FINGERPRINT

(DACTYLOSCOPY)

AVELINO E. ALERIA JR. R.CRIM.

INSTRUCTOR
 HISTORY OF FINGERPRINTS
The development of fingerprint science predates the
christian era by many centuries. They used fingerprints
impressions in recording business transactions in the ancient
babylon.
The formal study began as early as 1686, but finally
gained official use in 1858 by sir william james herschel, a
british chief administrative officer in hoogly district of bengal,
india. Herschel used fingerprints in india to prevent fraudulent
collection of army pay accounts and for identity on other
documents.
In 1880 two major developments were achieved that
ushered to a more wholistics acceptance of fingerprint use.
Dr. henry faulds, an english doctor based in japan, wrote to
publication nature on the practical use of fingerprints for the
identification of criminals.
INTRODUCTION
Fingerprint evidence is the most positive
investigative means of identifying people, because
fingerprint is a unique characteristic to a certain
individual. thus, fingerprint may form on the person
before birth and remain unchanged until the body
decomposes after death. In our first impression we
can say that our fingerprint often look alike, but when
they are examine closely they are different.
Fingerprint found at the crime scene is called as
latent fingerprint that serve as the key to the
perpetrators identification and conviction.
 It must be noted that the classification of
fingerprints is not the same as the identification of
fingerprint, because Classification is a method by
which the impression are transposed into a formula in
order to facilitate the filling and searching of them,
while Identification is the comparing of the fingerprints
of the suspect with any latent ones obtain at the scene
to determine whether identification can be made.
Latent prints are generally invisible fingerprint
lift on an object or surface by the persons who touch
into a certain smooth surface.
 One of the prime functions of the crime
scene investigator is to identify the identity of
the persons involved at the crime scene. The
most accurate way of making an identification
is through the use of fingerprints, which is the
law enforcement’s most powerful weapon.
 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
FINGERPRINT SCIENCE
Ancient Chinese – the first to used fingerprint to
identify business documents in 1892. it is called “Hua Chi” –
fingerprint.
Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694)– is an Italian anatomist and
microscopist who described the pattern on the tips of the finger as
part of an over all study of human skin.
- grand father of dactyloscopy according to Edmund Locard –
father of poroscopy. Frech criminalist.
- He is regarded as the first histologist- is the study of tissues.
Who published a book on his study of ridges and pores.
Dr. Nehemiah Grew (1641-1721) – who describes the innumerable
little ridges and published extremely accurate drawing of finger
patterns and areas of palm. He described the ridges and furrows of
the hands and feet.
1686 – Start of the study of fingerprint
1858 – Officially or finally gained by Dr. Sir William James
Herschel – a british chief administrative officer in hoogly
district of bengal, india
1882 – the first authentic record of official use of fingerprints
was noted in the USA.
JUAN VUCETICH – Argentinian police who use the system of
fingerprint as criminal identification.
Sgt. Kenneth Perrier – 1st fingerprint instructor at the st. louise
police dept. missouri. One of the pupils of sir edward henry.
Mary K. Holland – First american instructor in dactyloscopy.
Johannes (jean) Evangelista Purkinje (1641-1721) –(father
of Dactyloscopy) a Czechoslovakian professor of anatomy
at the university of Breslau, he recognized the
classification element of friction ridge formations but did
not associate friction ridge to a means of personal
identification.
J.C. Mayer – explain that the arrangement of skin ridge is
never duplicated in two persons, and one of the first
scientist to recognize that the friction ridges are unique.
Sir William James Herschel (1833-1918) –(father of
chiroscopy) the first to began using fingerprints in july of
1858. he is the chief magistrate of the hoogly district in
jungipoor, india. First used fingerprints on native
contracts.
DR. HENRY FAULDS (1843-1930) – a Scottish physician
and medical missionary, and the first European who
published an article suggesting that fingerprint may
assist crime investigation by the scientific identification
of criminals.
Who wrote the book “skin furrows of the
hand”. And he called fingerprints officially as “sign-
manual/signatures”.
In 1880 he advocated the use of fingerprint in
the detection of crimes.
THOMPSON – From the U.S. Geological Survey in new
Mexico, used his own thumb on a document to prevent
forgery.
Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1913) –(father of scientific
identification) the first person to used anthropometry as a
method of measuring body parts as a means of identifying
criminals. Bertillon's work was called as “Bertillionge”.
in addition to physical measurements of human body,
Bertillon devised and included in his identification system a
method of describing people verbally. This method is
known by the french name of Portrait Parle which mean
“word picture”
Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) – a British anthropologist and
a cousin of Charles Darwin. Was considered as one of the
best scientist of the 19 th century. He published the book
fingerprint on feb. 12, 1894. he studied Bertillon's method
as well as fingerprinting and believed fingerprinting is the
superior method in identifying criminals. The first to used
the fingerprinting as a means of personal identification.
- devised the first scientific method of classifying
figerprints patterns. (LAW)
Sir Edward Henry – classified as father of fingerprint. The
first to used the work of Francis Galton. And made the
book title “the classification and uses of fingerprints”-
published on Dec. 1900. and was later called “henry
classification system”-it was considered as the modern era
of fingerprint identification. He was the successor of sir
William James Herschel. Henry was appointed as assistant
commissioner at Scotland yard.
G. Budlike – published the treatise describing the sweat
pores and ridges.
Dactyloscopy – it is derived from the word dactyl/dactylus
or dakylus-finger. It is the science which deals the study of
fingerprint as a means of personal identification. Were
officially adopted in France, replacing bertillionage.
 There are two Greek word in Dactyloscopy this are;
Dactyl – a finger Skopein – to examine
DACTYLOGRAPHY – the study of fingerprints for the
purpose of identification.
DACTYLOMANCY – an attempt at character reading
through the pattern of fingerprints.
DERMATOGLYPHICS – are lines, tracings, and designs on
the skin of fingers, palms and soles.
POLYDACTYL – a hand having more than the required
numbers of fingers
CHIROSCOPY – scientific examination of the palm of the
hand. (comes from the Greek word Cheir – palm or hand)
PODOSCOPY – scientific examination of the sole of the
foot. (comes from the Greek word Podo – sole/foot)
POROSCOPY – scientific examination of sweat
pores/glands. (comes from the Greek word Poros- a pare)
Fingerprint- it is a reproduction on some smooth surface of
the pattern, formed by the ridges on the inside of the end
joint of the finger or thumb.
reproduction – because it can be established, copied,
imitate, photograph.
Question: * can a fingerprint be copied? – yes
* can a fingerprint be imitate? – yes
* can a fingerprint be photograph? – yes
*can a fingerprint be forged? – no
ILLINOIS COURT –was the first appellate court to pass the
admissibility of fingerprint evidence. (people vs. Jennings)
 Uses of Fingerprint
1. Identification of criminals
2. Identification of fugitives
3. Assistance to prosecutors in presenting their cases in
the lights of dependants previous record
4. Identification of person
5. Identification of unknown person
6. Identification of person suffering from amnesia
7. Identification of missing person
 Three (3) Dogmatic Principles Of Fingerprint
1. Principle of variations – it explain that no two
fingerprints of two or more persons and /or the same
persons with regards to his own fingers, have ever been
found to be alike in all aspects:
- even if twins, triplets, quadruplets, even quintuplets
are to have different prints.
- why? Because nature never repeats in all details.
2. Principle of Infallibility – fingerprint is an exact science
and therefore it cannot be forge.

