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THE BASIC OF FINGERPRINT COMPILATION NOTES

Chapter 1
Introduction
One of the most important parts of a forensic investigation is fingerprinting. As

fingerprints are unique to each individual, they serve as a way for law enforcement agencies to
identify a suspect, as well as help build a case in court. Many students in criminal justice
degree programs are interested in learning more about fingerprinting, as it is widely used in all
forms of law enforcement. Fingerprints are one of the most important things that link a
suspect with a crime scene. Even though that fingerprints are not always left by a criminal, the
crime scene should still be examined for them.
Fingerprints have traditionally been considered the single most positive indicator of
personal identification and have been infallible (never wrong).
Figure 1 shows the division and the location name of each finger.
The basics of fingerprint

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Fingerprint as in impression is the reproduction on some smooth surface of the pattern

or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the end joint of the fingers and thumb,
through the medium of ink or any coloring substance capable of producing visibility.
Fingerprint as a science is the IDENTIFICATION of a person by means of the ridges

appearing on the fingers, on the palms and the sole of the feet.
Dactyloscopy is the identification of a person through the examination and comparison

of fingerprints. It is also the classification of fingerprints. A method of studying fingerprints to
establish identification.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF DACTYLOSCOPY
Personal identification
1. Civil identification of the newly born

a. Serves to give evidence
b. Serves in the establishment of rules as applied to the penitentiary system
2. Anthropology- Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. To understand
the full sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology
draws and builds upon knowledge from the social and biological sciences as well as the
humanities and physical sciences
- It deals with the comparative study of human and animal prints
a. Prints of quadro – pedal animals
b. Prints of two legged animals
3. Clinical dactyloscopy – effect if any on the appearance of fingerprints especially those
with illness that disturbed as to appearance by their component characteristics
remain.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF FINGER PRINTING PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE
EGYPT
 The earliest evidence of ridge detail on the hands and feet of human was seen
in the 4,000 year old mummies of ancient Egypt. The hands and feet’s of
mummies have been examined on numerous occasions and they confirmed the
presence of ridge detail on the mummies digits.
CHINA
 It was common practice for the Chinese to used inked fingerprints on official
documents land scales, contracts, loans and acknowledgments of debts. The
oldest existing documents so endorsed date from the 3rd century B.C and it
was still an effective practice until recent times. Emperor Ts-In-she (24 6-210
B.C) is reported as being the First Chinese emperor to use clay finger seals for
sealing documents. The documents of the time were wooden tablets or
whittled pieces

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of bamboo bound together with strings. The seal itself was a small dollop of
clay, a carved stamp with fingerprint was embossed on the other to prove
authenticity.
WHITTLED PIECES BAMBOO
WOODEN TABLETS
 With the advent of silk and paper “hand prints” became the most common
method of ensuring the genuineness of a contract. The right hand was
simply traced or stamped onto a document. The anthropometric values of
hand size and shape, along with a signature, were often enough to ensure
authenticity.

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 During 1975 in Yven Ming country in China, bamboo strips were found
describing a trial reported to have taken place during in Qin Dynasty (300 B.C)
during a thief trial handprint were entered a evidence.
 Another anthropometric method used in early china was the “deed of hand
mark”. This method involved markings of flexion crease location of each
phalangeal joint of the right hand onto a document. In some cases, the
whole hand was traced and flexion creases of the fingers added to the
tracing.
 On the other methods of identification used in ancient times are still used
today. The Chinese put notches randomly along sides of the writing tablets
duplicate contracts. The notches could be physically matched by holding the
tablets together of some future time to ensure authenticity. This was describe
by the Chinese historian kia-kung yen 650 A.D. while writing about ab earlier
time he said: “wooden Tablets were inscribed with the terms of the contract
and notches

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were cut into sides at the identical places so that tablets could later be,
matched; thus proving them genuine; the significance of the notches was the
as that fingerprint of the present time.” The comparison of the use of notches
on the tablets to the use of fingerprints established that fingerprints were used to
identify people in 650 A.D.
 Early in the 12th century, in the novel, “the story of the river bank,”
fingerprinting found itself already in the criminal procedure of China; and in
the 16th century, a custom prevailed in connection with the sale of children.
Palm and sole impressions were stamped on deeds of sale to prevent
impersonation.
JAPAN
 Legal papers were marked in ink using the top thumb and nail stamping cannot be
considered a method of friction ridges identification. A Japanese historian, Kamagusu
Minataka further commented about blood stamping. Apparently, contracts were
accompanied by a written oath confirmed with a blood drawn form that digit. Another
Japanese Historain, CHuryo Katsurakwawa (1754) wrote, “according to the domestic
law (enacted in 702 A.D) , to divorce a wife, a husband must give her a document
stating which of the seven reasons was assigned for action. All letters must be in the
husband’s handwriting, but in case he does not understand how to write, he should
sign with fingerprint.” The main points of the Japanese domestics Law were borrowed
and transplanted form the Chinese laws of Yung Hui A.D. this fact illustrate how
Chinese customs, laws and practices spread to other countries.
FRANCE
 The most famous ancient stone carving is found in the L’lle de Garvinis of the coast
France. Here a burial chamber, or dolman, was discovered dating back Neolithis times.
The Dolman, constructed of slabs stones, is a gallery leading into an enlarges
chamber, the structure being embedded into a low mound of earth. Its inner wall are
covered with incised designs system of horse-shoe form, more or less circular
concentric figures spiral, arching lines sinuous and straight lines and other markings
occurring in various combinations. Many anthropologists interpret these lines as
representing finger or palm prints

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NOVA SCOTIA
 An outline of a hand was scratched into a slate rock beside Kejiomkujil Lake by an
aboriginal Indian. The carving is an outline of a hand and fingers. Within the outline
the flexion creases of the palm and fingers are depicted. This carving has
considerable historical significance. Although it does not demonstrate knowledge of
the individuality of friction ridges or palmar flexion creases, it clearly illustrates an
early awareness of the presence of those formations.
BABYLONIA
 References by ancient historians have been found describing how finger seals were
used on legal contracts from 1855-1913 B.C. the Finger impressions of the parties
involved in a contact or agreement were apparently pressed into the clay surface along
with the script. The practice identified the author and protected against forgery.
 References dating from the rule of Hammurabi indicate that law officers were
authorized to secure the fingerprints of arrested persons. Also, fingerprints were found
on the 300- yearl old clay slabs in kings Tue-En _Khamin;s tomb in Egypt. Fingerprints
were pressed into the walls of the tomb creating intricate designs.
PALESTINE
 William Frederick Bade, Director of the Palestine Institute of Archeology, conducted

excavations at various sites in Palestine’s and at one place found finger imprints on
many pieces of broken pottery. These identifications permitted the confused debris to
dated accurately to the forth century A.D commenting on this case, Fingerprint
magazine

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stated that these impressions were obviously intentional and no doubt, represented the
workman’s individual trade mark.
HOLLAND AND ANCIENT CHINA
 Identification if individuals were by means of branding, tattooing, mutilation and

also manifested by wearing of clothes of different designs.
 In earlier civilization, branding, and even maiming were used to mark the criminal for
what he was. The thief was deprived of the hand which committed thievery. The
Romans employed the tattoo needle to identify and prevent desertion of mercenary
soldiers.
CONSTANTINOPLE
 In treaty ratification, .the Sultan soaked his hand in a sheep’s blood and impressed in on
the document as his seal.
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
 This institute was the first private school to install laboratories for instructions purposes
in Dactyloscopy.
EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF FRICTION RIDGE INIDIVIDUALITY
 Early pioneers of this friction ridge identification science were government workers,
police officers, or people who dabbled in friction ridge identification while employed in
related scientific fields. They advanced our knowledge of friction ridges, applied the
friction ridge identification system to various uses, and devised a coherent classification
system.
THOMAS Bewick
 (c. 11 August 1753 – 8 November 1828) was an English engraver and natural history
author. Early in his career he took on all kinds of work such as engraving cutlery,
making the wood blocks for advertisements, and illustrating children's books. He
gradually turned to illustrating, writing and publishing his own books, gaining an adult
audience for the fine illustrations in A History of Quadrupeds. BEWICK
 Bewick is best known for his A History of British Birds, which is admired today mainly for
its wood engravings, especially the small, sharply observed, and often humorous
vignettes known as tail-pieces. The book was the forerunner of all modern field guides.
He notably illustrated editions of Aesop's Fables throughout his life.
 He is credited with popularizing a technical innovation in the printing of illustrations
using wood. He adopted metal-engraving tools to cut hard boxwood across the grain,
producing printing blocks that could be integrated with metal type, but were much
more durable than traditional woodcuts. The result was high-quality illustration at a low
price.
SIR WILLIAM J. HERSCHEL

