Personal Identification

What Is a Fingerprint?
•Ridges of skin that are created
when we are still in our mother’s
womb.
•Remain the same for the rest of
our lives
•Each of the ridges connects to
other ridges, forming a pattern
that is unique to all others.
•This uniqueness is used in many
forensic cases to solve crimes, as
some of the most common
evidence found at a crime scene
are fingerprints.
 Historical Background of Dactyloscopy

Prehistoric
Ancient artifacts with carvings similar to friction ridge skin
have been discovered in many places throughout the world.
Prehistoric picture writing of a hand with ridge patterns was
discovered on a cliff in Nova Scotia.

In ancient Babylon, fingerprints were used on

clay tablets for business transactions.
 Historical Background of Dactyloscopy

The Chinese were noted to

be the first user of fingerprint.
They used as a symbolism in
the early part of their rituals.
Signing of contracts on
part of the illiterate.
 Historical Background of Dactyloscopy

Emperor Te’ in Shi

(246-210 B.C.)
was the first Chinese ruler
who devised a seal carved
from white jade that were
used in sealing documents
as sign of authenticity.
 Historical Background of Dactyloscopy

1400 Persia
The 14th century Persian book "Jaamehol-Tawarikh"
attributed to Khajeh Rashiduddin Fazlollah Hamadani,
includes comments about the practice of identifying persons
from their fingerprints.
 Historical Background of Dactyloscopy

A Chinese dead of sale, 1839,

signed with fingerprint.
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Dr. Nehemiah Grew(1684)

In the "Philosophical Transactions
of the Royal Society of London"
paper in 1684, Dr. Nehemiah Grew
was the first European to publish
friction ridge skin observations.
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Govard Bidloo (1685)

Dutch anatomist’s
book, "Anatomy of the
Human Body" included
descriptions of friction
ridge skin (papillary
ridge) details.
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Marcelo Malpighi (1686)

Grandfather of Dactyloscopy
•An anatomy professor at the University of
Bologna noted that fingerprint ridges, spirals
and loops in his treatise.
•Thin layer of the friction skin named after him
“Malpighian Layer”, which is approximately 1.8
mm thick.
•He was noted for the discovery of the inner
and outer structure of the skin: the Dermis
(inner) and Epidermis (outer).
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

J.C. Mayer (1788)

- First Mention of Uniqueness
He stated in his book that
the “arrangement of the skin
is never duplicated in two
persons”.
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Professor Johannes Evangelist Purkenji

(1823)
An anatomy professor at the University
of Breslau in Wrocław, Poland, published
his thesis discussing nine fingerprint
patterns. Purkinje made no mention of the
value of fingerprints for personal
identification. Purkinje is referred to in
most English language publications as John
Evangelist Purkinje.
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Professor Johannes Evangelist Purkenji

(1823)
An anatomy professor at the University
of Breslau in Wrocław, Poland, published
his thesis discussing nine fingerprint
patterns. Purkinje made no mention of the
value of fingerprints for personal
identification. Purkinje is referred to in
most English language publications as John
Evangelist Purkinje.
Professor Johannes Evangelist Purkenji

In his study, discovered that the skin

on the inner surface of the hands have
a pattern.

He named the different

patterns but did not associate
with identification
 Scientific Discovery And Development Of Fingerprint

Hermann Welcker (1856)

German anthropologist of the University
of Halle, studied friction ridge skin
permanence by printing his own right hand
in 1856 and again in 1897, then published
a study in 1898.
He prints his own palms and after forty
years printed the same to prove that prints
do not change except for scratches and old
age.
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Sir William Herschel (1858)

► Chief Magistrate of the Hooghly
District in Jungipoor, India.
► Used fingerprints as a means of
identification on native contracts.
► He utilized fingerprint as a substitute
for signature to avoid impersonation
► The first person to study the
permanence of friction ridge skin
The purpose of the hand print
was to "... to frighten [him]
out of all thought of
repudiating his signature." The
native was suitably impressed
and Herschel made a habit of
requiring palm prints--and
later, simply the prints of the
right Index and middle
fingers--on every contract
made with the locals. Personal
contact with the document,
they believed, made the
contract more binding than if
they simply signed it. Thus,
the first wide-scale,
modern-day use of
fingerprints was predicated
not upon scientific evidence,
but upon superstitious beliefs.
 However, as Herschel's fingerprint collection grew, he began to
realize the inked impressions could prove or disprove identity.
While his experience with fingerprinting was admittedly limited,
Sir William 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.
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Dr. Henry Faulds (1877)

► A Surgeon at Tsukji Hospital, Tokyo Japan, took up
the study of "skin-furrows" after noticing finger marks
on specimens of "prehistoric" pottery.
► Not only recognized the importance of fingerprints as
a means of identification, but devised a method of
classification as well.
► Published an article in the Scientific Journal, "Nature"
(nature). He discussed fingerprints as a means of
personal identification, and the use of printer's ink as
a method for recording such fingerprints.
► Claimed that the impression would provide positive
identification of the offenders when apprehended.
► He is also credited with the first latent print
identification - a greasy fingerprint deposited on an
alcohol bottle.
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Sir Francis Galton (1888)