3. Principle of permanency – fingerprints patterns never

change during human life. The pattern are said to have
been formed during the 3 rd embryonic period, and have
been formed to be exactly the same during life time, and
even will remain the same after death. until
decomposition sets in and the skin and flesh of the
hands have fallen away. Ridge does not change, except
size, which is the subject to growth and shrinkage.
 THE RIDGE FORMATIONS
Friction Ridges – are the raised strips of skin on the inside
of the end joints of the fingers and thumbs by which
fingerprints are made. Other names for friction ridges are
papillary ridges and epidermal ridges .
Why does nature provide us with this ridges?
Of what use are they?
Why isn’t the skin on the palms of our hands and the soles
of our feet smooth as it is on the backs of our hand and the
tops of our feet?
Answer: because is that the nature has taken this way of
providing the hand and feet with non skidding surfaces. These
surface resist slipping. This is term friction skin.
Structure of the skin
Skin is the essential organ of the human body. Finger,
palm and sole areas of the epidermis display is a series of
friction ridges taking various forms and shapes.
the skin consists of two main layers: the outer skin or
epidermis and the inner or true skin, known as the dermis.

FRICTION SKIN – epidermal hairless skin found on the

ventral/lower surface of the hands and feet covered with
minute ridges and furrows and without pigment and
colouring matters.
 COMPONENT OF THE FRICTION SKIN
•RIDGE SURFACE – is the component of the friction
skin that actually forms the fingerprint impression.
•RIDGES – are tiny elevation or hill like structures
found on the epidermis layer of the skin containing
sweat pores.
- it appears as black lines with tiny
white dots called pores in an inked impression.
* FURROWS – are the canal like impression or a
depression found between the ridges which maybe
compare with low area in a tire thread.
•SWEAT DUCT – is a long host like structure that serves as
the passage way for the sweat that exists at its mouth, the
pore.
•SWEAT PORES – is a small opening found anywhere
across the ridge surface but is usually found near the
center. Sometimes called an island which colors white in
plain impression and is considered as individuals as the
fingerprints.
•SWEAT GLANDS – that glands found in the dermis layer
of the skin which is responsible for the production of the
sweat (watery substance)
 FUNDAMENTAL LAYERS OF THE SKIN
•EPIDERMIS (Stratum corneum) – the outer covering of the skin.
•DERMIS (Stratum mucosum) – the inner layer of the skin
containing blood vessels, various glands and nerves.

RIDGE FORMATION
•Ridges begin to form on the human fetus during the 3rd to 4th
months of the fetus (5 to 6 months before birth)
•DERMAL PAPILLAE – irregular blunt pegs composed of
delicate connective tissues, protruding and forming the ridges
of the skin, each containing a small opening or pores.
•PAPILLAE/papillary layer ( stratum mucosum) – it is the
ending nerve of the epidermis that aid in the sense of touch.
TERMINAL PHALANGE – The particular bone that
is covered with the friction skin having all the
different types of pattern and located near the tip
of the finger.
 RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR VARIATIONS