 Sir William James Herschel, 2nd Baronet (9 January 1833 – 24 October 1917) was a
British ICS officer in India who used fingerprints for identification on contracts

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 Herschel is credited with being the first European to note the value of fingerprints for
identification. He recognized that fingerprints were unique and permanent. Herschel
documented his own fingerprints over his lifetime to prove permanence. He was also
credited with being the first person to use fingerprints in a practical manner. As early as
the 1850s, working as a British officer for the Indian Civil Service in the Bengal region of
India, he started putting fingerprints on contracts
Dr. J.C.A Mayer (1788) of Germany
 Johann Christophe Andreas Mayer was a German anatomist born in December 1747
and died in November 1801. He worked in Berlin and later Frankfurt. In 1788, he was
the first European to recognize that fingerprints were unique to each individual.
 He was also known to have miscalled the hippocampus the hippopotamus, which was
adopted for some years before being rectified.
Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930)
 While accompanying a friend (American archaeologist, Edward S. Morse) to an

archaeological dig he noticed how the delicate impressions left by craftsmen could be
discerned in ancient clay fragments. Examining his own fingertips and those of friends,
he became convinced that the pattern of ridges was unique to each individual.
 Shortly after these observations his hospital was broken into. The local police arrested
a member of staff whom Faulds believed to be innocent. Determined to exonerate the
man, he compared the fingerprints left behind at the crime scene to those of the
suspect and found them to be different. On the strength of this evidence the police
agreed to release the suspect.
 In an attempt to promote the idea of fingerprint identification he sought the help of the
noted naturalist Charles Darwin. Darwin declined to work on the idea, but passed it on
to his relative Francis Galton, who forwarded it to the Anthropological Society of
London. When Galton returned to the topic some eight years later, he paid little
attention to Faulds' letter. As a result of this interchange some controversy has arisen
about the inventor of modern forensic fingerprinting. However, there can be no doubt
that Faulds' first paper on the subject was published in the scientific journal Nature in
1880; all parties conceded this.
 The following month Sir William Herschel, a British civil servant based in India, wrote to
Nature saying that he had been using fingerprints (as a form of bar code) to identify
criminals since 1860. However, Herschel did not mention their potential for forensic
use. Over the years, Faulds conducted a bitter controversy with Herschel over the use
of fingerprints, demanding proof in 1894 that Herschel had ever used fingerprints
officially, which Herschel duly provided, and then writing a series of books and
pamphlets many years later containing variations of the argument that he had been
cheated his due credit.
Thomas Taylor
 In 1877 Thomas Taylor gave a lecture concerning hand prints and their possible
applications to crime. He proposed that bloody palm prints and fingerprints found at the

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scene of a crime could be used to I.D suspects. The lecture was published in the July
1877 issue of The American Journal of Microscopy and Popular Science
Mushrooms
Thomas Taylor was an expert on mushrooms.
 He investigated adulterated foods and edible and poisonous mushrooms.
 He wrote books on edible mushrooms in the
U.S. Microscopist
 Thomas Taylor worked for the U.S Department of Agriculture as a
microscopist. Important Contributions to Forensics
Career
Alphonse Bertillon
 Alphonse Bertillon (French: 24 April 1853 – 13 February 1914) was a French police
officer and biometrics researcher who applied the anthropological technique of
anthropometry to law enforcement creating an identification system based on physical
measurements. Anthropometry was the first scientific system used by police to identify
criminals. Before that time, criminals could only be identified by name or photograph.
The method was eventually supplanted by fingerprinting.
 He is also the inventor of the mug shot. Photographing of criminals began in the 1840s
only a few years after the invention of photography, but it was not until 1888 that
Bertillon standardized the process.
Dr. Henry P. De Forest
 He utilized the first official municipal use of fingerprints Municipal Civil Service in the
City of New York. He required civil service applicants to be fingerprinted to prevent
them having better qualified persons take tests them and put the system into
practice.
Capt. James I. Parke
 He advocated the first state and penal use of fingerprint which was officially
adopted in sing-sing prison on June 5, 1903 and later at Auburn, Napanoch and
Clinton Penitentiaries
Maj. R. Mccloughrey
 Mccloughrey was Warden of the Federal Penitentiary of Leavenworth when the

office of the Atty. General of the US granted permission to establish a fingerprint
bureau thereon on November 2, 1904. It was the first official National Government
use of fingerprints.
Mary K. Holand
 She was the first American Instructor in Dactyloscopy

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Harry Mayers 11
 In 1925, he installed the first official foot and fingerprint system for infants at the
Jewish Maternity Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and the first system in
the State.
Juan (Ivan) Vucetich (1855-1925)
 The fast pace of the advancement of fingerprinting in England was due to the
ingenuity of Juan Vucetich, who was employed as a statistician with the Central
Police Department at La Plata, Argentina. In July 1891, the Chief of Police assigned
Vucetich to set up a bureau of Anthropometric Identification.
He started experimenting with fingerprints and set up his own equipment for taking
criminal’s prints.
Roxas Murders
 June 19, 1892, two children were murdered on the outskirts of the town of
Necochea on the coast of Argentina. The victims were illegitimate children of a 26-
year old woman named Francisca Rojas. Rojas blamed Velasquez, an older man
who worked at nearby ranch. However, Velasquez claimed his innocence. On July 8,
1892, the report reached La Plata. Police Inspector Alvarez of the Central Police was
sent to Necochea to assist the local police with the investigation.
Alvarez examined the scene and he noticed a brown stain on the bedroom door.
Careful examination revealed that it was a fingerprint. Alvarez has received basic
training in fingerprint identification from Vucetich. Remembering what he had been
taught, he cut out the piece of the door with fingerprint on it. He returned to
Necochea and requested that Rojas be fingerprinted.
Alvarez compared the fingerprints under a magnifying glass. With his minimal
instruction in fingerprinting, he could plainly see that the print was Rojas right
thumb. When this evidence was presented to her she admitted that she had killed
her children. The children had stood in the way of her marriage to the other man.
When Alvarez returned to La Plata with the piece of door with Rojas fingerprint
Vucetich’s faith in fingerprints was reported as the first murder solved by
fingerprints. In 1894 Vucetich published a book entitled “General Introduction to
the Procedures of anthropometry and fingerprinting.” Argentina became the first
country in the world to abolish anthropometry and file criminal records solely by
fingerprint classification.
Sir Edward Henry (1850-1931)
 At the same time that Vucetich was experimenting with fingerprinting in Argentina,
another classification system was being developed in India. This system was
cancelled “The Henry Classification System.”
In 1891, he was appointed Inspector General of Police for Bengal Province. Upon
taking his new post, Henry found the anthropometric system was being used to

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identify criminals. He developed some doubts about the accuracy of the

anthropometric measurements that were being stored in the files. He also found
that close supervision during the collection of data was very difficult.
In India, his course of action was to instruct that all ten fingers of each prisoner
be printed and added to the anthropometric cards. He assigned two Bengali police
officers to study the classification problem. Henry’s team was eventually successful
in setting up a classification system with 1024 primary position and secondary
breakdowns.
In 1899 Henry was invited by the British Association for the advancement of
science to present a paper at Dover. He returned to England and presented a paper
entitled, “Fingerprints and the Detection of Crime in India.” He also described the
successes and uses of fingerprinting in India. He published a book entitled
“Classification and uses of fingerprints.”
In 1918, The Henry Classification System started what is considering the modern era
of fingerprint identification which is the basic for most of the classification presently
used.
FINGERPRINTING IN NORTH AMERICA (1877-1900)
Gilbert Thompson (1882)
 He used his thumbprint to ensure that the amounts were not changed or altered on
payroll cheques. When issuing a payroll cheque, he would put an inked thumbprint
over the amount. This is to prevent fraudulent cheque alternations.
New York State (1903)
 The New York City Civil Service Commission was using fingerprints to prevent
impersonations during examinations. During the same year, fingerprinting was
introduced into the New York Prison System and at Leavenworth Penitentiary. By
1906 there were 6 police depts... In the U.S that was known to be the taking
fingerprints for Identification purposes.
Fingerprinting in Canada (1904-1920)
 In 1904 St Louis, was the site of world’s Fair. A chance meeting took place that was
to bring fingerprinting to Canada and eventually spell the end of the Bertillon Signal
etic System. Detective John Ferrier of the Scotland Yard was at the fair to guard a
display of British crown jewels. Ferrier and New York State both had displays
illustrating fingerprint Identification. During the fair, the International Association
of Chiefs of Police also had a convention and invited Ferrier to present a paper on
fingerprints.

