Borga, Alexa S.

Lesson 3 PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES AND ITS APPLIED

PROCEDURES

PHOTOGRAPHY - originated from a Greek word “PHOTOS” meaning Light and

GRAPHOS which means “WRITE.” In 1851, Forensic photography was established in
Belgium and in 1870’s it became an advanced technology.
-used to help prosecute a crime because the photography can capture things such as
evidence that can’t physically be collected.

Forensic photography - includes methods of photographing the scenes of crimes,

searches, investigatory experimentation, living persons, corpses, documents, weapons
used in crimes, traces of substances, and similar evidence. It makes use of both
recording and investigative techniques.
– sometimes referred to as police photography, forensic imaging or crime scene
photography – is the art of producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene or an
accident using photography for the benefit of a court or to aid in an investigation.

Purpose of crime scene photography is to provide a true and accurate record of the
crime scene and physical evidence present by recording the original scene and related
areas.

PORTRAIT PARLE - (spoken picture) is a verbal, accurate and picturesque

description of the person identified. Such information may be given by the witness,
relatives, or other persons who are acquainted with the physical features of the person
to be identified.
The following basic requirements must be included in the verbal description;
1. General impression, type, personality, apparent social stature.
2. Age and sex
3. Race or color
4. Height
5. Weight
6. Built – thin, slender, medium or stout
7. Posture – erect, slouching, round shoulder
8. Head-size-shape
9. Hair – Color, length, baldness
10. Face – General impression
a. Forehead – High low, bulging or receding
b. Eyebrows – Brushy or thin, shape
c. Mustache – Length, color, shape
d. Ears – size, shape, size of lobe, angle of set
e. Eyes – small, medium or large; color, eyeglasses
f. Cheeks – High, low or prominent cheek bones, flat or sunken
g. Nose – short, medium or big; or long; aqua line or flat or pug
h. Mouth – Wide, small or medium; general impression
i. Lips – shape: Thickness: color
j. Teeth: shade, condition, defect, missing elements
k. Chin – size, shape, general impression
l. Jaw – Length, shape lean, heavy or medium.
11. Neck – shape, thickness, length, Adam’s apples
12. Shoulder – Width and shape
13. Wrist – size, shape
14. Hands – Length, size, hair, condition of the palms
15. Fingers – Length, thickness, stains, shape of nails
16, Arms –Long, medium or short, muscular. Normal or thin, thick
17. Feet – size, deformities.

Cartographic sketch/Skilled Investigative Illustrator - rogue’s gallery or photographic

files of wanted or missing persons for cocomparison.

Iris Recognition - process of identifying people by the pattern of their irises through the
use of software and cameras designed to specifically collect iris images.
Iris recognition or iris scanning process of using visible and near-infrared light to take a
high contrast photograph of a person’s iris. Form of biometric technology in the same
category as face recognition and fingerprinting.

Graphology- Greek “graphein”or “graphe” meaning to write. “logos”, meaning to study

or reason, sciences
Graphology - science of the study of graphism (graphos: writing/logos: science) and
handwritten graphic symbols that represent words and ideas.
Analysis of the physical characteristics and patterns of handwriting with attempt to
identify the writer, indicate the psychological state at the time of writing, or evaluate
personality characteristics.
Forensic graphology helps analyzing handwriting on ransom notes in kidnapping
cases or blackmailing letters on in the cases of pen poison letters. helps in investigation
by determining the psychological state of the writer, identifying the writer as well as
helping in criminal profiling.
Abb Jean-Hippolyte Michon in 1897 founder of The Society of Graphology and the
1st person to give scientific grounds to the handwriting analysis.
Graphism – any graphic impression, legible or illegible; punctuation signs,
mathematical language, doodles. paragraphs.
Camilo Baldi - first person that carried out systematic and practical observations on
the way of handwriting in 1622.
Integrative Graphology - Focuses on various strokes and their relations to personality
of an individual.
Holistic Graphology - Based on form, movement during writing, and use of space.
Graphotherapy - science of changing personality through handwriting.
Graphopsychology - study and practice of advanced graphological techniques which
offer a scientific interpretation of an individual’s personality based on handwriting and, in
part, on doodles and drawing. The word was coined by Italian graphologist Marco
Marchesan.