RIDGES CHARACTERISTICS – (minutiae) are those little

details in the ridge of fingerprint patterns which are in used
in comparing and identifying fingerprints.
- details of ridge structures, formations and
elements which differentiate from one fingerprint from
another and which impart individuality to each print.
 There are four basic ridge characteristics this
are the ff.
•ridge ending - an end point of a ridge with abrupt ending.
•Bifurcation - a single ridge that divides itself in two or
more branches. It sometimes called as fork.
•Dot/island - ridge form like dots.
•ENCLOSURE (LAKE OR EYELET) – a ridge that divides
into two branches and meets to form the original ridge.
(see p. 26 book of Felipe montojo)
 In identification of fingerprints a single rolled
fingerprint may have as many as 100 or more identification
points that can be used for identification purposes. But
there is no exact size requirement as the number of points
found on a fingerprint impression depend on a location of
the print.
scars maybe used as fingerprint characteristics
provided that they appear in two successive prints. That is a
scar appears in the same place on the same finger, in prints
taken in some time apart, on when a scar shows in the
latent print at a crime scene and shows again in the inked
impression taken of a suspect.
 Otherwise, scars are not included as
characteristics of the particular print because they may be
only temporary ridge destructions which will disappear.
1. CONVERGING RIDGE – a ridge formation characterized
by a close angular end and serves as a point of
convergence (meeting of two ridges that were
previously running side by side).
2. DIVERGING RIDGES – two ridges that are flowing side
by side and suddenly separating or spreading apart.
3. RECURVING OR LOOPING RIDGE – a kind of ridge
formation that curves back in the direction from which it
started.
5. SUFFICIENT RECURVE – a recurving ridge complete in it
shoulder and is free from any appendage.
6. APPENDAGE – a short ridge found at the top or summit
of a recurving ridge.
7. ROD OR BAR – a short or long ridge found inside the
innermost recurving ridge of a loop pattern.
8. OBSTRUCTION RIDGE – short ridge found inside the
innermost recurving ridge that spoiled the inner flow
towards the center of the pattern.
9. FRAGMENT RIDGE – a ridge of extremely short length.
FOCAL POINTS – are enclosed within the pattern area.
PATTERN AREA – is that part of a loop or a whorl in
which appear the core, deltas and ridges are located.
CORE – the inner terminus or the approximate center of
a fingerprint pattern.
DELTA – the outer terminus or that point in a ridge at or
in front of or nearest the center of the divergence of the
typelines.
6 DELTA FORMATIONS
1. A bifurcating ridge 4. a short ridge
2. A dot 5. a converging ridge
3. An ending ridge 6. a point on a long ridge
 CAUSES OF RIDGES DESTRUCTION
•Persons doing of manual work – fingerprints of person who
handle lime, cement, plaster or persons whose hands are
continually wet.
•Diseased person
•Warts – defect, imperfection, or a horny projection of the
skin
•Creases – caused by the folding of the skin. A line mark, or
ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance
•Impressions appears as white lines crossings the ridges
•Scar –result of a cut
•Burns
 THE FINGERPRINT IMPRESSION
Fingerprint impressions are merely the
reproduction of the pattern or design form by the ridges on
the inside of the end joint of a finger or thumb, on some
smooth surface through the use of some colored material.
The materials and supplies used in recording
the fingerprint consist of the finger print card, finger print
ink, an inking plate, finger print roller and finger print card
holder.
 TWO TYPES OF FINGER PRINTS FOUND IN A
FINGER PRINT CARD
•ROLLED IMPRESSION – is one made by rolling an inked
finger from one side of the finger nail to the other. It will
record the entire ridge pattern of the nail joint of the finger.
- an impression made or place in the
finger print card which is taken individually by rolling the
fingers of the subject at 180 degrees from tip to the second
joint.
* PLAIN IMPRESION – is one made by pressing an inked
finger directly down upon a finger print card without any
rolling motion whatsoever. It will record only the center
portion of the friction ridge pattern.
 The rolled impression gives a much greater
area of the pattern for study and for classifying.
Furthermore, it provides a larger number of points for
comparison when examining two finger prints to determine
whether or not they were made by the same finger.
 PURPOSES OF THE PLAIN IMPRESSION
•To serve as guide in checking the rolled impression
whether or not the rolled impression were properly place on
their respective boxes.
•To check on the ridge characteristics of the plain
impression, if the rolled impression is somewhat faint, or
indistinct due to bad condition of the friction skin either
temporary or permanently deteriorated or in case of a
doubtful or questionable prints.
•To check the minute details of the ridge characteristics for
purposes of classification and identification.
 SCIENTIFIC WAY OF TAKING FINGERPRINTS
1. Prepare the set – up to printing.
2. Clean the inking plate/slab thoroughly before spreading
the ink. The inking plate is 12inches long, 4 inches wide,
and ¼ of an inch thick.
3. Placed a small amount of fingerprint ink on each side of
the slab and in the center, then start spreading the ink
using the roller back and forth until the ink is evenly
distributed.
4. To check whether or the ink was spread properly or
whether it is enough or not, try to print one of your
finger or put the slab near the light and if brownish
reflection is observe it means you have a good ink for
used.
5. Placed the fingerprint card on the card holder properly to
ensure that proper entry will be easy.
6. Check the hands of the subject. Make sure that it is clean
and dry. If it is perspiring freely, wipe them off with a soft,
clean cloth dampened with alcohol.
7. The technician should stand at the left of the subject in
taking the right hand impression and take the right side in
taking the left hand impression of the subject.
8. Subject should be instructed to stand straight but relax
and do not assist the technician in rolling in his finger.
9. In taking the rolled impression, technician should place
first the right thumb to be rolled towards the body of the
subject while the other fingers not in use is either folded or
closed. Then inked the remaining fingers and rolled it away
from the body of the subject. Make sure to roll the finger
from the tip down to the beginning of the next joint, and
from one side of the nail to the other (180 degrees).
10. Same should be done in the left hand only that the
technician will turn to the right of the subject.
11. Apply only moderate amount of pressure in printing
subjects fingers to avoid blurred prints but hold the subjects
hand firmly so as to prevent pulling that may caused
smeared impressions.
12. To obtain the plain impression, all the fingers of the
right hand should be pressed lightly upon the inking plate,
then press simultaneously upon the lower right hand of the
card and do the same to the left hand.
 REASONS FOR POOR IMPRESSION:
1. Poor Inked – resulting in the ridges being too light to
count or trace.
2. Dirty Finger or Equipment – presence of foreign
materials which may result from failure to clean
thoroughly the inking equipment or the fingers, may
false markings, distorted ridges or disappearance of
characteristics.
3. Improper rolling – failure to roll the fingers fully from
one side to the other resulting in complete prints which
may cannot be fully identified.
4. Rolling more than one
5. To much pressure
6. Slippage – this happens when the fingers are allowed to
slip or twist resulting in smears, blurs and false patterns.
7. Over inking – using to much of an ink resulting
obliteration of the tin layer with the roller.
8. Incomplete inking – failure to ink the entire bulb of the
finger, from joint to tip from side to side of nails, resulting
in the possible omission of deltas and core.
 PROBLEMS IN RECORDING SPECIAL CONDITIONS
1. Temporary Deformities – occupational problems such as
acid workers, plasters, cement mixers, assembly
workers in electrical appliances. In such case the ridges
are not exactly destroyed but they weakend the prints.
2. Permanent Disabilities – one permanent disability is a
case of amputated finger. In such case, proper notation
of such blocks where the amputated fingers is to be
recorded should be made. In case a person without
fingers at birth, it should be noted missing fingers at birth
or born without fingers, if fingers are extremely crippled,
broken or disabled proper notation should be made in
some case.
3. Deformities – in this situation, an infrequent problem of a
person with an extra finger. In which case, the extra finger
should be recorded at the back of the card with the
necessary notation. In case of two thumbs, the inner should
be used for purposes of classification. In webbed finger,
there is no problem on it, the recorder just simply record
the finger together.
 FINGERPRINTING DECEASED PERSON
There is no standard method for fingerprinting
a corpse(a dead body especially of a human being). The
method employed for any particular cadaver depends upon
the condition of the body when the identification officer
arrives at the scene. All methods taken have one object of
view: to obtain a legible set of prints of the deceased
person.
following are the 3 general conditions which
occur.
1. When death is recent, there is no rigor mortis(stiffening
of the body) and decomposition has not yet set in.
2. Death is recent, and rigor mortis has set in. the muscles
have been contracted and the fingers are stiff, but there is
no decomposition yet.
3. There has been a lapse of time since death, or some
special condition (such as bacterial action) exists, and
decomposition has started.

Fingerprinting the newly dead

in fingerprinting the newly dead the fingers of the
cadaver are flexible and it is often to serve inked
fingerprint impressions of the deceased person through
the regular inking process on the standard fingerprint
card.
Fingerprinting the dead, where stiffening of the fingers
or early decomposition are present
in this situation the hands of the deceased
person are clenched, or the fingers tips are wrinkled, or
decomposition has begun or the combination of these 3
conditions. Cases of this case may necessitate cutting off
the skin. Legal authority is necessary before cutting the
fingers of the corpse. Such authority may be granted by
state law or by an official having the authority to grant such
a right.
Fingerprinting the dead in difficult cases
in cases involving badly decomposed bodies
the first thing to do is to examine the fingers to see if all are
present. If they are not, effort should be made to determine
whether the missing finger or fingers or even a hands was
amputated during the persons lifetime, or the loss was due
to other causes.
 LATENT FINGERPRINTS

LATENTPRINTS – are those fingerprints found at the crime

scene, latent means something hidden or concealed, while
some crime scene prints are visible and not hidden.
latent fingerprints are divided into 3
classes;
1. Visible – are those made by fingers smeared with
colored substance, such as blood, ink, dirt or paint.
2. Semi-visible – they are prints made in plastic materials
such as soap, melted candles, wax, tar, pitch, paraffin,
putty, the adhesive gun on envelopes and postage
stamps, and the like.
3. Invisible or hidden – it is the most common type of
chance impressions. They have to be developed first before
they become of any real value.