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SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS
Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712)
 Grew, English botanist, physician and micropist. In 1684 he published a paper in the
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London describing his
observations of the “innumerable little ridges of equal big ness on the ends of the
first joints of the fingers.” He described sweat pores, epidermal ridges, and their
various arrangements. Included in his paper was a drawing of the configurations of
the hand displaying the ridge flow on the fingers and palms
Govard Bidloo (1685)
 Bidloo, anatomist in Amsterdam, Holland, published a book on human anatomy

illustrating friction ridges and pore structure on the underside of the fingers. His
comments were morphological in nature and he did not refer to or mention the
individuality of friction ridges.
Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694)
 A professor in 1685 at the University of Bologna, Italy, published the results of his
examination of the friction skin with the newly invented microscope. He has been
credited with being the first to use a microscope in medical studies. His work was
received with such enthusiasm that one of the layers of the skin was named in his
honor. He was a professor of anatomy. His paper dealt mainly with the function,
form, and structure of the friction skin as a tactile organ, and its use in the
enhancement of traction for walking and grasping.
 He was known as the “Grandfather of Dactyloscopy” according to Dr. Edmond
Locard, the “Father of Poroscopy.” He originated the terms “loops and spirals.”
JCA Mayer (1788)
 A German doctor and anatomist whose paper on fingerprint clearly addressed the
individuality of the friction ridges.
Johannes (Jean) Evangelista Purkinjie (1787-1869)
 A professor at the University of Breslau, Germany, published a thesis that contained

his studies on the eye, fingerprints and other skin features entitled,”commentatio
de Examine Phisiologico Organi Visus et Systematis.” He classified nine principal
configuration groups of fingerprints and assigned each a name he was known as the
“Father of Dactyloscopy.”
Arthur Kollman (1883)
 The first researcher to address the formation of friction ridges in embryos and the
topographical physical stressors that may have been part of their growth. He
identified the presence and locations of the volar pads on the human hand and
foot. He is from Germany.

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Harris Hawthorne Wilder (1864-1928)
 A professor of zoology at Smith College, Massachusetts that in 1896, while he was

studying monkeys, he was struck by the resemblance of their volar friction ridges to
men. he became very interested in dermatoglyphics and in 1897 published his first
paper on the subject entitled “On the Disposition of the epidermic Folds Upon the
Palms and Soles of Primates.” He was the first to suggest that the centers of
disturbance of pimate friction ridge formations actually represented the locations of
volar pads. In 1918, he published a book “Personal Identification where the
quantitative- qualitative analysis of friction ridges can be found. In this passage,
Wilder describes the anatomical formation of the friction ridges. He further
describes how ridge units are subjected to differential growth and, as a result, all
areas of friction ridge are unique. He was considered the leading American
fingerprint expert of the day.
Harold Cummins (1893-1976)
 Cummins, Ph.D. professor of anatomy and Assistant Dean of the school of medicine
at Tulane University, Louisiana who spent a great deal of his life studying
dermatoglyphics. In 1943 he co-authored a book “Fingerprint, Palms and Soles –
An Introduction to Dermatoglyphics.” With Charles Bidloo.
 In 1929, he published a paper, “The Topographic History of the Volar Pads in the
Human Embryo.” He described the formation and development of volar pads such
as location, growth differential, and configuration variances affected friction ridge
development and overall pattern configuration.
Alfred Hale (1952)
 A Ph.D. from Tulane University, an associate of Cummins published a thesis in 1952

entitled, “Morphogenesis of the Volar Skin in the Human Fetus.” Hale’s paper not
only describes the formation of friction ridges of the human fetus but also describes
the development of friction ridge identification.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND – PHILIPPINE SETTING
o Mr.Jones was the first to teach fingerprints in the Philippine Constabulary sometime
in the year 1900.
o The bureau of prison, in the year 1918, records shows that fingerprints already existed in
the “carpetas”
o L. Asa N. Darby, under his management during the re-ossupation of the Philippine by
the American Forces, a modern and complete Fingerprints File has been established
in the Philippine Commonwealth.
o Mr.Generoso Reyes was the first Filipino Fingerprint Technician employed by
the Philippine Constabulary.
o Capt. Thomas Dugan of New York City Police Department and Mr. Flaviano
G. Guerrero of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, gave the
first examinations for Fingerprint in 1937.

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o People of the Philippine vs. Medina, 59, Phil. 330 of December 23, 1933 were the
first conviction based on fingerprint and led to the judicial decision in the
Philippine jurisprudence.
o Plaridel Education Institution (PEI), now the Philippine College of Criminology
(PCCr), Manila is the first governmental recognized school to teach the science of
fingerprints and other police sciences.
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN THE STUDY OF FINGERPRINTS
1. Principle of individuality – there are no two fingerprints that are exactly alike.
2. Principle of permanency – the configuration and details of individual ridges

remain constant and unchanging.
3. Principle of infallibility – the fingerprints are faultless (accurate)
FRICTION SKIN
1. Epidermal layer (Epidermis)
a. Stratum corneum = It consists of 25-30 layer of stratified (layered)

squamus(flattened ) dead keratinocytes (skin cells) that are
constanly shed.
b. Stratum lucidum = Is present in thick skin (lips, soles of feet, and palms
of hands). Little or no cell detail is visible.
c. Stratum granulosum = It consist 3-4 layers of cell thick consisting
of flattened keratinocytes. At this level, the cells are dying.
d. Stratum Spinosum = these are several layers thick, consisting mostly
of keratinocytes. Together with the stratum basale, it is sometimes
referred to as the Malpighian Layer (living layer)
e. Stratum Basale = a single layer of cells in contact with the
basement membrane. These cells are mitotically active- they are
alive and reproducing – the reason why it is often referred to as the
generating layer.
 Keratinocytes 90% = responsible for waterproofing and

toughening the skin.
 Melanocytes 8% = Synthesize the pigment melanin which
absorbs and disperses ultraviolet radiation.
 Tactile cells = very sparse and function in touch reception.
 Nonpigmented granular dendrocytes = cells that inges
bacteria and foreign debris.

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2. Dermal Papillae
• the primary function is to sustain and support the epidermis. It is
made up of connective tissue with fine elastic fibers.
IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE TWO LAYERS OF THE SKIN
 Damage to the epidermis alone does not result to permanent ridge destruction,
while damage to the dermis will result to permanent ridge destruction.
CAN FINGERPRINTS BE EFFACED OR ERASED?

 John Dellinger, a notorious gangster and a police character attempted to erase
his fingerprints by burning them with acid, but as time went by, the ridge were
again restored to their natural feature. The acid he applied temporarily destroyed
the

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epidermis of the bulb of the finger. As long as the dermis of the bulbs of the fingers is not
completely destroyed, the fingerprints will always remain unchanged and indestructible.
CAN FINGERPRINT BE FORGED?