DNA FINGERPRINTING
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Profiling - De Ungria analysis of DNA (72 hrs) is
known as the most powerful tool for human identification because of its application in
identity testing and parentage determination.
It is present in all human cells and is the same in every cell which composed of sugar,
phosphate and nitrogen bases namely, Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C) and
Thymine (T).
Sources of DNA
1.From the victim
2. From human handlers such as crime scene investigators, medico-legal officers,
forensic analysts and lawyers.
3. From the perpetrator of the crime.
DNA Fingerprinting (Alec Jeffreys 1984) method of identification that compares
fragments of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing.
Constructed by first extracting a DNA sample from body tissue or fluid such as hair,
blood, or saliva. (1988) 1st Criminal Conviction.

Gait analysis is known as the study of human locomotion. Forensic gait analysis or
Forensic gait comparison is defined as the assessment and evaluation of the gait
patterns and features of the person/suspect and comparing these features with the
scene of the crime evidence for criminal/personal identification.
Aims to identify people by a sequence of walking images, the most important advantage
of gait identification is that it can be done at a distance.
The Gate Cycle
1.intial double stance
2.Single limb stance
3.Terminal double limb stance
Forensic podiatry - application of podiatric knowledge and experiences in forensic
investigations showing the association of an individual with a scene of a crime, or to
answer any other legal question concerned with the foot or footwear that requires
knowledge of the functioning foot.

Types of Forensic Gait Analysis

A. Human-based/Observer-based approach.
1. photo-anthropometry-measurements of set landmarks.
2. morphometric analysis-taken from photographs in the morphometric analysis
3. Superimposition
B. Computer-based human-assisted. It involves algorithms that can either be model-
based or appearance based. The model based approach work on fixed landmarks for
extracting the features of gait.

Poroscopy is a method of personal identification in which the characteristics of sweat

pores on the friction ridge of palmar and plantar surfaces are examined.
The scientific examination of sweat pores/glands. Greek words: Poros – a pare,
skopien – to examine.
Points to Consider:
1. Number of Pores
2. Distance between pores (interspacing)
3. Size of pores
4. Shape of pores
5. Position of the Pores on the ridge.

Podoscopy – Scientific examination of the sole of the foot.

Greek word : Podo – sole/foot skopein-to examine
study of the plantar area of the foot for the purpose of identification. It is the scientific
examination or study of the soles of the feet. “A term coined by Wentworth and Wilder
as a possible word, if ever needed , referring to the study of the soles.
Podoscopy is life-size assessment of foot using the principle of mirror reflections.

Ridgeology – study of the uniqueness of all friction ridge skin formations and their use
as a means of personal identification. This term was coined by David Ashbaugh of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police on 1983.
Ridgeology refers to a forensic identification science that associated with all of the
ridges on the volar areas and not just on the finger tips as Dactyloscopy or Fingerprint
identification implies.

Lesson 4 DACTYLOSCOPY/FINGERPRINT
- Prehistoric Indian picture writing of hand w/ crudely marked ridge patterns
fingerprints impressions on clay tablets recording business transactions in
ancient Babylon, and clay seals of ancient Chinese origin bearing thumb prints,
were found as evidence of early use of fingerprint as identification of persons
impressing the prints. Friction ridge skin impressions were used as proof of a
person’s identity in China perhaps as early as 300 B.C., in Japan as early as
A.D. 702, and in the United States since 1902.
- Domestic Law enacted in A.D. 702 “In case a husband cannot write, let him hire
another man to write the document and after the husband’s name, sign with his
own index finger”
- 1858 by Sir William James Herschel, used fingerprints in India to prevent
fraudulent collection of army pay accounts and for identity on other documents.
- Dr. Henry Faulds Nature on the practical use of fingerprints for the identification
of criminals. His argument was supported by his studies and successful
experiments on permanency of one’s fingerprint.
- Sir Francis Galton, a noted British Anthropologist and scientist Charles
Darwin’s cousin, devised the first scientific method of classifying fingerprint
patterns.
- 1891, Juan Vucetich, an Argentinian Police, used a system of fingerprint as
criminal identification based on Sir Francis Galton’s studies. (1st as practical
uses of fingerprint by law enforcerment.)
- Chinese – are the ones noted to be the first user of Fingerprint.
They use of fingerprints are symbolism in the early part of their rituals until they
utilize it in the signing of a contract on the part of the illiterate.
In China fingerprint is called “Hua Chi”