Crime scene procedure for latent print

When a fingerprint technician is called into a
case to search for latent prints, he usually begins looking
for at the point of break-in or entry which is the door or
window through which the intruder entered the building. If
a window is broken at the place of entry, it is probable that
the intruder removed some pieces of the glass to effect the
his entry. Examine each piece carefully, also inspect the
pieces still remain within the frame.
 Look around the window frame or door jamb as
well as on the removed or broken glass pieces. After the
point of entry has been examined for prints, try to picture
out the intruder’s movements through the building and
follow them searching everything along the way that he
might have touched.
the most likely places to look for prints is on
the case or safe from which valuables were taken. Such as
the jewelry, silverware, or money.
the first duty of a fingerprint technician when
he arrives at the crime scene is to instruct everybody, police
officers, and civilians, to keep “Hands off”. This is one of the
most important things in latent fingerprint work.
 when the search of the premises for latent
prints has been completed, everybody who frequents the
place should be fingerprinted. A great many times people
will become quit indignant at the suggestion of taking their
fingerprints. The purpose is that their prints will be used for
elimination purposes when it comes to checking with the
latent prints found at the scene.
if possible, always photograph a latent print
without developing it. Sometimes the object can be twisted
or turned in such away that the light will strike it and bring
out a distinct pattern in the photograph.
 always a carry a notebook. This is a
requirement required by the profession, for no one can
remember everything.
a simple sketch of the scene must be made.

Developing latent prints

among the 3 types of latent print only the
invisible or hidden kind that need to be developed before
they can be clearly seen or photograph.
developing – merely means applying the
powder to the print in such away that the powder will
adhere to the moisture lift by the ridges of the finger.
 to powder or “dust” a latent print impression:
place the handle of the camel’s hair brush between the
palms of the hand and roll it back and forth fluffing out the
hairs of the brush. Pour out a small portion of the powder
into a sheet of paper. Touch the brush to the powder lightly
so that the hairs will pick up a little of the powder.
sweep the brush back and forth across the
surface on which latent print are suspected to be found. Do
not press the powder into the print. The powder will stick to
the moist ridges without any pressure on the brush. Just as
soon as the powder begins to stick to a print, stop brushing
and examine the print to determine which way the ridges
flow. After that, finish the development by brushing in the
general directions of the ridges as much as possible.
 still another type of latent print brush and
method of development in use today is the magnabrush
technique.

Lifting Latent Prints

there are two types of lifting latent prints;
1. The transparent cellulose tape (two types);
* rolls
* individual lifters
2. The opaque rubber lifters
 when the powdered print is lifted from the
surface on which it was found, it is then placed on a latent
print transfer card for preservation.
in criminal cases, a latent print must, if at all
times be possible it will be photographed before it is lifted.
Remember that it is always best not to transfer a print
unless you have to for the reason or another.
do not powder a latent print unless it is
necessary to do so. It is far better to leave the it alone
provided that it can be photographed without
development.
 never lift a latent print unless it is absolutely
necessary to do so. This applies only to a particular portable
objects which can be carried into the court room with the
chance impressions showing on them.
when you are able to photograph either
undeveloped or developed chance impressions on their
original surface, it is well to jot your name or initials, the
date and some identifying date on a small slip of paper.
 THE IODINE METHOD
Some latent prints cannot be successfully
developed on paper, by the powder method, if the prints
are not fresh. But we can gain excellent results with the
chemical methods.
(take note: when you handle a piece of paper or
cardboard in search for latent prints, be careful not to touch
any part of it except the corners. Use forceps to pick up
letters, checks, photographs, documents and so on. And use
rubber gloves to handle large paper materials such as maps,
magazine covers, and the like.)
 One of the oldest and best processes of
developing latent prints on paper is the iodine
method. In this process the iodine crystal are used. It
is the gases or fumes which they give off that develop
the latent prints. Iodine crystal may be used hot or
cold.
COLD IODINE METHOD
Place about half a teaspoonful of “resublimed
iodine crystal” in a swallow glass dish and put this dish on
the bottom of the iodine fuming cabinet. The document is
fastened by a clip or forceps in the cabinet. (fig. 6.1 – felipe
montojo.)
When the crystal reach the room temperature,
they give off gas which develops the prints in the light,
medium or dark brown color. Sometimes the color is
orange-brown. The process may take from 5 to 30 minutes,
depending on the quantity of crystals used and the
temperature of the room. The more crystals used, the
faster development would be.
 old prints may require one or more hours to
develop, but if you don’t get results in an hour or so, it is
quiet likely that there were no prints there, or that they are
not going to develop. As soon as a print shows sharp, clear
ridges, photograph it immediately, as the image will fade
after a few minutes.

HOT IODINE METHOD

The same procedure as what you’ve did in cold
iodine method, except that here you will use fewer crystal,
as you must use a heating device to obtain the heat. This
method is much more rapid in action. Fresh latent print
develop immediately. But old prints require several seconds
to several minutes. Usually one minute is all that is needed
for fairly old prints.
 A better method is to mix 0.5ounce of calcium
chloride, 50 grains of potassium bromide, and 4 ounces of
water. Mix this up fresh each time you need it. Put a small
quantity in a sprayer with fine nozzle, and spray the
developed prints.
the iodine method, hot or cold, is excellent for
old latent prints, and for latent prints on oily or greasy
surfaces, and on paper. One disadvantage is the fact that
the prints develops in brown color the iodine method would
not be good on dark surfaces. For prints on such dark
surfaces use the pipe method. Powder would not work on
greasy surfaces because the powder would adhere to the
background as well as to the print.
THE IODINE-SILVER-TRANSFER METHOD
old latent prints, and fresh latent prints from
which the moisture has dried out, and fresh latent prints on
multi colored objects such as tin can labels, magazine
covers, and so forth do not develop sufficiently well with
the powder process. On multi-colored surfaces fluorescent
powder can be employed but the iodine-silver-transfer
process is better.
on a multi-colored surface, such as a tin can
label, powder might work, but it couldn’t possibly provide
the necessary contrast for the entire surface. Like for
example; white powder would show all the prints or parts of
prints that were on the dark colors of the label, but would
not show up the prints or print fragments on the light colors
of the label very well.the same thing in black powder.
 the disadvantage is eliminated by an adaption
of the iodine method plus a piece of apparatus called the
fuming pipe.
This fuming pipe it consists of two glass tubes,
one joined to the other by means of a one-hole rubber cork
wherein the two glass tube are connected. The neck of the
thistle tube is inserted into one end of the cork, and the
other end of the cork is placed in either end of the tube
holding the calcium chloride. And the other end of the
calcium chloride tube is placed another rubber cork having
a hole through its center. Then this free end of the second
cork is inserted a thin glass connecting into the tube.
 To develop this kind of process put the free end
of the rubber hose in you mouth and aim the mouth of the
thistle tube toward the surface to be processed. Keep the
open end of the small tube about an inch or two from the
surface being treated. Blow through the rubber tubing. The
calcium chloride crystals dehydrate and warm your breath,
which in turn heats the iodine crystals, causing them to give
off fumes. Within a few seconds the prints will show up. Old
prints should appear in a minute or so.
Take note: never inhale while you have the rubber hose in
your mouth. When it is necessary to take a breath, first
remove the tube from your mouth, otherwise you may injure
the membranes of your throat.
 as you use the fuming pipe, keep it moving-up
and down, side to side and sometimes with a circular
motion – over the surface you are fuming. If you do not
keep the tube moving, you will over develop the prints in
one spot and under develop the prints on the rest of the
surface.
When the latent prints are developed with this
process, their color will be light, medium or dark brown,
and sometimes orange brown. One of the two things can be
done with them. They can be immediately photographed,
or they can be transferred with the silver plate. Whichever is
done, should be done quickly as the prints will soon fade
away.
 When photographing a transferred print on a
silver plate, you should keep on the plate in a dark envelope
while setting up the camera and lights. Because exposure
to artificial light or to sun light will cause the iodine image
on the silver plate will darken and the ridge pattern will
gradually lose its distinct outline.