 Various experiments were conducted by authorities and although they could
almost make an accurate reproduction, still there is no case on record known or have
been written that forgery of fingerprints has been a complete success. The introduction
of modern scientific equipment, new techniques, and up-to-date knowledge in crime
detection will always fail the attempt.
A patch of ridged skin may be removed and successfully grafted in the same
individual. In a skin graft of sufficient thickness to include the epidermis and at least the
more superficial portion of the dermis the ridges retain all their original qualities.
The first recorded case is that of a man who inadvertently sliced off a patch of skin from
the thenar eminence. Immediately, he restored this piece to the raw surface and
applied bandage. The slip of skin engrafted itself and the ridges were preserved. A
more remarkable case is that of a patient in who grafts were made to correct
distortions and contraction of a hand, following severe burns. The surgeon
interchanged patches of skin of a fingertip and an area of the palm. Both grafts “took”
and in consequence the distal phalanx of the finger now bears a pattern which
originally had been on the palm carries a finger pattern, both unchanged except in the
marginal zones of scar.
Principle of infallibility – fingerprint evidence is reliable, The reasons why fingerprint is one of
the infallible means of personal identification.
a. Fingerprints are already formed about 3 to 4 months of intra-uterine life and

remain unchanged throughout life until the final decomposition of the body after
death.
b. The pattern formation formed by the papillary ridges contains peculiar
characteristics upon which a person can always be identified by
fingerprint examiners.
c. Almost every police and law enforcement agencies throughout the world accept,
adopt, and utilize fingerprint system as a means of absolute identification of a
person.
d. The courts and other authorities had since time immemorial taken cognizance
of its importance as a means of identification.
ADMISSIBILITY OF FINGERPRINT EXPERT TESTIMONY
 Expert testimony as to the identity of thumb marks or fingerprints is admissible.

The method of identification of a person by correspondence of fingerprints has been
widely recognized as a relatively accurate system of establishing identity and it is well
settled that evidence of the correspondence are lack of correspondence of fingerprints,
when testified by a qualified witness is ADMISSIBLE to establish the identity of the
accused in criminal prosecution as the person committing the crime charged.

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This method of identification of persons has become a fixed method of our system
of jurisprudence. Proof of fingerprints corresponding to those of the accused found at
the crime scene under such circumstances that could only have impressed at the time
the crime was committed, may be sufficient proof of identity to sustain a conviction.
CONSTANCY OF RIDGES AND THEIR CONFIGURATIONS

 Epidermal ridges are developed in fetus in what may be accepted as their fixed and
permanent characters. Observation of ridges in the same individual over long periods of
time make it certain that in postnatal life, there is no significant alternation in the
details of ridges or in their configurationally arrangement. During the period of growth
of the body, the ridges enlarge, keeping pace with the growth of hand and foot.
Wentworth and Wilder illustrated a series of six (6) prints of the right thumb of a
child, taking at intervals beginning at an age of nearly 5 years, the last print being made
at 14½ years. During this period of rapid bodily growth, the ridges grew, as did the
pattern as well as whole, but without changing morphologically.
Herschel first made his own fingerprints in 1859, at the age of twenty-six (26). He
made them again at the age of forty-four (44) and for the last time at eighty-three (83).
The successive prints show no alternations of ridges and patterns. A similar
demonstration was presented by Welcker on prints of his own fingers and palms, first
made in 1856 at the age of 34, and repeated in 1897. Another case is that of Jennings
who made prints of his palm in 1887, when he was 27 years old: prints repeated 50
years later display no alternations.
The prints of dish-washers, scrub-woman and workers in time, plaster and similar
substances usually show effects of prolonged exposure of the hands to alkali and water.
The ridges appear only faintly and are discontinuously printed, yet the pattern may be
recognized by direct inspection of a finger, and clearly defined impressions may be
made after these occupations are abandoned. Comparison with earlier prints shows
that no alternation of the pattern of ridge details has resulted.
Leprosy may produce coetaneous disintegration of greater or lesser degree. When
the damage is slight and superficial, the original characteristics of the skin may be
restored. Deeper invasion of the disease process permanently effaces dermatoglyphics
in the region involved. Excessive exposure of the hand to the action of X-rays may lead
to similar damage of the skin.
Burns, caustic agents and wounds produce no permanent effect if the injury is not
deep enough to destroy the papillae. Cuts and abrasions lead to varying degrees of
damage to the ridges. An extremely shallow linear cut may leave no perceptible
permanent defect. Should a wound be deep and extensive, or should active infection
occur, the ridges exhibit permanent interruptions and distortions associated with
scarring. As a rule, even slight injuries may be readily distinguished from the skin
creases which in prints appear as “white lines”.
Total destruction of finger prints obviously would result in loss of their identifying
characteristics. The loss may not be total even when an individual tries to destroy this
evidence of identity.

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USE OF FINGERPRINTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

1. Identification of criminals whose fingerprints are found at the crime scene.
2. Identification of fugitives through comparison of fingerprints.
3. Assistance to prosecutors in defending their cases in the light of defendant’s
previous records.
4. Furnishing identification data to probation or parole officers and to parole boards
for their enlightenment in decision making.
5. Exchanging of criminal identifying information with identification bureaus of
foreign countries in cases of mutual interests.
6. Means of personal identification.
7. Identification of unknown deceased.
8. Prevention of hospital mistakes in the identification of infants (in some countries)
9. Identification of persons suffering from amnesia whose fingerprints are on file.
10. Identification of missing persons.
11. Personal identification in disaster work.
12. Licensing procedures to automobiles, firearms, aircrafts and other equipment.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY OF FINGERPRINT

 The ultimate purpose of fingerprints is to provide the most positive means of personal
and criminal identification.
ALLIED SCIENCE OF FINGERPRINT
1. Poroscopy – the science which deals with the study of the pores found on
the papillary or friction ridges of the skin for the purpose of identification.
2. Chiroscopy – the science of palm print identification.
3. Podoscopy – the science of footprint/footwear identification.

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Chapter 2
FRICTION RIDGES OR PAPILLARY RIDGES
1. Friction Ridge breath – the width of the friction ridges varies in different areas as well as
in different people. In general, they are narrower in females and wider in males
2. Ridges units and pores – pore ducts open along the top of the friction ridges. Each
ridge unit has one sweat gland and a pore opening randomly somewhere on its
surface. Eccrine glands contain approximately 99% water and 1% solid.
3. Specific ridge path – the friction ridge have been compared to corduroy, but unlike
corduroy they are not continuous in nature. The path taken by the ridges may
branch, start or stop, turn, twist, or thicken and narrow independently.

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4. Incipient friction ridges – narrow and often fragmented ridges may appear
between normal friction ridges. These are called incipient, rudimentary, or nascent
ridges.
They differ from the typical ridge by being thinner and fragmented
. Incipient
5. Friction ridge imbrications – in some areas of the volar surfaces, the friction ridges all
tend to lean on the same direction. Imbrications ridges vary among individuals and
even the regions of volar areas where they are found.
6. Overall friction ridge pattern - The friction ridges form patterns on the volar. The
most common are concentric, looping, or arching formations. Friction ridges
patterns also enhance the ability of volar skin to resist slippage. The pattern also
enhances tactile sensitivity due to the increased friction.
RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
Identification of fingerprints relies on pattern matching followed by the detection of

certain ridge characteristics, also known as Galton details, points of identity, or
minutiae points with a reference print, usually an inked impression of a suspects print.
The light areas of fingerprints are called ridges while the dark areas are called valleys.

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BASIC AND COMPOSITE RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS (MINUTIAE)
1. A ridge ending is one end of a long island. The island is long that the ends are not
easily recognized as being from the same island.
2. A bifurcation is where the ridge path divides forming a Y shape with having the
same length
3. An island /dot in strict usage is the ultimate abbreviation ridges structure, a unit
bearing but one sweat pore.
4. A lake (ENCLOSURE) a bifurcation which does not remain open but which legs of the
bifurcation after running alongside for a short distance come together to form a
single ridge once more.
5. A spur is where the ridge path divides and one branch comes to an end (leg in
shorter)
6. An incipient ridge is unusual type of ridge found in the small percentage of patterns.
They are short, narrow badly formed ridges found between two well-formed and
full- bodied ridges which is frequently interrupted.
7. A short ridge has two or more ridge units with both ends easily recognized as being
from the same island.
8. A ridge bridge (cross) is connecting, ridge between two ridges.
9. A double bifurcation is a bifurcation where one of the ridge paths bifurcates.
10. A trifurcation is a when two bifurcation develop next to each other on the same
ridge, a unique formation.
11. An opposed bifurcation are bifurcations found on both ending of a ridge.
12. A ridge crossing is the point where two ridges cross each other forming an “X”
formation.
13. An overlap is where two ridges ends meet and overlap on a bias.

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TYPELINE AND PATTERN AREA
Type lines or skeleton of pattern are two innermost ridges start parallel, diverge, and
surrounded or tend to surround the pattern area. They serve as basic boundaries of a
fingerprint pattern.