► British anthropologist and a cousin of
Charles Darwin, began his observations
of fingerprints as a means of
identification.
► First scientist of friction skin identification.
► Discover the three families of
fingerprint patterns:
(Arches, Loops and Whorls)
► Stated that if there is a possibility for two
prints to be the same, it is 1:64billion.
► Galton published his book,
"Finger Prints" in 1892,
establishing the individuality and
permanence of fingerprints. The
book included the first published
classification system for
fingerprints.
► In 1893, Galton published the
book "Decipherment of Blurred
Finger Prints,"
► In 1895, he published the book
"Fingerprint Directories."
► Galton’s primary interest in fingerprints was as an aid
in determining heredity and racial background.
► While Galton soon discovered fingerprints were of no
help to his genetic research (fingerprints offered no
firm clues to an individual's intelligence or genetic
history), he was able to scientifically prove what
Herschel and Faulds already believed:
(1) Except for injury or disease, fingerprint ridge
arrangements do not change over the course of an
individual's lifetime; and
(2) No two fingerprints are exactly the same.
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Juan Vucetich (1891)

► devised his own system of fingerprint
classification:"icnofalangometric" or
“icnofalangometria”, later replaced with the
term “dactiloscopy” or “dactiloscopico” or
“dactiloscopia”
► Began the first fingerprint files based on
Galton pattern types.
► The first to use of fingerprint by law
enforcement personnel.
► Argentina was also the first to replace
anthropometry with fingerprint technique as
means of identifying criminals.
Francisca Rojas murder case is the first homicide
solved by fingerprint evidence.
Francisca Rojas, a woman who murdered her two sons and cut her
own throat in an attempt to place blame on another. Her bloody
print was left on a door post, proving her identity as the murderer.

Francisca Rojas' Inked Fingerprints

 Fingerprint as Method of Identification
The Anthropometric Bureau
in Kolkata (now Calcutta)
became the world's first
Fingerprint Bureau later that
year.
Qazi Azizul Haque and Hem
Chandra Bose worked in the
Calcutta Anthropometric
Bureau (before it became the
Fingerprint Bureau).
Haque and Bose are the two
Indian fingerprint experts
credited with primary
development of the Henry
System of fingerprint
classification (named for their
supervisor, Edward Richard
Qazi Azizul Haque Hem Chandra Bose Henry).
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Sir Edward Richard Henry

(1990)
► Father of Fingerprint
► Inspector General of the Bengal Police.
► He devised his own system of
classification that was accepted in
English Speaking Countries.
► His system of identification finally
replace the Bertillon system of
identification.
 Fingerprint as Method of Identification

Sir Edward Richard Henry

(1990)
► Introduction of Fingerprints for
criminal identification in
England and Wales.
► Began the ‘Henry Classification
System’ still used today in many
countries around the world.
Historical Development
Philippines
•Mr. Jones- taught fingerprinting in the Philippine
Constabulary
•The criminal records and identification Division of
Manila Police District once utilized Bertillon
system
•After WW2, Henry System was introduced by the
US Army
Historical Development
•Capt. Thomas Dugan of the New York Police
Department and Flaviano C. Guerrero, a Filipino
member of the FBI organized fingerprinting in the
NBI and
•1927, they gave first examination of fingerprint,
Agustin Patricio topped the exam
Historical Development
•1910, Mr. Generoso La Torre in the Bureau of
Corrections fingerprinted inmates. He learned it from
Lt. George M. Wolfe, first Director of the Bureau of
Prisons
•Generoso Reyes became the first Filipino fingerprint
technician in the PC
•Isabela Bernales was the first Filipina fingerprint
technician
Historical Development

•Introduction of Fingerprint Identification

•Fingerprint Record Section of the Philippine
Constabulary on May 19, 1945 started as a
section of G-2 Division of Military Police
Command
Historical Development
•1946, a certain Lt. Asa N. Darby completed
fingerprint files in the Division of Investigation
(now National Bureau of Investigation)
•1950, fingerprint science in the curriculum of
Plaridel College (now known as Philippine
College of Criminology)
Historical Development

People of the Philippines vs. Medina

- first conviction based on fingerprint leading
judicial decision in the Philippine Jurisprudence.
 The Law of Multiplicity of Evidence

“The greater the number of similarities or

dissimilarities the greater the probability for
the conclusion to be correct.”
 4 FACTOR OF COURT PRESENTATION
1. General Pattern Agreement – need to proved
2. Quantitative Factor – Similarities
3. Ridge Location Details – Ridge Characteristics Location
4. Qualitative Concurrence - consistency

FINGERPRINT CASES
• People of the Philippine Islands versus Marciano D. Medina
(G.R. No. L-38434, December 23, 1933)
• 10 General Characteristics Accepted
• People of the Philippine Islands versus Maling
• 8 Similar rarity fingerprint characteristic patterns
• People of the Philippine Islands versus Balingwa
• Basis for rare Characteristics
• PRC EXAM Allowed 8 Characteristics
Uses of Fingerprints:

Dactyloscopy
The scientific study of fingerprints as a
means of identification.