Personalities in the Study of Fingerprints

1,MARCELO MALPHIGI Grandfather of Dactyloscopy
In 1686, Marcelo Malphigi, a professor of Anatomy at the University of Bologna,
noted in his treatise; ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints. A layer of skin;
“Malphigi layer, which is approximately 1.8mm thick. Malphigi is credited with
being the first to use the newly invented microscope for medical studies.
An Italian Anatomist, who published his work “De Externo Tactus Organo”
depicting the construction of the layers of the human skin, He described the
ridges found on the palmar surface of the hand which course in diverse and
designs and the pores which served as the mouth of the sweat glands.
He was noted for the discovery of the inner and outer structure of the skin.
Dermis – inner layer Epidermis – outer layer

2. 1788 – JOHANN CHRISTOPH ANDREAS MAYER

A German Doctor and Anatomist who published a book which was an atlas of
anatomical illustrations of Fingerprint. His remarks contains a statement which
clearly pronounced one of the fundamental principles of Fingerprint Science
although the arrangement of the skin, ridges is never duplicated in two persons;
His book included detailed drawings of patterns and Friction Skin. He
wrote: "He was the first to state that the prints of two different persons are never
alike".
3. 1823- JOHN EVANGELIST PURKINJE Father of Dactyloscopy
he described nine types of fingerprint patterns. "Commentary of Physiological
Examination of the Organs of Vision and the Cutaneous System” describing the
ridges, giving their names and establishing certain rules of classification (nine
groups) and discovered in his study of physiology that the skin on the inner
surface of the hands bore patterns.
4.1856- HERMAN WELCKER
He took the prints of his own palms and after forty-one years (1879) he printed
the same palms to prove that prints do not change except for some scratches
due to old age.
5.1858 – SIR WILLIAM JAMES HERSCHEL (FATHER OF CHIROSCOPY)
The English first began using fingerprints in July of 1858,
first used fingerprints on native contracts. Herschel had Rajyadhar Konai, a local
businessman, impress his hand print on a contract.
Herschel established the principle of “Persistence” and “Immutability”. Sir
Herschel’s private conviction that all fingerprints were unique to the individual, as
well as permanent throughout that individual’s life, inspired him to expand their
use. He introduces the use of fingerprints to prevent impersonation, and
suggested that this practice should be more Universally used.

6. 1880 – Dr. Henry Faulds took up the study of “skin-furrows” after noticing
finger marks on specimens of prehistoric pottery.
A learned and industrious man, Dr. Faults not only recognized the importance of
fingerprints as a means of identification, but devised a method of classification
was well. In 1880 he advocated the use of fingerprint in the detection of crimes.
His article “On The Skin – Furrows of the Hand”.
He is also credited with the first fingerprint identification of a greasy fingerprint
on an alcohol bottle.
7. 1882 – Gilbert Thompson, used his own thumb print on a document to
prevent forgery. This is the first known use of fingerprints in the Uniter States.

8. 1883 – Arthur Kollmann first researcher to address the formation of friction

ridges on the fetus and the radom physical stresses and tension s which may
have played a part in their growth.
9. 1888 – Francis Galton He devised a practical system of filing based on the
ridge patterns.
In 1892, “Fingerprints” establishing the individuality and permanence of
fingerprints. It concluded the first classification system for fingerprints.
"That fingerprints do not change over the course of an individual’s lifetime,
and that no two fingerprints are exactly the same”.
He was able to discover the three families fingerprints patterns – Arch, Loop and
Whorl. first scientist of friction skin identification who established the first Civil
Bureau of Personal Identification in London, England.