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The pattern area is the part of a fingerprint pattern in which the core, delta and ridges
appear enclosed by the type lines.
CORE AND DELTA LOCATION
The core and delta are the focal points of fingerprints pattern except in arch pattern.
The core is a point on the ridge formation usually located at the center or heart of the
pattern. The core is also known as “INNER TERMINUS”.

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TYPE LINE
A delta or “OUTER TERMINUS” is a point on the ridge formation at or directly in front or

near the center or the divergence of the type lines.
RULES IN CORE LOCATION
1. The core is placed upon or within the inner most sufficient recurve.

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2. When the innermost (core) sufficient contains an even number of rods rising as high
as the shoulders, the core is placed upon the end of the center rod whether it touches
the looping ridge or not.
3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains an uneven number rods rising as high
as the shoulder, the core is placed upon the two center rods being treated as though
they were connected by a recurving ridge.`
RULES IN DELTA LOCATION
1. The delta may not be located at a bifurcation which does not open towards the core.

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2. When there is a choice between a bifurcation and another type of delta equally close to
the point of divergence, the bifurcation is selected.
3. When there is a series of bifurcation is opening towards the core at the point of
divergence of the two type lines, the bifurcation nearest to the core is chosen as
the delta.
4. The delta may not be located in the middle of the ridge running between the type lines
towards the core, but at the nearer end only.
5. If the ridge enters the pattern area below the divergence the type lines, the delta
must be located at the end nearest to the core.

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FORMS OF DELTAS
1. Dot
2. Bifurcation

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3. Ending ridge
RIDGE COUNTING AND RIDGE TRACING
Ridge counting - it refers to the process of counting the ridges that touches or cross an imaginary
line drawn between the core and delta.
Ridge tracing – it is the process of tracing the ridge that emanates from the lower side of the left
delta to the right delta to see where it flows in relation to the right delta.

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PATTERNS AND INTERPRETATION (EIGHT STANDARD FINGERPRINT PATTERNS)
A. LOOPS
1. Radial loop – a loop is radial when the opening end of the ridge points in
the different direction of the thumb side of either the left or right hand.
2. A loop is ulnar when the opening end of the loop ridge points in the direction of the
little finger side either the left or right hand.

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B. WHORLS
1. Plain whorl – a fingerprint pattern in which there are two deltas in which at least
one ridge makes a turn through one complete circuit. Imaginary line drawn
between the two deltas must touch or cross at least one of the circuiting whorl
ridges within the pattern are
2. Central pocket loop whorl – a fingerprint pattern which form the most part of a
loop, but which has a small whorl inside the loop ridges, sometimes called “a
composite pattern” which means that it is made up of two patterns in one, a whorl
inside a loop.

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3. Double loop whorl - a fingerprint pattern consisting of two separate and distinct
loop formations. One of the loops surrounds or overlaps the other, also called
“composite patterns” like the central pocket loop whorl. It arises from the fact that
these patterns are composite or combination of two patterns in one with two cores
and two deltas.
The two loops in a double loop whorl need not comply with all the requirements for a
loop pattern that no ridge count is necessary for both loops in the formation.
The two loops do not have the same length nor the same size. All that is
required is that there be two separate and distinct loop formation, two sets of
shoulders and two deltas.
4. Accidental whorl – a fingerprint pattern that is a combination of two or more

different types of pattern except in plain arch. It can be a combination of a loop and
a whorl, a loop and a central pocket loop whorl or any combination of two different
loops and whorl patterns.

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Unlike the other whorl type patterns, an accidental whorl can be having two, three or
four deltas. An accidental whorl pattern is one that looks like a conglomeration of
ridges.
C. Arches
1. Plain arch – a fingerprint pattern in which the ridges enter on one side of the
pattern and flow towards the other side, with a rise in the center with not more
than one of the four requisites for a loop and with no recurving ridge, no angular
formation, and no upward trust.
2. Tented arch – a varietry of arch family but their ridge formation are not so simple
as those of a plan arch, also considered “transitional pattern” between a plain
arch and a loop.
Questionable patterns – these are patterns that do not have definite identification. These
patterns may seem to have characteristics of two or more types of fingerprint patterns. The

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figure below has two loop formations. The one on the left, however, has an appendage
abutting upon the shoulders of its recurve at a right angle. The left portion of the impression,
therefore, is of tented arch type. The combination of two different types of patterns would be
classified in the whorl group (accidental,but this impression has only one delta). The right
portion of the pattern detail contains a true loop which fulfills all the loop requirements. In the
choice existing between a tented arch and a loop, preference is given to the loop classification
and this impression would be classified as a loop.
CHAPTER 3
The Classification Formula and Its Extension
The classification of fingerprints into distinct groups based on general similarities allows
the fingerprint examiner to search for an unidentified fingerprint within the specific section of the
fingerprint file rather than having to search the whole file. There are numerous classification
system use throughout the world today. These systems are all based on the Purkinje, Galton,
Vucetich and Henry System. However, the adopted classification system is the Basic Henry
System with Modifications and extension by Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Classification refers to the formula derived for the complete set of ten fingerprint
patterns or the arrangement of fingerprint records into groups or subgroups for filing purposes.
The classification formula is composed of the following divisions:
1. Primary classification = PC
2. Secondary classification = SC
3. Sub-secondary classification = SSC
4. Final classification= FC
5. Major classification= MC
6. Key classification = KC
THE PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION- For the purpose of obtaining the primary classification
numerical values are assigned to each of the ten finger spaces whenever a whorl appears, it

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assumes the value of the space in which it is found. Spaces in which types of patterns other
than whorls are present are disregarded in computing the primary.
The values assigned are as follows:
Finger no. 1 and 2 16

-
-
-
-
Finger no. 9 and 10 – 1
Whorls are the primary are also known as numerical patterns, while loops and arches
are the non-numerical value/
The fingers are in set of print are numbered in its natural sequence, beginning with
thumb of the right and as number and with the little finger as 10.
The fingers are grouped into two: the denominator and the numerator as follows:
Numerator (even number)
- Right index finger

- Right ring finger
- Left thumb
- Left middle finger
- Little finger
Denominator (odd number)
- Right thumb
- Right middle finger
- Right little finger
- Left index finger
- Left ring finger
The numerator is the total number of the numerical value of whorls appearing in any of the
even numbered fingers(2,4,6,8,10), while the denominator is the total numerical value of
whorls appearing in any of the odd numbered fingers(1,3,5,7,9). An arbitrary count of one
is always added to the sum of the numerator and the denominator to avoid a classification
of zero over zero.
When no whorls appears in a set of fingerprints, there can be no numerical value,

therefore the primary classification is one-over-one. When all fingers and thumbs contains
or whorls the numerical value of the pattern is the maximum total value of 32/32.

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W R D D U
C U A R X
PC
N 14
D 25
The Secondary Classification – this appears just to the right of the fractional numerals which
represent the primary. It is shown in the formula by capital letters representing the basic types of
patterns appearing in the index fingers of each hand, that of the right hand being the
numerator and that of the left hand being the denominator. There are five basic types of
patterns which can appear:
1. Plain arch A
2. Tented arch------------------------T
3. Radial loop-------------------------R
4. Ulnar loop U
5. Whorls (all the types of whorls)------W
A U D C R
W T X A C
PC SC
N 16 aUr
D 9 Ta
The sub-secondary classification (grouping of loops and whorls) – this is placed on the
classification line just to the right of the secondary. Ridge counts are translated into small and
large, represented by symbols “I” (Inner) and “O” (Outer) for the loops. The whorl tracings are
brought up as “I” (Inner), “M” (Meeting) or “O” (Outer) of the sub-secondary namely:
Right index finger - No.2
Right middle finger - No.3
Right ring finger - No.4
Left index finger - No.7
Left middle finger - No.8

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Left ring finger - No.9
For the purpose of infirmity, a definite number of ridge count is established and is
assigned to each of the fingers involved. This designated number of ridges is the same of both
hands, but varies for different fingers.
Index fingers – one to nine ridge count = I (Inner)

ten or more ridge count = O (Outer)
Middle fingers – one to ten ridge count = I (Inner)

