FINGERPRINT

IDENTIFICATION AND
TECHNIQUES

SHEILA MAE CABRERA, RCrim

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Application of principle of
various science to law and uses
principles of various studies
that would give light to certain
legal issues.
FINGERPRINT
• It is a design,
impression, or a
pattern produced
by a ridges of the
first joint of human
finger.
• Fingerprint is the
cornerstone of
forensic
identification
DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINT

 INDIVIDUALITY (Variation)- that the complex of the

ridge details in a single fingerprints or even part one is not
duplicated in any other finger.
 PERMANENCY (Constancy, Perennial,
Immutable)- that fingerprint do not change in its ridge
characteristics of fingerprint pattern through out or life
time of an individual and they persist after DEATH until
the skin is decomposed.
 INFALLIABILITY- that fingerprint is absolute and cannot
be forged.
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

Itis the determination of

individuality of a person, which
based on the unique features or
peculiarities of a person
DACTYLOSCOPY

It came from the Greek words

“Dactylos” meaning a finger or toe and
“Skopien” means to study or examine.
It refers to the Identification of persons
through examination and comparison of
fingerprint.
DACTYLOGRAPHY- a science of fingerprint classification for the
identification purposes.

POLYDACTYL- appearance of extra finger.

DACTYLOMANCY- attempt to read the characteristics and personality

of a person based on his/her fingerprint.

DERMATOGLYPHICS- are the lines, tracings, and designs on the skin of

the finger, palm, and soles of the feet
 RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
1. Recurving Ridge - a single ridge that curves back to the direction where it started.

2. Ending Ridge - it refers to an abrupt end of a ridge.

3. Enclosure or Lake Ridge - a single ridge that divides into two but does not remain open
and meet at a certain point to form the original single ridge.

4. Sufficent Recurve - a recurving ridge which is complete with its shoulder free from any
appendage.

5.Diverging Ridge - two ridges that split apart.

6.Converging Ridge - two ridges that meet at certain point.

7.Bifurcation - a ridge formation in which a single ridge splits or divides into 2 or more
ridges.

8.Ridge Dot (Island Ridge) - refers to a ridge formation in a form of a dot or period .
9.Appendage - a short ridge found at the top or summit of a recurve.
10.Rod (Bar) - a short or long ridge found inside the recurve directed towards the
core.

11.Obstruction Ridge - short ridge found inside the recurve which blocks the inner
line of flow towards the core.

12.Typelines - a diverging ridge that tends to surround the pattern area and serves
as a basic boundary of fingerprint impression.

13.Pattern Area - a part of a loop or whorl pattern surrounded by typelines and

consisting of the delta, the core and other ridges.

14.Delta - also called the outer terminus, is a point along the ridge formation found
at the center or near the center of the diverging typelines.

15.Core - also called the heart or inner terminus, usually found at the center of the
innermost recurve.
Rules in Selecting Core

 (1) The core is located on the

shoulder of the innermost loop
farthest from the delta.
 (2) The core is located on the spike or
rod in the center of the innermost
recurve, provided the spike or rod
rises high as the shoulders.
Rules in Selecting Delta

 (1) When there are two or more possible

bifurcation deltas that conform to the
definition, the one nearest the core should
be chosen.
 (2) The delta may not be located in the
middle of a ridge running between type
lines towards the core, but at the end
nearest to the core.
 (3) A dot may be used as a delta.
FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION
 1. Key Classification
 2. Major Classification
 3. Primary Classification
 4. Secondary Classification
 5. Sub-Secondary Classification
 6. Final Classification
1. Primary Classification
 The sum total of the numerical values of WHORLS and its
composite.
*Pairing
*Assigning Numerical VAlues
*Designing Numerator and Denominator
*Summing up the pre establish Fraction of 1/1
2. Secondary Classification
 The writing of the type of Fingerprint pattern with the corresponding symbols each
name.
 CAPITAL letter series concern only in INDEX finger
 SMALL letters for the left and right thumb, middle, ring and little finger but only
RADIAL, PLAIN ARCH, and TENTED ARCH are included.

Plain Arch -A r - radial

Tented Arch -T a - plain arch
Radial Loop -R t - tented arch
Ulnar Loop -U
Plain Whorl -W
Central Pocket Whorl - C
Double Loop Whorl -D
Accidental -X
3. Sub- Secondary Classification
 Loops Whorls
Index
1-9 Index “I” “I”- Inner - 3 or more ridges
10 or more Outer “O” (inside/above)
Middle “O”- Outer - 3 or more ridges
1-10 Index “I” (outside/below)
11 or more Outer “O” “M” - Meeting- meet exactly
Ring (1-2 ridges)
1-13 Index “I”
14 or more Outer “O”
4. Major Classification
 Ridge Counting- Loops THUMB FINGER ONLY!!!!
 Whorl Tracing- Whorls
Table 1 Table 2
1-11 Small “S” 1-17 Small “S”
12-16 Medium “M” 18-22 Medium “M”
17 or more Large “L” 23 or more Large “L”

Loops
 If the ridge count of left Thumb is 1-16. Table 1 (Right and Left Thumb)
 if the ridge count of Left Thumb is 17 or more *Table 1- Left, Table 2- Right
Whorl
Inner (I) 3 or more intervening ridges above (↑) right delta
Outer “O” 3 or more intervening ridges below (↓) right delta
Meeting “M” 2 or less intervening ridges either above or below
5. Final Classification
LITTLE FINGER ONLY!!!

Ridge Counting- Loops and Whorls

Whorl
W & C - treat as Ulnar Loop
D- Upright loop
X- least ridge count

*Exhibitation of Right Count of Loops and Whorl

6. Key Classification
 First loop in set of Prints
*Except: Little Fingers (Final Classification)

• If no loop found
• The first whorl will be ridge counted