THE SILVER NITRATE METHOD

In some instances powder methods and the
iodine process will not develop latent print impressions
well, whereas the silver nitrate method will render
satisfactorily results. The latter is particularly successful
when employed on paper, and has even been used to
develop prints on unpainted woods.
 you should be careful when using silver nitrate
because it will stain the hands and clothing. Rubber gloves
may be worn.
in using this method used of 3% solution of
silver nitrate. This solution can be prepared by dissolving 3
grams of silver nitrate crystals in 100 cubic centimetres of
distilled water. The resulting solution will be about 1/10 of a
quart. Larger quantities of it can be prepared by increasing
the quantities of silver nitrate crystals and distilled water.
to use the solution, a quantity of it is poured
into a porcelain tray. The object suspected of having latent
prints is immersed in the solution, making sure that all
surfaces are covered with the silver nitate solution.
 upon removal from the solution, excess
moisture is removed by blotting with clean, white photo
blotting paper.
the article is then exposed to some strong light,
like a photographers photoflood bulb, or bright sunlight.
the develop latent prints can be photographed,
but before removing the object from its light-tight wrapper,
you should set up the camera and lights and be all ready to
take the pictures in the shortest possible time.
Take note: the silver nitrate process should be used in
subdued light. Otherwise the solution will over develop the
prints and unduly stain the surface on which they appear.
 ULTRA VIOLET AND FLOURESCENT POWDER
METHOD
this kind of method is being used for those
multi-colored surface, such as a magazine cover or a tin can
label.
a fluorescent powder is one which glow with a
peculiar light of its own when exposed to ultra violet rays.
Such powder being used is the Antracene – these powder
are applied to the surface just as the regular fingerprint
powder are used. When any prints have been developed on
the surface, turn off the lights in the room, and turn on the
ultra-violet light. The developed latent print will glow with a
fluorescent light. Then it should be photographed while
glowing under the ultra-violet radiation.
 Identifying the proper finger and hand of latent
prints found at the crime scene

In identifying whether which hand does the

latent print at the crime scene, as the fingerprint
technicians you should observe how ridge patterns
generally arrange themselves on finger print cards and how
the ridges generally flow within the individual patterns.
even though there is no concrete, definite rules
can be laid down concerning the naming of which fingers
might have made one or more latent impressions.
 most loop patterns are ulnar loops, so most
loop patterns sloping toward the right will have been made
by right hand fingers, and conversely, most of those sloping
toward the left will have been made by left hand fingers.
Radial loops appear most frequently on index fingers.
(see. Fig.7.6 and 7.7 pp. 7.5)
 PATTERN INTERPRETATION
The naming of a particular pattern is known as
pattern interpretation. Pattern interpretation refers to
naming one fingerprint pattern, classification generally
refers to the formula derived for a complete set of ten
fingerprint patterns.
There are numerous fingerprint classification
system in use throughout the world today. These system
are all based on 3 fundamental ridge formations described
by Purkenjie, Galton, Vucetich, and Henry. They are all the
arch, the loop-radial and ulnar. And the whorl.
 3 Major Patterns of Fingerprint
L – loop – R – radial loop
U - ulnar loop
A – Arch – A – plain arch
T – tented arch
W – Whorl – W – plain whorl
C – central pocket loop
D – double loop
X – accidental
Fingerprint pattern frequency
35% - whorl 60% - loop 5% - arch
Pattern Area – is the part of the loop and whorl in which
appear the cores, deltas, and ridges with which we are
concerned in classifying.
- is the only paint of a finger impression with
which we are concerned in regard to interpretation and
classification.
(set an illustration pattern to fully understand what is pattern
area. P-13)
Type line – defined as the two inner most ridges which
starts parallel, divergence, and surround or tend to
surround the pattern area. Type lines are not always
two continuous ridges. In fact, they are more often
found to be broken, but the ridges may found definite
breaks immediately outside of it is considered as the
continuation.
sometimes type lines may appear very
short. Therefore extra care must be exercised in locating
it.
(set an illustration to fully understand what is type
lines. P- 13-14)
Bifurcation – is the forking or dividing of one line into 2 or
more branches. (see ex. P-14)
Divergence – it is the spreading apart of 2 lines which have
been running parallel or nearly parallel.
Note: a single ridge may bifurcate, but it may not be said as
divergence. Why? Because divergence is different from
bifurcation.
Focal point – is the pattern within the areas of loops and
whorl are enclosed. ( see p-15)
Delta – is that point on a ridge at or in front of and nearest
the center of the divergence of the type lines.
 The word delta is an old Greek word, and is the
fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. It correspond to the
letter “D” in our alphabet.
The original English meaning of the words
refers to a deposit of earth at the mouth of a river.
 Types of Deltas
1. Bifurcation
2. Abrupt ending ridge
3. Dot
4. Short ridge
5. Meeting of two ridges
6. A point on the first recurving ridge located nearest to
the center and in front of the divergence of the type
lines.
(note: illustrate the types of deltas. See pp. 8.6 book of felipe
montojo)
the following are the rules that may govern when there is a
choice between two or more possible deltas:
1. The delta may not be located at a bifurcation which
does not open toward the pattern area.(see p. 8.7- fig.
8.8)
2. When there is a choice bet. A bifurcation and another
types of delta, the bifurcation is selected.(see p. 8.7- fig.
8.9)
3. When there are two or more possible deltas which
conform to the definition of a delta, the one nearest the
core is chosen. (see p. 8.7-fig. 8.8-B,C)
4. The delta may not located in the middle of the ridge
running bet. The type lines toward the core, but at the
nearer end only.(see p. 8.8- fig.8.10 and 8.11)
Note: the delta is the point from which to start ridge
counting. In the loop type pattern the ridges intervening bet.
The delta and the core are counted. The core is the second of
the two focal point.
Core – is the center or the heart of anything, and as applied
to fingerprint, the core is the approximate center of the
pattern. When the core is reffered as the center or heart of
a pattern, it does not mean that it is the exact central point
of the fingerprint impression because there are numerous
ridge details outside of the type lines which are not
considered in pattern interpretation.
 therefore, the core may be located somewhere
in the center, or as near the center as possible of the
pattern area.
The following are the rules that govern in the selection of
the core in loop:
1. The core is placed upon or within the innermost
sufficient recurve. (see p. 17)
2. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains no
ending ridge or rod rising as high as the shoulder of the
loop, the core is placed on the shoulder of the loop
farther from the delta. (see p. 18)
Note: the exception on this rule is when both shoulders
are equidistant to the delta, the core is then located on
the center of the sufficient recurve.(see p. 18)