Eleven or more ridge count = O (Outer)
Ring fingers – one to thirteen ridge count = I (Inner)

fourteen or more ridge count = O (Outer)
D R(8RIDGES) U (11RIDGES) U (16 RIDGES) A
INDEX MIDDLE RING
W T U(7RIDGES) A C
INDEX MIDDLE RING
PC SC SSC
N 6 Ra IOO
D 17 Ta -I-
For whorl tracing, the following are the rules:
 Three or more ridges above the right delta is “I” (Inner) tracing, zero, one or two
ridges is “M” (Meeting) tracing, and three or more ridges below the right delta is “O”
(Outer) tracing.
3 or more above the right delta “I”
0,1,2 “M”
3 or more ridges below “O”

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Basic rules for tracing in whorls
1. Tracing always begins at the extreme left delta and stops at the point directly in front
of the right delta.
2. An uninterrupted ridge can be traced from the left delta to the right delta.
3. When tracing suddenly ends, the tracing is continued on the ridge below it.
4. A ridge must definitely end before the tracing may be continued on the ridge below it.
5. When the ridge bifurcates, the tracing is continued on the lower branch of
the bifurcation.
6. When the delta is a dot, the tracing begins on the type line which is the
ridge immediately below the delta.
Sub-secondary Classification for whorls
Sub-secondary Classification for Arches
 The small letter group in the Sub-secondary classification consist of plain arch (a),
tented arch (t), and radial loop (r). Such small letters with the exception of those
appearing in the index fingers are brought up into the classification formula in their
proper relative positions immediately adjacent to the index fingers. A “dash” (-) is
used to indicate the absence of each small letter between the index fingers and
another small letter or between two letters. Thus, if a radial loop appears in the right
thumb, the small letter “r” would be brought up in the numerator column of the
classification formula and placed just to the left of the capital letter representing the
index finger. Similarly, if a plain arch or tented arch or a radial loop would appear in the
middle, ring or little finger of the hand, the small letter representing such a pattern
would be placed on the classification line to the right of the secondary in the numerator
column if the letter is present in the right hand, and in the denominator column if in the
left hand.

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W A T T W
D T A T U
PC SC SSC
N 5 A2T ---
21 TaT ---
D
The Final Classification – this is obtained upon the ridge count of the loop in the right little
finger or both the little fingers. It is indicated on the extreme right of the classification
formula.
RULES:
1. If a loop does not appear in the right little finger, a loop in the left finger may
be used. It is then indicated at the extreme right of the denominator.
2. If no loops appear in the little fingers, a whorl may be used to obtain a final from
delta to core if in the right hand and from right delta to core if in the left hand. If
there are two or more cores (usually in the accidental whorls), the ridge count is
made from left delta (right hand) or right delta (left hand) to the core which is
the least number of ridges distant from the delta.
In double loop whorl, it is counted from the delta to the core of the upright loop.
Where loops of a double loop are horizontal, the nearest core is used.
Should both little fingers be plain or tented arches, no final is used.

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PC SC SSC FC
N
The major classification

The major classification is placed just to the left of the primary in the
classification formula. Where whorls appear in the thumb, the major division reflects the
whorl tracing just as the sub-secondary does.
Where loops appear in the thumbs, a table used to translate the ridge count inti
“S”small, M medium, or L large. In a set of prints having loops patterns in both thmubs,
the ridge count of the left thumb governs the symbol for the right thumb.
Left thumb denominator

1-11 ridges inclusive = S/small
12-16 ridges = M/medium
17 or more=L/Large
Right thumb numerator
1-11 ridges inclusive = S/small
12-16 ridges inclusive =
M/medium 17 ridges or more =
L/large
1-11 ridges inclusive =

S/small 12-16 ridges inclusive=
S/small
1-17 ridges inclusive=S/small
18-22=M/medium
23 or more ridges=Large

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When arches appears in any of the thumb, the rules on small letter group should be followed
in sub-secondary likewise with whorls,
Major classification for whorls
Major Classification for Arches

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The key classification
This represents the ridge count of the first loop appearing in a set of prints, beginning
with the thumb of the right hand but excluding the right and the left little fingers. The key, no
matter where found, is always placed to the extreme left of the numerator of the classification
formula.
In case no loops appear in a set of prints except in the little fingers, ridge count on the
first whorl is applied. If no loop or whorl appears, key is not obtainable.
CLASSIFICATION OF SCARRED PATTERNS/ AMPUTATIONS/ MISSING AT BIRTH
CLASSIFICATION OF SCARRED PATTERNS
1. When an impression is so scarred that neither the general type of pattern nor the
ridge racing or count can be determined with reasonable accuracy, the impression
should be given both the general type value and the sub-classification value of the
other hand.
2. When an impression is partially scarred, i.e., large scars about the core so that the
general type cannot be determined with reasonable accuracy, but the ridges allow
reasonably accurate sub-classification by ridge tracings or counting, the
impression should be given the primary value of the pattern of the corresponding
finger and the sub-classification value as indicated by the ridges of partially scarred
impressions.
3. When an impression is partially scarred and te general type of pattern can be
determined with reasonable accuracy, but the ridges cannot be traced or counted
so as to fall within the proper sub-secondary classification, impression should be
given the ridge count or tracing value of the corresponding finger is of the same
general type. If the corresponding finger is not of the same general type, the
scarred impression should be given the probable value and reference to all other
possibilities.
4. When an impression is so scarred that neither the general type of pattern nor the
ridge tracing or count can be determined with reasonable accuracy, and it so
happens that the corresponding finger of the other hand is similarly scarred, both
patterns are given the arbitrary value of whorls with meeting tracings.

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CLASSIFICATION OF AMPUTATIONS AND FINGERS MISSING AT BIRTH
1. If one finger is amputated, it is given a classification identical with that of the

opposite finger, including pattern and ridge count, or tracing, and referenced to
every other possible classification.
2. If two or more fingers are amputated, they are given classifications identical with
the fingers opposite, with no additional references.
3. If two amputated fingers are opposite each other, boyh are given the
classifications of whorls with meeting (M) tracings.
If all 10 fingers and thumbs are amputated or missing at birth, the classification will
be M 32 W MMM.
M 32 W MMM
If both hands are amputated or missing at birth, the footprints should be taken as they,
too, bear friction ridges with definite patterns.
Partially amputated fingers often present very complex problems and careful
consideration should be given to them. The question often arises as to the appropriate groups
in which they should be filed, i.e., amputation or no amputations. As no definite rule may be
applied, it is a matter of experience and judgment as to their preferred classification.
In instances in which a partially amputated finger has half or more than half of the
pattern area missing, it is given the classification of the opposite finger. It will be filed in the
amputation group under the classification of the opposite finger and reference searches should
be conducted in all possible classifications in the non amputation groups.
Generally, a “Tip amputation,” or one which has less than half of the first joint
amputated, will always be printed in the future. Therefore, a partially amputated finger with
less than half of the pattern area missing is classified as it appears and is referenced to the
opposite finger. It will be filed on the non amputated group and reference searches should be
conducted under the classification of the opposite finger, and in the amputation group.

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CHAPTER 4
CRIME SCENE PROCEDURE
Upon arrival at the crime scene, the fingerprint technician is often faced with a variety of
problems. The biggest problem is crime scene security. All too often, the technician arrives after
the housewife has had a chance to “tidy up” or the eager merchant opens his store for
business.
Then there are unusual “rubber neckers,” curious bystanders, helpful family members
or neighbors who come to console the victim and move that “dangerous weapon” to get it
out of the reach of the children or who wipe up all the blood before it stains the carpet or
furniture.
Preservation of the crime scene means, maintain actual crime scene condition, in
certain duration of time, as it is when the crime was committed. And at the same time, make
maximum effort on the preservation of evidence and other important data, to maintain their
integrity and evidentiary value.
It is said that actual crime scene is the “treasure island of the investigation data” that
much of important evidence remained thereat, even how much of careful plan of criminal act
they may want to be committed, there are still several evidence remained intact at the crime
scene which waved greatly contribute and lead to the speedy identification of the suspect.
Preservation of original condition of the crime scene is to secure the entire crime scene.
This means a suitable preservation measure is very important. It will greatly help in speedy
solution of the criminal incidence.
How do latent fingerprints occur?
o When criminals work, they cannot avoid leaving clues in the form of
fingerprints unless they wear gloves or some other form of protection. Prints
may be produced when someone takes hold of an object or supports
themselves with their hands.
o Prints are formed by friction ridges, which deposit grease and perspiration on
the object touched. Prints may be formed when fingers are contaminated with
foreign material, such as dirt, blood, grease or when the fingers are pressed
against some plastic material and produce a negative impression of the
pattern of the friction ridges.
Where to look for latent prints?
o In robbery investigations, the perpetrator’s print of entry should be at the

beginning area to start a search for prints. If a door was broken open, prints
(including shoe prints) may be located on the lock, the immediate surroundings,
or other places on the door where the entry had been forced. With broken
windows particular attention should be given to search for pieces of broken
glass, which are useful for standards, may contain prints or blood. Fingerprints
may be left on the inside of the window sill, the window frame, and jamb when
the