Dactylography
The study of fingerprints for the purpose of
identification.
 Uses of Fingerprints:
Dactylomancy
An attempt at character reading through the pattern
of fingerprints .
Dermatoglyphics
The lines, tracings and designs on the skin of
fingers, palm and soles
Polydactyl
A hand having more than the required number of
fingers
Allied Science Related to Dactyloscopy

POROSCOPY – is the study of pores.

CHIROSCOPY – is the study of palm.

PODOSCOPY – is the study of soles of

the feet.
Dogmatic Principles of FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION
Principles of Individuality –
states that there are no two person
having the same fingerprints.
A fingerprint is an individual characteristic;
no two people have been found with the
exact same fingerprint pattern.
Dogmatic Principles of FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION
Principles of Permanency/Constancy
states that once ridges are fully develop their
general arrangement remains the same
throughout life.
A fingerprint pattern will remain unchanged for the
life of an individual; however, the print itself may
change due to permanent scars and skin diseases.
 Some attempts of destroying Ridges and
Disguised
JOHN DILLLENGER
-US notorious public enemy #1, who tried to
remove his fingerprints by burning them with
acid but failed. The acid temporarily destroys
the fingerprint but the prints restore to its
original formation few days later.
Some attempts of destroying Ridges and
Disguised
ROBERT JAMES PITTS
-gained fame as the man without fingerprints
knowing from an inmate of a possible destruction of
fingerprints. He contacted a doctor. He removed the
skin up to the generative layer and served thin into
incisions on each side of Pitts chest. Scar tissue was
developed. Almost a year later, he was picked up and
the police were amazed to find that he had no
fingerprints. The Texas Department of Public Safety was
able to affect identification out of the second joints of
his fingers. He is also known by the name Roscoe Pitts.
 Some attempts of destroying Ridges and
Disguised
LOCARD AND WITKOWSJI of Lyons
-who performed rather painful experiments
on themselves by burning their fingerprints
with boiling water, hot oil and hot metal, had
shown that after the healing of the epidermis,
the original patterns of fingerprints
reappeared.
Dogmatic Principles of FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION
Principles of Infallibility –
states that fingerprints can never be
forged or copied. Fingerprint is a reliable
positive means of identification.
Fingerprints have general characteristic
ridge patterns that allow them to be
systematically identified.
 BONES OF THE
HAND
The human hand has 27 bones:
• 8 bones of the carpus, or wrist,
arranged in two rows of four;
• 5 bones of the metacarpus, or palm,
one to each digit; and
• 14 digital bones, or phalanges,
• 2 in the thumb and
• 3 in each finger.
The carpal bones fit into a shallow socket
formed by the bones of the forearm.
Terminal Phalange– is the
particular bone that is covered with
the friction skin having all the
different types of the 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.
Ridges Formation
–ridges begin to form on the human
rd th
fetus during the 3 to 4 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.
FRICTION SKIN AND ITS
COMPONENTS
Friction Skin – is an epidermal hairless
skin found on the ventral or lower surface
of the hands and feet covered with minute
ridges and furrows and without pigment or
coloring matters.
- also called papillary or epidermal ridges
 COMPONENTS OF THE
A.FRICTION
Ridge Surface –SKIN
components of the friction skin that
actually forms the fingerprint impression.
1. Ridges – tiny elevation or hill like structure found on
the epidermis layer of the skin containing sweat pores. It
appears as black lines with tiny dots called pores in an
inked impression.
2. Furrows – are the canal – like impression or a
depression found between the ridges which may be
compare with the low area in a tire thread. They appear as
white lines in an inked impression.
COMPONENTS OF THE
FRICTION SKIN
B. Sweat Pores – is a small opening
found anywhere across the ridges surface
but is usually found near the center.
C. Sweat Duct – is a long – host like
structure that serve as the passage way for
the sweat that exits at its mouth, the pore.
D. Sweat Glands – found in the dermis
layer of the skin which is responsible for the
production of the sweat (watery substance).
STRUCTURE OF THE
SKIN
 FUNDAMENTAL LAYERS OF THE
FRICTION SKIN
A. Epidermis
– outer covering of the
skin.
TWO MAIN LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS
A. Stratum corneum – the outer
layers.
B. Stratum mucosum – immediately
beneath the covering layers.
 FUNDAMENTAL LAYERS
OF THE FRICTION SKIN
A. Epidermis
Five Subdivision of the Stratum Corneum
1. Corneous Layer
2. Transparent Layer
3. Granucar layer
4. Malphigian layer
5. Generating layer
B. Dermis
– the inner layer of
the skin containing
blood vessels, various
glands and nerves. It
is where the dermal
papillae are found.
 Comparison of
hairy and non- hairy skin
Non-hairy Hairy
 Up next….

Basic Ridge Characteristics

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