10. 1891- Juan Vucetich Argentine Police Official began the first fingerprint files
based on Galton pattern types. He developed his own system of classifying prints
that was officially adopted in Agentina and was used in most Spanish speaking
country. He was able to identify a woman by the name of Rojas, who had
murdered her two sons and cut her own throat in an attempt to place blame on
another.
11.1897 – Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose
On 12 June 1897, the Council of the Governor General of India approved a
committee report that fingerprints should be used for classification of criminal
records.
12.1900 - Sir Edward Richard Henry Father of Fingerprints
Henry issued an order to the Bengali Police that criminal record forms should not
only display prisoners anthropometric measurements but also the prisoner/s
rolled fingerprint impression.
NEHEMIAH GREW
Published a report before the Royal Society of London England describing the
ridges and the pores of the hands and feet.
GOVARD BIDLOO
Published a thesis “Anatomia Humanis Corporis” which emphasize the
appearance and arrangement of the ridges of the thumb due to their importance.
MARY E. HOLLAND
The first American Instructress in Dactyloscopy
1912- DR. EDMOND LOCARD Father of Poroscopy, Locard established the
Institution of Criminalistics in 1910. “When two objects come into contact there is
an exchange of material from each to the other”.
Locard studies and investigated identification using the position and variation of
pores as unique ridge characteristics. He presented evidence of identification in
one case at Court using poroscopy.
Thomas Bewick wood engraver who included fingerprints in three wood cuts.
Sherlock Holmes first solve a crime using fingerprints in “The Adventure of the
Norwood Builder” (1903), which at the time was very unusual.
 OFFICIAL USE OF FINGERPRINT IN USA
1883 - Mark Twain book, Life on the Mississippi, a murderer was identified by
the use of fingerprint identification.
1896 – International Association of Chief of Police (IACP), Establish National
Bureau of Criminal Identification, for the exchange of arrest information.
1902 - The New York Civil Service Commission required all applicants to be
fingerprinted.
Henry F. Forest – Chief Medical Examiner of New York Civil Service
Commission and an American Preacher in fingerprint science in the US for the
New York Civil Service Commission to prevent applicants from having better-
qualified persons to take the rest for them.
1903 – The New York State system began the first systematic use of fingerprints
in U.S. for criminals.
The William West - Will West Case at a Federal Prison in Leavenworth,
Kansas, changed the way that people were classified and identified.
1905 – U.S. Army begins using fingerprints. U.S. Department of Justice forms
the Bureau of Criminal Identification in Washington, DC to provide a centralized
reference collection of fingerprint card.
1907 – U.S. Navy begins using fingerprints. U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau
of Criminal Identification moves to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary where it is
staffed at least partially by inmates.
1908 – The first official fingerprint card was developed.
- U.S. Marine Corps begins using fingerprints.
1911 – First Criminal Conviction was based solely upon fingerprint evidence ,
Illinois, USA (People vs Jennings)
1915 – Inspector Harry H. Caldwell wrote numerous letters to “Criminal
Identification Operators” in August 1915, asking them to meet in Oakland for the
purpose of forming an organization to further the aims of the identification
profession.
1916 – First organized school for teaching fingerprint (Institute of Applied
Science-Chicago).
1918 – Edmond Locard wrote that if 12 points *Galton’s Details) were the same
between two fingerprints,
1924 – The Identification Division of the FBI was established after J. Edgar
Hoover was appointed as Director.
1980 – First computer data base of fingerprints was developed, which came to
be known as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, (AFIS).

Rojas murder case is considered to be that first Homicide solved by Fingerprint

Evidence.
 David Hepburn The Papillary Ridges on the Hands and Feet of Monkeys and
Men” on the evolution of the volar pads and named two of the volar the
hypothenar and thenar.