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perpetrator climbs through the window and grips these parts of the window
frame.
o Searches of fingerprints should be made in areas where the perpetrator is
suspected to have eaten or had a drink. Prints on glass are generally of
good quality. If he removed liquor bottles from the scene, prints may be
found on glasses or on bottles that were moved and examined by him.
o Light switches, circuit breakers, and fuses should always be examined as well
as any light bulbs that were loosened or removed. If the thief used the toilet,
he might removed his gloves if he is wearing such. Prints should be examined
for on the toilet-flush lever, on the door lock, and on any paper that might
have been used.
o Thieves sometimes bring tools or other objects to the scene and leave them
behind. Fingerprints may be detected on papers used to wrap tools, on
flashlight (don’t forget to examine the batteries), and other items such as the
inside of latex gloves.
o All smooth surfaces on which prints could be left should be examined. Whan
examining furniture, do not omit places the criminal may have touched
whwn pulling out drawers, or moving the furniture.
CLASSES OF LATENT PRINTS
1. Visible prints – are those made by fingers smeared with colored

substances such as blood, ink, grease, dirt, or paint. These prints are
seen by the naked eye without their being developed. If the ridges
happen to stand out clearly in them, photographs can be made without
any treatment to the prints.
2. Semi-visible latent prints – these are molded or plastic impressions.
They are prints made in plastic materials, such as soap, melted candles,
wax, paraffin, putty, the adhesive gums of envelope and postage
stamps and the like. These prints need no development, either,
although photograph is more difficult than with visible prints.
3. Invisible latent prints – these are the most common type of chance
impression. Prints that cannot be seen by the naked eye, especially on
papers, card boards, box, and can be developed by the use of the right
kind of powder and chemical to make them visible.
FACTORS AFFECTING LATENT FINGERPRINTS
1. Sweat and body secretions, especially oil being transferred to the

surface from the skin. The condition of a person’s skin and the amount
of oil and sweat normally secreted can affect the quality of the latent
print.
2. The climate will affect the amount of body sweat. Warmer
temperatures produce better prints.

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3. Emotional reflexes also affect sweat and can affect the transfer of body
secretions. Fear and excitement will increase sweat and the amount of
secretions present in the latent print.
4. The amount of pressure applied when touching the surface, the
greater the transfer of secretions and the better the print.
5. Latent fingerprints of children may evaporate quicker than the latent
fingerprints of adults. Prints of a child may completely disappear from
the latent surface in a little as 48 hours. The latent prints of adults, in
contrast, can last a week or longer.
SEARCHING FOR LATENT PRINTS
1. Precaution is important, do not remove the object from the

original position or touch by bare fingers anything that requires
fingerprint examination.
2. Search of latent print should be conducted in a systematic way and
intelligent manner.
3. Attention should be given to object, such as guns, door knobs,
glasses, window, papers, bottles, to protect and preserve any latent
print developed.
4. Amount and quality of powder to be used. The purpose is to develop
latent prints that can be classified, analyzed and identified.
Things that must not be done at the crime scene
1. Do not lift developed latent prints without photographing

2. Do not lift latent print on small movable objects
3. Do not remove object without photographing
4. Do not powder the entire crime scene
5. Do not develop visible latent prints
Pointers to give fingerprint evidence probative value
1. Is the latent print really lifted from the crime scene of the particular
crime in question? This should be supported by a sketch, photographs
and testimonies of witnesses.
2. Is the latent print really left at the crime scene by the suspect during
the commission of the crime? Is there any evidence to the contrary?
3. Is there any possibility of tampering or substitution of the lifted latent
prints from the time of lifting to the time of examination? (observance of
proper marking and chain of custody of evidence)

Page 49 of 51
4. Is it the standard fingerprint really taken from the suspect or is it there

any doubt in the authenticity of the standard fingerprint? (signature of
the suspect and the technician on the standard prints).
METHODS OF DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS
A. PHYSICAL OR POWDER METHOD- suitable materials for this technique

are glass, porcelain, ceramic, pottery, metallic item, plastic, and
bamboo. The principle involved in this technique is that the developing
reagent adheres to the sweat present in the latent print.
a. Black powder – this is applied on white and smooth surface.
b. White or aluminum powder – this is applied on black and
smooth surface.
 The two types of powder involve the “Principle of Contrast”
to develop latent prints.
 These powders are applied on the surface
through brushing.
c. Lycopodium powder – this is applied on leather bags. It is directly
placed on the surface using a blower to spread the powder instead of
a brush. It is also used to develop latent prints on human skin with
the use of gelatin paper.
Procedure:
1. Lift the latent print from the human skin using a fingerprint
lifting material.
2. Mount it on the gelatin paper.
3. Apply lycopodium powder.
d. SP Black powder – mix oxidizing iron into aluminum powder with
weak adhesive powder powder. When subjected evidence surface is
white color, this powder is used more frequently to m,ake clear
appearance for identification, on detected fingerprint, than the
aluminum powder.
B. CHEMICAL OR LIQUID METHOD
Common reagents:
a. Ninhydrin solution – it is used to detect latent prints on

absorbent materials, white wood, blood stained fingerprint,
paper wrapping of cigarette stick, etc.
Preparation: 0.5 grams of ninhydrin powder mixed with 100 ml

of acetone of ethyl alcohol.
Method: Brushing, Immersion, Spraying

Page 50 of 51
Procedure: brush ninhydrin solution on the surface of the material.

Evaporate acetone with heat (natural) or using flat iron after inserting
the material in between pages of paper.
Note:
1. Do not touch on the suspected object/evidence with bare hand. If

you touch with bare hands your fdingerprint will be possibly left or
marked on the surface of the object touched. Carelessness on
handling evidence will destroy the suspect’s fingerprint.
2. For the cigarette butts, remove the filter before processing
with fingerprint developing reagent.
3. Heating temperature should be below 100 degree Celsius. Avoid
using the flat iron directly on the surface.
4. Acetone has strong flammable character, dry it first before
adding heat.
5. Mind ventilation. Big volume of aspiration is dangerous to your health.
6. The disadvantage of this solution is that it destroys printed
handwriting/ signature on paper made by ballpen, fountain pen, sign
pen, etc.
7. Detected fingerprint by ninhydrin solution will gradually disappear
as time passes. On record of experimentation, developed
fingerprint disappeared perfectly after 6 months.
8. Photographing should be done after the prints are developed with
ninhydrin solution.
b. Ninhydrin Petroleum Benzine Solution – this is applied on

printed materials. The advantage of this method is the non
destruction of written letters made by ball pen and other ink.
Preparation: 0.5 of ninhydrin powder is dissolved into ml of ethyl alcohol.
Dissolve ninhydrin powder into ethyl alcohol first, then into the benzene.
Add 90 ml of petroleumbenzine, and mix it well to make 0.5% ninhydrin
petroleum benzene solution.
Procedure: dip brush into the solution and apply it on the suspected
surface evenly. Evaporate petroleum benzene and add heat using flat
iron. Photograph the developed latent print.
c. TMB (tetramethyl benzedrine) – with this method, the

invisible amount of blood stained fingerprints can be
detected.