3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains

uneven number of rod 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. (see p. 18)
4. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains uneven
number of rod rising as high as the shoulders, the core is
placed upon the end of the farther one of the two center
rods, the two center rods being treated as though they
were connected by a recurving ridge. (see p. 18)

Shoulders – are the points at which the recurving ridge

definitely turns inward or curves.
 THE LOOP PATTERN
Loop – is the type of fingerprint pattern in which
one or more ridges enter or either side of
impressions, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary
line drawn from the delta to the core, and may
terminate or tend to terminate on or toward the
same side of the impression from which such
ridge or ridges entered.
 Essential elements of the loop:
1. Must have a core
2. Must have a delta
3. It must have a recurving ridge that passes between the
core and delta
4. It must have a ridge count of at least one

Sufficient recurve – defined as the part of a recurving ridge

bet. The shoulders of a loop. (see p. 20)
Ridge Count – it is the number of ridge intervening bet. The
delta and the core.
Note: in the event that there is a bifurcation of a ridge exactly
at the point where the imaginary line would be drawn, two
ridges are counted. Where the line crosses an island, both
sides are counted. Fragments and dots are counted as ridges
only if they appear to be as thick and heavy as the other ridge
in the immediate pattern. Variations in inking and pressure
must, of course, be considered.
Radial Loop – is derived from the word radius. It flows in the
direction of the radius bone.(see p. 21)
a loop in which the downwards slope or the
slanting ridges runs towards the direction of the thumb.
Radial Bone – is the inner bone of the forearm
that runs to the wrist on the side where the thumb is
located.
Ulnar loop – is derived from the word ulna. It flows in the
direction of the ulna bone. (see p. 21)
a loop in which the downward slope or the slanting
ridges runs towards the direction of the little finger.
Ulna Bone – the bone running to the wrist located or
situated on the little finger.
Plain Arch – a type of pattern in which the ridges enter on
one side of the impressions and flow or tend to flow out
upon the opposite side with a rise or wave in the center.
(see p.21)
Tented Arch – it is the type of pattern which posses either
an angle, uptrust, or two of the three basic characteristic of
the loop. (see p. 22)
REQUISITES
1. no core
2. no delta
 3 types of tented arch
1. Angular tented arch – measured at 90 degrees or less
2. Upthrust tented arch – measured at 45 degrees or more
3. Lacking essential of elements of the loop – a loop that
has no delta and tented arch
Note: in determining whether the impressions is a tented
arch, determine first the elements of the loop. Absence of the
3 elements it is not considered as tented arch.
Loop frequency: Arch frequency
Radial loop – 6% tented arch – 40%
Ulnar – 94% plain arch – 60%

Whorl – is the type of pattern in which at least 2 deltas are

present with a recurve in front of each.
all types of whorl are grouped together under the
general classification of “whorl” an are designated by the
letter “W”. Under the henry classification in fingerprint
classification.
the aforementioned subdivisions are as follows; plain
whorl, central pocket loop, double loop, accidental.
Plain Whorl – it has 2 deltas and at least one ridge making a
complete circuit, which maybe spiral, oval, circular or any
variant of a circle. An imaginary line drawn bet. The 2 deltas
and must touch or cross at least one of the recurving ridges
with in the inner pattern area: (see p. 23)
Central Pocket Loop – it has two deltas and at least one
ridge making a complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval,
circular, or any variant of a circle. An imaginary line drawn
bet. The two deltas must not touch or cross any of the
recurving ridges with in the inner pattern area.
Double Loop – it consist of two separate loop formation with
two separate and distinct sets of shoulders, and two
deltas.(see p. 24)

Note; the word “separate” as used here, does not mean

unconnected. The two loops may be connected by an
appending ridge provided that it does not abut at right angles
between the shoulders of the loop formation.
Elements: * two loops
* two deltas
* two distinct sets of shoulders
* two core
Accidental – it is a pattern consisting of a combination of two
different types of patterns, with the exception of the plain
arch with two or more deltas, or a pattern which possesses
some of the requirements for two or more different types, or a
pattern which conforms to none of the definitions.(see p. 25)
Whorl frequency
* double loop – 13%
* accidental – 3%
* central pocket loop – 13%
* plain whorl – 71%
 RIDGE COUNTING
Ridge Counting – the process of counting the ridges that
touch the imaginary line drawn between the delta and
the core of a loop
RULES IN RIDGE COUNTING
1. Locate the exact points of the core and delta
2. Count all the ridges which touch or cross an imaginary
line drawn bet. The core and the delta.
3. Incipient ridges are never counted no matter where
they appear, the general rule is that in order to be
counted, the width of the ridge must be equal to the
width of the other ridges in the pattern under
consideration.
 RIDGES SUBJECT TO RIDGE COUNTING
1. Ridge island/ a dot gives one ridge count
2. Short ridge is given one ridge count
3. Long ridge is given one ridge count
4. An abrupt ending ridges is given one ridge count
5. A bifurcating ridge is given two ridge counts when it
was cross in the opening or at the center of the
bifurcation
6. Ridge enclosure is counted as two ridges.
 Whorl Tracing
It is where the ridges of such fingerprint of some
individuals are being count or trace in order to determine
and classify the differences between the latent print found
at the crime scene to the sample print or standard
fingerprint.
Inner – if the ridges traced passes inside, (above) the right
delta and the ridge count is 3 or more.(“inner” – I)
Outer – if the ridges traced passes outside (below) the right
delta and the ridge count is 3 or more.(“outer” – O)
Meeting – if the ridge count is 2 below.(“meeting” – M)
(see p-26-27)
 Classification and Identification of fingerprint
Classification – is a method by which impressions are
transposed into a formula in order to facilitate the filling and
searching of them.