FINGERPRINT EVENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

Mr. Jones (1900) – he first taught fingerprint in the Philippine Costabulary.
Bureau of Prison – Records shows that in 1918, CARPETAS (Commitment and
Conviction Records)already used fingerprint.
Lt. Asa and N. Darby – established modern and complete fingerprint files for
Philippine Commonwealth during the reoccupation of the Philippines by the
American Forces.
Generoso Reyes – First Filipino Fingerprint Technician employed by the
Philippine Constabulary.
Isabela Bernales – first Filipina Fingerprint technician.
Capt.Thomas Dugan, New York Police Department and Flaviano Guerrero, FBI
Washington gave the first examination in Fingerprinting in 1927 and Agustin
Patricio of the Philippines, top the examination.
People of the Philippines vs. Medina – first conviction based on fingerprint
leading judicial decision in the Philippine Jurisprudence.
Plaridel Education Institution – now known as the Philippine College of
Criminology, the first government recognized school to teach the Science of
Fingerprint and other Police Sciences.
The First National Bureau of Identification (1924) - was created by the Act of
Congress. The Bureau was established with the U.S. DOJ (Washington D.C.)

DACTYLOSCOPY - the Science which deals with the study of fingerprints as a means
of Personal Identification.
DACTYLOGRAPHY – the study of fingerprints for the purpose of identification.
DACTYLOMANCY – An attempt at character reading through the pattern of fingerprints.
DERMATOGLYPHICS – are the lines, tracings and designs on the skin of the fingers,
palms and soles.
POLYDACTYL – a hand having more than the required number of fingers.
_ CHIROSCOPY – scientific examination of the palm of the hand. Greek words:
Cheir - palm/hand skopien – to examine
_ PODOSCOPY - scientific examination of the sole of the foot.
Greek words: Podo-sole/foot skopien – to examine
_ POROSCOPY - scientific examination of sweat pores/glands.
Greek words:
Poros – a pare skopien – to examine

Lecture 5 THE FINGERPRINT SYSTEM

3 principles of fingerprint:
● Formation - Fingerprints develop early in fetal life before birth.
● Uniqueness - The details of a person’s prints are unique to them and only them.
Even IDENTICAL TWINS do not have identical fingerprints.
● Persistence A person’s fingerprints will remain the same throughout their life.
Dogmatic Principles of Fingerprints
● PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUALITY (VARIATION, UNIQUENESS). no two
fingerprints of different persons have ever been found to be identical or exactly
alike in all respect that the ridges appearing in fingerprint patters of identical
twins are never found to be identical to each other.
● PRINCIPLES OF CONSTANCY (PERMANENCY, IMMUTABILITY) papillary
ridges are immutable, perennial and individual from the third month of the
embryonic while the child is still at the mother’s womb and it will never change
util decomposition sets in after death.
● PRINCIPLE OF INFALLIBILITY – this states that the fingerprint can never be
forged or copied. Fingerprint is a reliable means of identification.
Friction Skin – is the epidermal hairless skin found on the ventral/lower surface of the
hands and feet. It is the skin covering of the palms of hands and soles of feet. These
are strips of skin on the inside if the end joints of our fingers and thumbs by which
fingerprints are made.
SKIN is an essential organ of the human body.
two main layers: outer skin or epidermis, inner or true skin, known as the dermis
Creases reveal themselves as white lines on the print and appear to arise from two
separate causes namely pathological condition and those occupational hazard.
Temporary damage results when only the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin is injured.
Permanent This is an injury of a more deep-seated nature resulting in damage to the
dermal papillae of the skin which will permanently disturb the ridges and generally result
in a scar.
Fingerprint as a Science – is the identification of person by means of the ridges
appearing on the fingers, palms, and on the soles of the feet.
Fingerprint as an impression - is the reproduction on some smooth surface of the
pattern or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the first joint of the finger or
thumb through the medium of ink or any coloring substance capable of producing
visibility.
There are however other ways in which fingerprint evidence can be of value:
1. To prove that a fingerprint recovered from a deceased person is the same as
another produced impression thereby establishing identity;
2. To prove that impression recovered from a property (generally stolen property)
are those of the alleged owner of the property thus establishing ownership of the
property;
3. Prevent impersonation
 4. Speedy identification of wrong doer
5. Serve as evidence
6. Helps identify victims of disaster, flood, etc.
7. Identify bodies, mutilated beyond recognition
8. Aids judiciary in penal treatment
9. Prevent criminal substitution of newly born
Tangible fingerprints are prints seen by the naked eye; such as markings made by
coloring substance like dust, blood and oil, etc. which were left by the fingers, palms
and soles of the feet on a particular surface of an objects.
Intangible fingerprints – are those invisible prints, which cannot be seen with the
naked eye such as those prints on porous or absorbent materials.
Semi-visible prints – are those found on soft materials like soapS, patty and clay.
Kinds of Ridge Characteristics
1 Bifurcation - the point where a ridge divides or forks to become equally strong
ridges to run either parallel or to diverge. The bifurcation may point either a clockwise or
counter clock-wise.
2 Converging Ridge – A ridge formation whose closed end is angular and serves as a
point of convergence, usually pointed and abrupt forming a “V” shape.
3 Diverging ridges - two ridges that are flowing side by side and suddenly separating
or spreading apart.
4 Enclosure (Lake or eyelet) – a ridge that divides into two branches and meets to
form the original ridge.
5 Ending Ridge – an end point of a ridge with abrupt ending.
A single friction ridge that terminates within the friction ridge structure.
6 Recurving or looping ridge – a kind of ridge formation that curves back in the
direction from which it started.
7 Sufficient recurve – a recurving ridge complete in it shoulder and is free from any
appendage.
8 Appendage – a short ridge found at the top or summit of a recurving ridge.
9 Rod or bar - a short or long ridge found inside the innermost recurving ridge of a loop
pattern.
10 Obstruction Ridge – short ridge found inside the innermost recurving ridge that
spoiled the innermost flow towards the center of the pattern.
11 Short Ridge - a ridge of extremely short length having frequent breaks. FR
12 Crossover or Bridge – a short ridge that runs between two parallel ridges
13 Ridge dots – An isolated ridge unit whose length approximates its width in size