Page 51 of 51
Fingerprint on kitchen knife, and other blades used as a weapon, effectively

detected.
Preparation: Solution A – 100 ml ethanol consist of 0.5 of TMB powder solution
Solution B – ethanol added to the same amount of distilled water, and

30% mixed up in 9:1 ratio peroxide.
d. Neo SPWA method (Invented by Nobuo Yamauchi- Japanese

fingerprint Expert) – applied on wet surfaces (plastic bag, metal
product, plastic product, vehicle body, bathroom tiles, weekly
magazine cover, glass product, smooth surface with no water
absorbent), adherent surface of adhesive tape, the magnetic card
and crappy plastic bag.
Preparation: Few drops of Isopropyl alcohol (70% content) added to 1 gram of

black powder. Add 7-10 ml of water and mix well.
Method: dip brush on the reagent and brush it over the suspected surface.
Leave for 30 seconds and wash away excess powder. When prints are detected,
photograph it.
Procedure:
o Before starting to work on the suspected area, take

a photograph to record the original appearance.
o Apply solution a using a brush, then solution B after it dries.
o If there is an existing blood stained fingerprint, it will turn
into blue green color. Photograph such print.
e. Victoria Pure Blue Method – this is used to detect latent prints
on leaves, scotch tape, and masking tape.
Preparation: 1 gram of Victoria pure blue mix with 1 liter of ordinary water to
make 0.1% of Victoria pure blue solution.
Procedure: dip or soak the suspected object in a tray containing the solution
for 30 seconds to one minute and observe how the prints appears, then wash it
with water. Photograph the developed print. The developed print can remain
for several months and years depending on its preservation.

Page 52 of 51
OTHER CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT PRINTS
1. Colloidal Gold Universal Fingerprint Developer – a newer process

developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This process which is used
by the FBI and Secret Services, can effectively develop prints on plastic,
bank checks, counterfeit money, metal and skin, even after cyanoacrylate
or ninhydrin have failed.
2. Amino black – a dye sensitive to properties of blood and may be used
with contaminated/ visible prints involving blood. It has the capability to
turn blood proteins to a blue-black color.
3. Crystal violet – it is used to develop latent prints on the adhesive side of
almost any kind of tape. It may also be useful on plastic surfaces. Crystal
violet is mixed with water and the tape is soaked in the solution. The tape
is then rinsed with tap water. Any latent print that appears is dyed a
purple color. The results can be enhanced by viewing the treated area
under laser illumination.
4. Iodine fuming – it is the oldest and most proven method of developing
latent prints on porous, particularly paper and nonporous surfaces. If the
subsequent use of ninhydrin maybe required, the iodine fuming should be
done first.
5. DFO (1, 8 – diazafluoren -9- one) – this is a ninhydrin analogue. It reacts
with proteins to give a highly florescent red colored product, which is more
sensitive than ninhydrin. These red prints may be immediately visible to the
naked eye. DFO developed prints fluoresce under almost all laser
alternative light sources. Ninhydrin may be used in conjunction with the
DFO; however, DFO must be used first.
6. Small Particle Reagent (SPR) – this is a technique opf developing latent
prints that have been immersed in water, as when a perpetrator has
attempted to dispose of a firearm used in a crime by throwing it into a river
or lake. It is also used to develop prints on dew or rain swoaked cars, on
surfaces covered with residue, such as salt from being near the ocean; and
on waxed materials, plastic, tiles and glass. Developed prints appear dark
gray on a light surface and light gray on a dark surface. Although SPR can
be sprayed on an object, immersion of the object for about 30 seconds in an
SPR solution produces better results.
7. Rhodamine 6 G – this is an excellent fluorescent chemical dye to be used
on metar, glass, leather, plastic, wood and many other types of non-
absorbent surfaces. Rhodamine 6 G may enhance latent prints already
developed and also reveal others.
8. Basic Yellow 40 – following superglue fuming, basic yellow 40 can be
effectively used on surfaces such as cans, leather and plastics. The article
is

Page 53 of 51
soaked in basic yellow 40 solutions for about one minute; it will then fluoresce
well under alternate lighting.
9. Physical developer (PD) – also called stabilized physical developer or SPD.
PS is a silver-based solution used as a substitute for the conventional latent
print silver nitrate procedure. PD is useful in detecting latent prints on
porous surfaces which are wet or have been wet, e.g. paper, cardboard,
and raw wood. The technique may be used following ninhydrin. PD reacts
with components of sweat and appears in shades from gray to almost
black. PD developed prints are preserved by photography.
C. GAS METHOD
1. Super glue or cyanoacrelate – the cyano bond’s brand name in the
Philippines is mighty bond. This is applicable to metals,
plastic/synthetic resin, painted wood or metal, leather products,
adhesive tape (adherence surface side, not the sticky side), glossy-
paper, plywood and skin of the human body.
PROCEDURE:
1. Cyano gas treatment method

a. Few drops of cyanoacrelate mighty bond drop on the
gauge/cotton cut in to 4-5 cm.
b. Place it into the container with cover, like plastic bag with closed
opening; fix its position in order not to get in contact to the
subject object.
c. Wait for 15-20 minutes while observing fingerprint exposure
condiytion. Reaction to moisture in thye fingerprint, crystals in
white color fingerprint can be observed with the naked eye.
d. Take photograph as the fingerprints is formed into white color.
2. Cyanoacrelate adherence method
a. White paper (nature of this paper is no absorbent, prevent
cyanoacrelate bond not to de absorbed), cut into the suspected
surface (fingerprint) size. Drop few drops 1-3 drops (0.1 - .3 g)
of cyano bond.
b. Leave the paper for 2-3 seconds and shake slightly and make
it semi-dried condition.
c. Place this semi-dried cyano bond applied paper on the suspected
surface (fingerprint) area with plastic to prevent gas evaporation.
d. Within 10-20 minutes, fingerprint exposed in white color.
e. Take a photograph record of the detected fingerprint.

Page 54 of 51
3. Fuming box method

a. Metal box (made in japan) 40x40x50 cm size developed for this
purpose of fingerprint sampling by cyanoacrylate method. The
bottom part consists of a round .05 hot plate. Heat of this hot
plate agitates the evaporation condition of cyanoacrelate group
of bond glue and shortens time detection. The window has 5x5
cm size.
b. Switch on to heat up the plate
c. Open the cover of the fuming box and place the suspected
objects/materials.
d. Few drops of cyanoacrelate (mighty bond) on the hot place
e. Put the cover and wait for 7-8 minutes.
f. Take a photo record of the developed prints

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FIne Arts (Dominican College of Sta. Rosa)

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THE BASIC OF FINGERPRINT COMPILATION NOTES

One of the most important parts of a forensic investigation is fingerprinting. As

The basics of fingerprint

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Fingerprint as in impression is the reproduction on some smooth surface of the pattern

Fingerprint as a science is the IDENTIFICATION of a person by means of the ridges

Dactyloscopy is the identification of a person through the examination and comparison

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF DACTYLOSCOPY

1. Civil identification of the newly born

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF FINGER PRINTING PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE

The basics of fingerprint

WHITTLED PIECES BAMBOO

The basics of fingerprint

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The basics of fingerprint

The basics of fingerprint

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 William Frederick Bade, Director of the Palestine Institute of Archeology, conducted

The basics of fingerprint

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HOLLAND AND ANCIENT CHINA

 Identification if individuals were by means of branding, tattooing, mutilation and

INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF FRICTION RIDGE INIDIVIDUALITY

SIR WILLIAM J. HERSCHEL

The basics of fingerprint

Dr. J.C.A Mayer (1788) of Germany

Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930)

 While accompanying a friend (American archaeologist, Edward S. Morse) to an

The basics of fingerprint

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Dr. Henry P. De Forest

Capt. James I. Parke

 Mccloughrey was Warden of the Federal Penitentiary of Leavenworth when the

 She was the first American Instructor in Dactyloscopy

The basics of fingerprint

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Juan (Ivan) Vucetich (1855-1925)

Sir Edward Henry (1850-1931)

The basics of fingerprint

identify criminals. He developed some doubts about the accuracy of the

FINGERPRINTING IN NORTH AMERICA (1877-1900)

Gilbert Thompson (1882)

New York State (1903)

Fingerprinting in Canada (1904-1920)

The basics of fingerprint

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Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712)

Govard Bidloo (1685)

 Bidloo, anatomist in Amsterdam, Holland, published a book on human anatomy

Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694)

JCA Mayer (1788)

Johannes (Jean) Evangelista Purkinjie (1787-1869)

 A professor at the University of Breslau, Germany, published a thesis that contained

Arthur Kollman (1883)

The basics of fingerprint

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Harris Hawthorne Wilder (1864-1928)

 A professor of zoology at Smith College, Massachusetts that in 1896, while he was

Harold Cummins (1893-1976)