PERSONAL

IDENTIFICATION
THE SCIENCE OF FINGERPRINT
Introduction:
Fingerprints have been used as a means of identification for over 100 years and are
unique to every individual. Hence, fingerprint evidence plays a crucial role in criminal
investigations.
Fingerprints are made up of intricate system f ridges which creates an uneven surface
on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. It’s the arrangement of the ridges and their
certain unique properties which a fingerprint expert will use to make the identification.
The law enforcement agencies are indeed a vital part of the society who are tasked in
the enforcement of laws.
Criminal Investigation is one of the cores of their functions as law enforcers in order
for them to solve a crime and to let justice prevail. Forensic science is indispensable in the
investigation process which is of great help to the investigators to cover other angles of the
crime.
 Topic Outline:
HISTORY OF FINGERPRINT
INTRODUCTION
The development of fingerprint science predates the
Fingerprints are made up of intricate system f ridges which Christian era by many centuries. The formal study began as
creates an uneven surface on the palms of the hand and early as 1685 but has finally gained official use in 1858 by
soles of the feet. It’s the arrangement of the ridges and their Sir William James Herschel, a British chief administrative
certain unique properties which a fingerprint expert will use to officer in Hoogly District of Bengal India. It was in 1882
make the identification. when the first authentic record of official use of fingerprints
was noted in USA. In 1891, Juan Vucetich, an Argentinian
WHAT IS FORENSIC Police, used a system of fingerprint as criminal identification
based on Sir Francis Galton’s studies.
SCIENCE?
The application of scientific technique and
principles in order to provide evidence to legal or WHY FINGERPRINT
related investigations and determination.
IDENTIFICATION?
WHAT IS PERSONAL Fingerprints offer an infallible means of personal
identification. Other visible human characteristics
IDENTIFICATION?
Personal identification is defined as change-fingerprints do not.
establishing the identity of an individual.
FINGERPRIN
T an infallible means of
Fingerprint offers
personal Identification. That is the
essential explanation for having
supplanted other methods of
establishing the identities of criminals
reluctant to admit previous arrest.
 HISTORY OF
FINGERPRINT
 Are there any
ancient records
concerning the
use of Finger and
Palm Prints?
 NOVA SCOTIA
 On the face of a cliff in NOVA SCOTIA, there has been found a prehistoric picture
writing of a hand with crudely marked ridge patterns.

BABYLON
 In Babylonia, the first use of fingerprints for personal identification originated when
Babylonian Magistrates ordered their officers in making arrests and property
confiscation to secure the defendants’ fingerprints.
 Scholars refer to the impression of fingerprints on clay tablets recoding business
transactions in ancient Babylon
 CHINA
 First Country that uses fingerprint; but the usage was not aimed to identify the identity
of individuals, but rather it was used for their “Rituals”, and “ Trade and Commerce”.
 There is no scientific data that can support that Chinese has studied the use of
fingerprint.
 In ancient China, thumb mark were found in clay seals
 In China, fingerprint is called HUA CHI
 Clay Seals of ancient Chinese origin bears thumbprints
 Emperor Tein Shi
 The first Chinese ruler who devised a seal carved from white jade in which on the
one side of it was the name of the owner, and on the other side the thumb mark of
the destitute
 DR. NEHEMIAH GREW

He was known for his contribution in the

filed of Fingerprints, because of the ff:
● He is the first individual who published
a study that includes describing the
existence of ridges and pores in the
hands and feet.
● “PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTION”
- published in 1684
 Govard Bidloo

He was known for his contribution in the

filed of Fingerprints, because of the ff:
● He conducted the study titled
“ANATOMIA HUMANIS CORPORIS”,
describing sweat pores and ridges in
1685.
 Dr. MARCELLO MALPIGHI
“Grandfather of Dactyloscopy”
- An Italian anatomist, known as the Grandfather of Dactyloscopy
- In 1686, he published a study titled, “De Externo Tactus
Organo” – reveals that ridges found on the palm surface have
diverse formation and designs.
- He is also instrumental in discovering the INNER and OUTER
layer of the skin:
- Dermis – inner layer
- Epidermis- outer layer
- Trivia:
- A layer of the skin was named after him, “MAPLPIGHI LAYER”
which is approximately 1.8mm in thickness.
 J.C.A
Mayer

● He published hid study in 1788, stating that the

arrangement of ridges of the skin would
never be duplicated in two persons, only
closer similarities among individual fingerprint
 Johannes Evangelist
FATHER OF
Purkinje
● a Czechoslovakian professor DACTYLOSCOPY
of anatomy at the
University of Breslau

● published a thesis in Latin (Commentio de Examine

Physiogico Organi Visus Et systematis Cutansi –
A Commentary of the Physiological Examination
System: Dec. 22, 1823, Breslau, Germany)
● describing the ridges, giving them names and
established certain rules for classification
(nine groups).
The beginning of
Fingerprint as a
method of
Identification
 HERMAN WELCKER
(1856)

● He took the prints of his own palms and after 41

years (1879) he printed the same palms to prove that
the prints do not change (Principle of Permanency)
except for some scratches due to old age.
Sir. WILLLIAM HERSCHEL
Father of Chiroscopy