FOCAL POINTS IN FINGERPRINT PATTERNS

1. Focal points – are enclosed within the pattern area.
2. Core – the inner terminus or the approximate center of a fingerprint pattern.
3. Delta – The outer terminus or that point in a ridge at or in front of or nearest the
center of the divergence of the typelines.
4. Pattern Area - is that part of a loop or whorl in which appear the core, deltas, and
ridges used in the classification of a loop.
5. Typelines – The two innermost ridges which start or go parallel, diverge, and
surround or tend to surround the pattern area.

COMPONENT PARTS OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS

1.Ridges - are tiny elevation or hill like structures found on the epidermis layer of the
skin containing sweat pores. It appears as black lines with tiny white dots called pores
in an inked impression.
2. Furrows - are the canal like impression or a depression found between the ridges
which maybe compared with the low area in a tire thread.

Sweat Pores - is a small opening found anywhere across the ridge surface where the
sweat comes out.
Sweat Duct – is a long host like structure that serves as the passage way for the sweat
that exits at its mouth, the pore.
Sweat Glands – are found in the dermis layer of the skin which is responsible for the
production of the sweat (watery substance).

- human hand has 27 bones. The 8 bones of the Carpus or wrist, arranged in two
rows of four; the 5 bones of the metacarpus or palm, one to each digit; and the
14 digital bones or phalanges, 2 in the thumb and 3 in each finger.

TERMINAL PHALANGE – Is the particular bone that is covered with the friction skin
having all the different types of pattern and located near the tip of the finger.

MIDDLE PHALANGE – is a phalange of the finger located at the middle of terminal

and basal phalange.

BASAL PHALANGE - is a phalange of the finger located at the base portion just
below the middle phalange.

RIDGE FORMATION
Ridges begin to form on a human fetus during the 3rd to 4th months of the fetus
(5 to 6 months before birth)
DERMAL PAPILLAE – irregular blunt pegs composed of delicate connective tissues,
protruding and forming the ridges of the skin, each containing a small opening or pores.