INTRODUCTION TO

CRIMINALISTICS
 What is CRIMINALISTICS?
Its term was introduced by Hans Gross, father of
Criminalistics
It is a branch of forensic science which includes
1) personal identification, 2) police photography,
3) forensic ballistics, 4) questioned document
examination, 5) polygraphy, and 6)legal
medicine. It is a study of physical evidence
through laboratory work.
 What is FORENSIC SCIENCE?
This is derived from the Latin word “forum” which
means “a market place” where people gather for
public disputation or public discussion (Del Rosario,
1996).
This is a broad field in which criminalistics is just one
branches. It is the application of science to law.

*Edmond Locard- Father of Forensic Science

 Technological Division of Criminalistics
A. Fingerprinting (Personal Identification)
B. Forensic Photography
C. Questioned Document Examination
D. Polygraphy (Lie Detection)
E. Forensic Medicine; and
F. Forensic Ballistics
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
 What is PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION?
It refers to the different methods of determining the
identity of individual.

The focus in the study of Criminology would be

Dactyloscopy because it is the standard method used
by law enforcement agencies in establishing identities
of suspects and victims
 What is DACTYLOSCOPY?
The term is derived from the Greek word dactyl which
means “finger” and “skopien” which means “ to
study” .
This is the science of identification by means of
fingerprints.
What is FINGERPRINT?
These are the impressions made by
the ridges on the inside of the last
joint of the finger or thumb on any
smooth surface through media of an
ink, sweat or any reagent capable of
producing visibility. These are the
marks left when a finger placed on a
surface.
ANCIENT CHINESE- The first to use
fingerprints as a means of identification by
imprinting fingerprints in their primitive
contracts.

There are several scientists and criminalists

who contributed to its development but these
are the only two of those recognized:
1. Marcelo Malpighi- grandfather of
dactyloscopy
2. Sir Edward Richard Henry- Father of
modern fingerprints
In Law enforcement and Criminal
Investigation, taking and examination of
fingerprints are part of standard operating
procedure.
Fingerprints collected at the crime scene can
lead to the unidentified dead bodies because
of violent crimes and natural calamities are
established through their fingerprints.
Fingerprinting is one of the core
competencies of the following:

1. Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) in

the unit PNP
2. National Bureau of Investigation Crime
Laboratories
HOW TO USE FINGERPRINT
WITH IDENTIFYING A
SUBJECT?
HENRY SYSTEM

This is the fingerprint classification system

being used by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation(FBI) in the United States of
America which is also the system used by
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the
Philippine National Police (PNP).
EIGHT (8) TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
IN HENRY SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
1. Plain Arch
2. Tented Arch
3. Ulnar Loop
4. Radial Loop
5. Plain whorl
6. Accidental whorl
7. Central pocket
8. Double loop whorl
VIDEO CLIP
ARCH
LOOP
 LOOP TYPES
Radial Loop – are named after the radius, a bone in the
forearm that joints the hand on the same side as the thumb.
The flow of pattern in radial loops run in the direction of
radius. (Towards the thumb)
Ulnar Loop – are named after the ulna, a bone in the forearm
that joints the hand. Ulna is on the same side of the little
finger and the flow of pattern run in the direction of the ulna.
(Towards the little finger)
WHORL
 PRINCIPLE OF FINGERPRINT
1. Principle of Individuality

There are no two persons having the same fingerprints.

2. Principle of Permanency/Constancy

Fingerprints remain the same throughout the person’s

lifetime
 PRINCIPLE OF FINGERPRINT
3. Principle of Infallibility

Fingerprints cannot be forged and therefore they provide a

reliable positive means of identification.
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY
 What is PHOTOGRAPHY?
It is an art or science which deals with the reproduction of
images through the action of 1) light upon 2) sensitized
materials, with the 3) aid of camera and its accessories and
the 4) chemical process involved therein.

The term was derived from two Greek words:

Phos – means “light”

Graphos- means to “write”
What is CAMERA?
A light tight box with a lens to form
an image, with a shutter and
diaphragm to control the entry of
the image, a means of holding a film
to record the image and a
viewer/viewfinder to show the
photographer what the image is
(Villaba, 2005)
What is POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY?
This is an art or science which deals with the study of the
principles of photography, the preparation of photographic
evidence, and its application to police work (Villarba, 2008).
This is used for the following:

1. Identification purposes
2. Recording & preserving evidence
3. Recording actions of offenders in surveillance activities
and for court exhibits
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH
CRIMINOLOGY?
1. Photographs have been proven to be valuable evidence
in criminal investigation.
2. Taking photographs of all object in the crime scene will
take part with the Golden rule of Investigation “Do not
touch, change or alter anything until it has been
identified, measured and photographed”.
3. Records and preserves images of victims, objects and
other information for investigation of criminal cases.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
 What is FORENSIC BALLISTICS?
It is one of the branches of the study of Ballistics which
involves the investigation and identification of firearms by
means of ammunition fired through them.
WHAT IS BALLISTICS?
This is a science of motion of projectile and the
condition that affects its motion.
WHAT IS PROJECTILE?
It refers to the non metallic ball which is
propelled from firearm.
What is FIREARM?
It is an instrument for the propulsion of projectile by means
of the expansive force of gases coming from the burning
gunpowder.
 BALLISTICS
Interior/ Exterior/ Terminal Forensic
Internal External Ballistics Ballistics
Study of the Study of the
Ballistics Ballistics
Study of the effect of the motion of
Study of the projectile as
projectile’s projectile’s impact of
motion after the applied to law or
motion while it is the science of
still inside the leaving the gun projectile on
muzzle firearm
firearm the target identification by
means of
ammunition fired
CALVIN GODDARD
 The Father of Firearms Identification
 An American high ranking military officer who first
examined evidence using the principle of forensic
ballistics and to testify as an expert witness which
resulted in the conviction of the accused.
 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
FORENSIC BALLISTICS IN
CRIMINOLOGY?
 What is the role of FORENSIC
BALLISTICS in Criminology?
 Its knowledge and principle are applied in determining the
firearm used in the commission of the offense through the
examination of the bullet found in the crime scene or in the
body of the victim.
 Identify the owner of the firearm found in the crime scene.
If the identity and the location of the offender has already
been determined, then the appropriate criminal case can
now be filed in court.
 It is used extensively in investigation and prosecution of
criminal cases and is able to provide credible physical
evidence.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION
What is DOCUMENT?
 This is any material which contains marks, signs,
symbols either visible or invisible that may presently or
ultimately convey a message or message to someone.

What is QUESTIONED DOCUMENT?

 It is a document in which issue has been raised or which
is under scrutiny (Manlusoc, 2009)
 What is Questioned Document
Examination?
 It is the branch of criminalistics which deals with
examination of handwriting, typewriting and signatures
through the use of scientific tools and instruments to
determine the authenticity or to prove forgery.
 What is Questioned Document
Examination?
 This is not just dealing with determination of the
genuineness of handwriting but also with the ff:
1) identification of printing instruments and photocopiers;

2) detection of erasures, additions and alterations of

documents of all kinds;
3) Analysis of inks and papers and must be familiar with all
types of writing and reproduction implements
 What is FORGERY?
 It is the making or altering an instrument or document
with intent to defraud. It is also defined as a copy that is
falsely represented as original.
What those usually being Forged?
1. Signatures
2. Document
TYPES OF FORGED SIGNATURE:
Simple- forged signature made without any attempt on the
part of the forger to imitate or make a facsimile of the
genuine signature of the person purposed to sign the
document.
Simulated- forged signature made through freehand imitation
of signature to be forged.
Traced- the result of an attempt of the forger to make a close
resemblance of the original by means of tracing processes.
 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION IN
CRIMINOLOGY?
 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION IN CRIMINOLOGY?
Most of the people commit crimes through special skills and
sometimes, even special training, to enable them to commit
these acts.
Albert Osbourne- The Father of Questioned Document
Examination
- the person responsible for raising the level of questioned
document examination to profession.
POLYGRAPHY
 What is POLYGRAPHY?
 It refers to scientific method of detecting deception with
the use of polygraph.
 Its term was derived from the two Greek words “poly”
which means “many” and “graphos” which means
“writings”
What is POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENT?
It refers to instrument designed for recording changes in
blood pressure, pulse, respiration and skin resistance as
indicative of emotional disturbance esp. of lying when
questioned.
The Polygraph Instrument
This is administered by asking
questions to the subject relevant to the
case under investigation. This is
composes of three parts:
1) Pneumograph- records changes in
breathing
2) Galvanograph- records skin
resistance, perspiration
3) Cardiosphymograph- records
changes in blood pressure
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
POLYGRAPHY IN
CRIMINOLOGY?
 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF POLYGRAPHY IN
CRIMINOLOGY?
 This serves as an aid in investigation to help the
investigator in ascertaining if the person under
investigation is being truthful or deceitful
 This helps investigators to eliminate suspects and focus
efforts in locating the real perpetrator.

NOTE: Polygraph test IS NOT ADMISSIBLE as evidence in

court but only a useful tool in Criminal justice system
 IMPORTANT PERSONS IN POLYGRAPHY
 Thomas Jefferson- the first one to use the word “polygraph”
to describe one of his inventions.
 John Larson – was first to be recognized as the Father of
Scientific lie detection because he is the first one to detect
deception and verify truthfulness of a person in a more
scientific way.
 Leonard Keeler- he is recognized as the Father of Modern
Polygraphy for enhancing the polygraph machine by adding
other devices such as Kymograph.
LEGAL MEDICINE
What is LEGAL MEDICINE?
 It is a branch of medicine which deals with the
application of medical knowledge to the purposes of law
and in the administration of justice.
The Medical Jurist
 A physician who specializes or is involved primarily with
medico-legal duties
 It is used interchangeably with 1) medical examiner, 2)
medico-legal officer; and 3)medico legal expert.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
LEGAL MEDICINE IN
CRIMINOLOGY?
What is the role of Legal Medicine in
Criminology?
 This concerns with the examination of medical evidence
requiring knowledge and application of principles in
medicine.
 Used with examination of evidence that only a medical
doctor can do e.g. with crimes resulting in death and
injuries, and crimes involving sexual violence,
 It is the medico-legal officer who examines injuries
caused by different kinds of weapons, such as firearms
and bladed weapons, as a result of violent crimes, injuries
brought by sexual assault, such as rape.

 Used to examine skeletons to determine whether the

skeletons are of human origin or not, in cases where the
identity of the skeleton need to be established.
END