Identification – it is the comparing of the two fingerprints of

the suspects with any latent ones obtain at the scene to
determine whether identification can be made.
 FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION
Classification of formula may be composed of the following
division:
1. Primary 4. major
2. Secondary 5. final
3. Sub secondary 6. key

key major primary secondary sub secondary final

division classification classification classification

9 S 27 W IMO 10
M 12 W IMO
PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION – it is the initial sorting of sets
of fingerprints. And it is the first or main classification
because it is the key to all fingerprint classification and filling.
for the purpose of obtaining the primary
classification, numerical values are assigned to each of the
ten finger spaces.(note that if whorls appears it assumes the
value of the space in which it is found). Spaces in which type
of pattern other than whorls are present are disregarded or
zero count in computing the primary.
In deriving primary classification, we divide all
fingerprint patterns into two groups: the numerical patterns
and non-numerical patterns
 - the summation of all the numerical values
assigned to whorls appearing in a fingerprint card
which are expressed as numerator and
denominator.
 First Group Second Group
(numerical patterns) (non-numerical patterns)

Whorls Plain arch

Central pocket loop whorls Tented arch
Double loop whorls Radial loops
Accidental whorls Ulnar loops
 The values are assigned as follows;
Fingers no. 1 and no. 2-------------------------------16
Fingers no. 3 and no. 4-------------------------------8
Fingers no. 5 and no. 6-------------------------------4
Fingers no. 7 and no. 8-------------------------------2
Fingers no. 9 and no. 10-----------------------------1

Odd fingers (nos. 1,3,5,7,9) – denominator

Even fingers (nos. 2,4,6,8,10) – numerator
 The summation of the numerical values of
the whorl, type patterns, if any, appearing in the
fingers 2,4,6,8,10, plus one, is the numerator of the
primary. Where no whorl appears in a set of
impressions, the primary, therefore, would be 1 over
1.
 By the word “whorl” is all meant all types of whorl,
including plain whorls, central pocket loops, double loop
and accidentals. The tracing of the whorl does not enter
into the determination of the primary.

SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION - The secondary

classification represents the types of patterns that appear
on both index fingers.
the second classification formula is based upon the
arrangement of the impressions appearing in the right hand
as the numerator over the impressions appearing in the left
hand as the denominator
 it is shown in the formula that the capital
letters representing the basic types of patterns appearing in
the index finger of each hand, that the right hand being the
numerator and the left hand being the denominator.
FIVE BASIC TYPES OF PATTERN WHICH CAN
APPEAR
1. arch----------------------A
2. Tented arch----------T
3. Radial loop-----------R
4. Ulnar loop-------------U
5. Whorl--------------------W
 The secondary classification is recorded on the
classification line immediately after the primary
classification, like this:
1 R 1 U 9 R 5 U
1 R 17 R 9 U 2 U

Prints with an arch, tented arch, or a radial loop

in any of the other eight digits except the index fingers
constitute the small letter group of the secondary
classification. These small letter are brought up into the
classification formula line in their proper respective position
adjacent to the capital letter symbol of the index finger.
 A Dash is used to indicate the absence of each
small letter between the index fingers and another small
letter or between two small letters. Ex.
A U R U T = 1 aUr-t
U U U A U = 1 U-a

A U U T U = 1 aU-t
U U U U A = 1 U—a

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 he right index finger.
 R U U U U = 1 rU
U U U U U = 1 U

likewise, if an arch, 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 formula line to the right of the
secondary in the numerator column if the letter is represent
in the right hand, and in the denominator if in the left hand.
U U A T R = 1 Uatr
U U U U U = 1 U
 When two or more small letters of the same type
occur immediately adjacent to each other, they are
indicated as follows:
R U U A A = 1 rU-2a
U U R R R = 1 U3r

A R T U T = 1 aRt-t
R T A A R = 1 rT2ar

A R T U T = 1 aRt-t
R T A A R = 1 rT2ar
SUB-SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION – is the ridge count
or ridge trace symbols of the patterns on the index, middle
and ring fingers of both hands.
in classifying the sub-secondary it is necessary
to sub divide the secondary groups, this may accomplished
through by grouping according to the ridge counts of loops
and the tracing of whorls. Ridge counts are translated into
small and large, representing by the capital letter I and O.
the whorl tracing are brought up as I, M or O denoting
inner, meeting or outer ridge tracings of the whorl types.
Only six fingers may be involved in the sub secondary. This
are the ff. 2,3,4,7,8,9.
 a ridge count of 1-9, inclusive, in the index fingers are
brought up into the sub-secondary formula as I.
(1-9, inclusive – I) - (index fingers)
(10 – more – O) – (index fingers)
(1-10, inclusive – I) - (middle fingers)
(11 – more – O) – (middle fingers)
(1-13 – I) – (ring fingers)
(14 – more – O) – (ring fingers)
INNER – when the ridge being traced passes inside (above)
the right delta with three or more ridges intervening
between the traced ridge and the right delta.
MEETING – when the ridge being traced exactly meets the
right delta or passes inside or outside (over or under) the
right delta with not more than two ridges intervening
between them.
OUTER – when the ridge being traced passes outside
(under) the right delta with not less than three ridges
intervening.
THE MAJOR DIVISIONS – are created by the ridge
counting of the loops and the ridge tracing of the whorl
type of patterns appearing on the right and left thumbs. the
major divisions is placed just to the left of the primary in
the classification formula.
When both thumbs are loops, they are divided
into nine major divisions by their ridge counts. The ridge
count of the left thumbs are represented in the
denominator of the classification by the symbol S (small), M
(medium), L (large).
 Table for major divisions of loops
(loops ridge counting)
Left thumb right thumb
Denominator numerator
1 to 11, inclusive - (s) 1 to 11, inclusive – (s)
12 to 16, inclusive – (m)
17 or more ridges – (L)

12 to 16, inclusive – (m) (the same as the above

right thumb)

17 or more ridges – (L) 1 to 17, inclusive – (s)

