINCIPLES OF
FINGERPRINTS
1) INDIVIDUALITY:

That the complex of the ridge details in a single fingerprints

or even part one is not duplicated in any other finger.
• is the most positive means of personal
identification. It has been found out
that the intricate pattern on the fingers
are permanent, individual and never
undergo a natural change, except in the
size of the pattern during the life time
of individual.
2) PERMANENCY:

That fingerprints do not change in its ridge

characteristics of fingerprint pattern through out or
life time of an individual and they persist after DEATH
until the skin is decomposed.
• Friction skin patterns/designs/
formations appear on the finger tips,
palms of the hands and soles of the feet
five (5) months before birth this
remained unchanged during the life of
individual until decomposition sets in
after DEATH.
3) INFALLIBILITY:

That fingerprint is absolute and cannot be

forged.
• FINGERPRINTS offer an INFALLIBLE
(unerring) means of personal
identification. This is an essential
explanation for their having supplanted
other methods of establishing identity
of criminals reluctant to admit previous
arrests. Other personal characteristics
change but fingerprints do not.
Ridge Destruction:
1. Doing manual work - temporary
2. Diseased person – temporary
3. Warts - temporary
4. Creases – Folding of a skin temporary
5. Ulcers – temporary
6. Burn – totally destroyed the ridges (scar)
7. Scars – deep wound permanent scars

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QUESTION?

Can you force a

person to be
fingerprinted?
Over view of Latent

prints
What is Latent Prints?
-M eans something hidden or concealed
- markings left by the oily matters or
perspiration
-exuded from the finger tips or palms upon any
substances which the finger/palms may have
touched.
Latent print means?

 Fingerprints found at the crime scene,

known as chance impressions and means something

hidden or concealed.
Latent prints define as?

• are those markings usually rather indistinct,

left by the oily matters or perspiration exuded
from the finger tips or palms upon any substances
which the fingers/ palms may have touched.
CAUSES of the
MARKINGS?
1.Ridges or the raised strip of the
skin.

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2. Oily or greasy hands.
3. Sweat or perspiration.
WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF
THE SWEAT?
1. 98.5% to 99.5% is water
2. 5% to 1.5% solid matter= 1/3 salt, 2/3 urea, volatile fatty acids,
albumin acids, etc.
THE COMPOSITION OF SWEAT IS NOT
CONSTANT.

It is influenced by:

Climate
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influenced by:

Nutrition or food that the subject eat.

influenced by:

Impurities on the skin surface

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