● Published a book titled, “The Origin of Fingerprint”

in 1858
● He encourages the fingerprinting of the laborers to
avoid impersonation.
● He used fingerprint system in all jails in India
● The first European to practice fingerprint
identification
 Sir. Henry Faulds

● A doctor of medicine stationed in Tokyo, Japan in

1880, who published an article- “THE SKIN
FURROWS OF THE HANDS” on Oct. 28, 1880
● He points out that chance prints or latent print left at
the crime scene would provide a positive
identification of offenders;
● He recommended the use of a thin film of printers
ink as a transfer medium and is generally used
today
● He also initiated the development and
enhancement of latent prints.
Gilbert Thompson , 1882

● The U.S. geological survey in New

Mexico, used his owned thumb print
on a document to prevent forgery.
● The first known use of fingerprint in
the United States.
Sir Francis Galton , 1888

● British anthropologist that conducted

observation on fingerprints as a means
of identification in the 1880’s.
● He devised a practical system of filling
based on the ridge patterns.
● Discover the three families of fingerprint
patterns (Arch, Loop, Whorl)
● The first Scientist of Friction Skin
Identification
● Established the first Civil Bureau of
Personal Identification in London,
England.
 Juan Vucetich , 1881

● An Argentinian police official, who began

the first fingerprint files based in Galton
pattern types.
● Developed his own system of
classification in 1891 and adopted by
Argentina and other Spanish speaking
countries
● he also claimed the first official criminal
identification by means of fingerprints
left at the scene of crime.
 Azizul Haque and
Hem Chandra Bose, 1897
● Two Indian Fingerprint experts credited
with the primary development of the
HENRY SYSTEM OF FINGERPRINT
CLASSIFICATION- which is used in all
English speaking countries primarily as
the manual filing system files that have
not been scanned and computerized.
 Sir Edward Richard Henry,
FATHER OF FINGERPRINT1900

● The successor of Sir William Herschel

● Developed his own system of fingerprint
classification in 1880
● Adopted by the British Association for
advancement of science in 1889
● His system of identification replaces the
Bertillionage system of identification.
OTHER
Samuel Clemens ( Mark
PERSONALITIES:
Twain)
further developed his theme. Eleven (11) years later, he causes
the publication of “Puddin Head Wilson”, a novel based on
Hintzo dramatic fingerprint identification demonstrated during a court
trial. His story pointed out the infallibility of fingerprint
wrote on the ridge formation, but dealt with the subject identification.
from the viewpoint of anatomy rather than identification.
Sir Henry Forest
Kollman chief Medical examiner of New York Civil Service
an anthropologist who wrote his book on ridges and Commission and an American preacher in fingerprint
pores. He did not associate fingerprints with identification. science in the US for the New York
Rajyadhar
Mary K. Holland
Konai
the first person Herschel printed
the first American instructress in Dactyloscopy
Isiah West Taber
A photographer in San Francisco advocated the use of
the system for the registration of the immigrant Chinese.
 Important Dates in
the
Field of Fingerprints
1901 Marked the official introduction of fingerprinting for Criminal identification
of England and Wales

1902 The New York Civil Service Commission, on Dec. 19, 1902 required all
civil service applicants to be fingerprinted

1903 New York State Prison in Albany claims the first practical, systematic
use of fingerprints in the US to identify criminals.

1903 Fingerprints identification was adopted in the following penitentiaries:

Singing Sing, Napanoch, Auborn and Clinton prisons
1904 The City of St. Louis Missouri, became the first city to adopt fingerprint.
The police department officials adopted the system on October 29, 1904.

1905 Fingerpritning was officially adopted by the U.S. Army. It was known as
the first military use of fingerprint.

1911 The State of Illinois, made the first criminal conviction based solely upon fingerprint
evidence. It was known as the first judicial ruling on such evidence, (People vs
Jennings, 252 Illinois 543-96 NE 1007, 43 LRA (NS) 1206 for 1991).
 Historical Lt. Asa N. Darby
Development in the
Under the management of Lt. Asa N. Darby during
the American occupation in the Philippines, a modern
and complete fingerprint file has been established for
Philippines the Philippine commonwealth.
.
1937
Mr. Jones The first Filipino fingerprint technician employed
by the Phil. Constabulary was Mr. Generoso Reyes.
the first to teach fingerprints in the Philippines Capt. Thomas Dugan of New York City Police
in the Phil. Constabulary. Department and Mr. Flaviano C. Gurrero of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) gave the first
examinations in fingerprints.
1918-The Bureau of Prisons
records show that carpetas (commitment 1933
and conviction records) already bear
The first conviction based on fingerprints was
fingerprints.
handed by the Supreme Court of the Phil. in the
case People vs. Medina and this case is
considered the leading judicial decision in the
Philippine jurisprudence concerning fingerprinting
(December 23).
Historical
Agustin Patricio, 1927
Development in the Top the examination in Fingerprint

Philippines Plaridel Education

Institution
Generoso Reyes Now known as the Philippine College of Criminology-
the first government recognized school to teach the
the first Filipino Fingerprint technician science of Fingerprint and other Police Science;
employed by the Phil. Constabulary founded by Felix Angelo Baustista

1924
Isabel Bernales
The first Filipina Fingerprint technician The first National Bureau of Identification was
created by the act of Congress. The bureau was
established with the U.S. DOJ