18 to 22, inclusive – (m)
23 or more ridges – (L)
 when both thumbs are whorl type patterns, they
are divided into major divisions on the basis of their ridge
traces, I (inner), M (meeting), O (outer).
Take note: if either the thumb is arch or tented arch pattern,
there are no major divisions for that particular set of prints.
THE FINAL CLASSIFICATION – is the ridge count of the
loop on the right little finger. Thus, if 15 ridges is the ridge
count of the loop on the right little finger, the final
classification would be 15. it is placed in the numerical side
of the fingerprint classification, and to the right of the sub-
secondary classification, like this:
S 1 U IOI 15
M 1 U OIO
If the right little finger shows no loop, then the ridge count
of the loop on the left little finger is used, in which case the
count is placed in the denominator side of the classification
line, like this:
 S 1 U IOI
M 1 U 15
When neither little finger is a loop, the ridge count of the
whorl type pattern on the right little finger is used, and if it
is not a whorl, then the whorl type pattern on the left little
finger is taken. Like this:
S 2 U IOI 10 S 2 U-- IOI
M 5 U OIO M 1 U OIO 10
The count is made from the left delta to the core for right
hand whorl type patterns, and from the right delta to the
core for left hand whorl type patterns.
 if there are more than two cores, the ridge count is
made from the left delta (right hand) to the core which is
least number of ridge from the delta.
in double loop whorls the ridge count is made from
the left delta (right hand) or from the right delta (left hand)
to the core of the upright loop.
if both loops are horizontal, count from the proper
delta to the nearer core.

Take note: when both little fingers are other than loops and
whorl type patterns, there is no final classification.
THE KEY CLASSIFICATION – is the ridge count of the first
loop in a set of prints, beginning with the right thumb,
excluding either of the little fingers.
the key is placed at the extreme left end of the
classification line. It is always shown in the numerator side,
no matter whether it is obtained from a right or a left hand
finger. For example:
9 S 1 U IOI 10
M 1 U OIO

Take note: if no loops appears on the thumb, index, middle, or

ring finger (digits no. 1,2,3,4,6,7,8, or 9) of either hand, there
is no key classification.
DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT FINGERPRINT BY POWDER
Why latent fingerprint are dusted with fingerprint
powder? Well, the reason for this are namely, to make the
impression visible, to develop contrast in order to take
good photographs, and so that it can be lifted and
preserved.
Latent print are chance or unintentional prints found
at the crime scene which may be strongly used as an
evidence against the culprit. There are impressions that are
readily visible, hidden, or concealed. In this case, fingerprint
powders and chemical sprays or solutions are needed to
develop latent prints so that they maybe preserved and
used for identification purposes and in court trials.
 A latent fingerprint consists of perspiration (98.5 to
99.5 percent of water and 0.05 to 1.5 percent solid). The
solid include inorganic matter and organic substances.
Latent impressions may be found at the crime scene
on nonporous articles such as glass objects, tableware,
polished metal surfaces, finished wood, and unfrosted
electric light bulb, doorknobs, window mouldings,
telephones, enamelled surfaces, finished leather, and
plastic. Fingerprint impression may also be obtained from
many porous materials such as paper, cardboard.
 KINDS OF LATENT PRINT
1. semi-visible
2. Visible prints
3. Invisible

There are two other classification of latent prints,

namely:
1. Smudge – is caused by moving or sliding the finger at
the time when it is impressed.
2. Fragmentary – are prints which show only a portion of
the pattern.
 LOOK FOR LATENT PRINTS BEFORE POWDERING
Latent fingerprints at the scene of the crime may be
discovered in two ways which are blind development and
visual search.
Blind development – is applying the fingerprint
powder on a surface suspected to have been touched by the
suspect. This method is done if the latent prints are
completely invisible.
Visual search – actually, there is a search of latent
print before any attempt of developing them is made.
 RULES RECOMMENDED IN DEVELOPING LATENT
FINGERPRINTS
This are the following rules recommended for
developing latent fingerprints:
1. When a latent fingerprints is discovered photograph it
first before processing.
2. Determine whether the surface under examination will
take a print by attempting to place one and then
develop it.
3. In developing with a duster or brush, use a light stroke
and small amount of powder. One careless stroke can
destroy the value of the latent print.
4. Then photograph again when the latent print is already
fully developed.

PROCEDURE OF DEVELOPING AND LIFTING LATENT

PRINTS
Two things that should always be kept in mind
with regards to powdering and lifting fingerprint
impression are;
1. Do not powder a print unless it is necessary to do so.
Photograph it before and after powdering
2. Do not lift a latent impression unless necessary.
 BRUSHING LATENT FINGERPRINT
After applying the powder on the latent
fingerprint, brush it with soft and fine brush, preferably
made of camel’s hair. The procedure of brushing is as
follows:
1. Carefully and deftly handle the brush and in brushing
the powder on the latent fingerprint, the brush should
not be wielded like a painter does when painting a
house.
2. Brush the powder from one side to the other and then
lift the brush and return to the beginning side before
brushing again.
3. After the pattern has been established, follow the run of
the ridges in the brushing process, remember at all times to
be very careful.
4. Use as little powder as by simply dipping the end of the
brush into the powder and then proceed with the brushing
process.
 LATENT EXAMINATION AT THE CRIME SCENE
The following places or surfaces must be examined
for latent fingerprints at the scene of the suspect’s crime:

1. The first object to be examined is the point of entry or

the place where the culprit entered. It must be
determined if the offender entered the place by using
the key or by destroying the entrance.
2. Examine the glass door or woodwork, door knob, and
anything at the entrance that might had been touched
by the offender.
3. Examine the placed that was robbed or ransacked like
the safe, the aparador, the table drawer, or whatever it
might be.
4. The fingerprint technician should examine any other
articles that he has the reason to believe that the
offender might have been interested in.
5. He should examine the point of exit or the place the
offender used in making his gateway. Like at the
entrance, it should be also be determined how the culprit
get out.
 PROTECTION OF FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE

Fingerprint found at the scene of the crime must be

fully protected. Unauthorized person must be prevented
from accidentally destroying the print evidence. The
simplest way of doing this is by covering the latent
fingerprint with a piece of paper labelled “hands off,
fingerprint,” or some other such warning which will
practically everyone about to keep away.

How many lifts can be taken from one latent print?

-prints can be lifted more than once, but each
succeeding lift is progressively weaker than the preceding
one.
How long do a latent print last?
- There is no definite answer as to how long will
latent print remains on the surface. The length of time
may vary according to the ff. factors:
1. Atmospheric condition, including air current and
humidity.
2. Physical condition of the skin of the person who made
the impression on the surface.
3. The type, nature, and condition of the surface, whether
it is porous, absorbent, dusty etc.
4. Exposure to heat, strong light or any other destructive
external physical forces.
 Latent print imprinted on the surface within the first
24 or 36 hours will appear to make no appreciable change in
the receptivity to powder. It has been observed that latent
print maybe developed by a powder to a better advantage
an hour, two, or several after it has been imprinted that if it
is powdered immediately after being made.
The life of the latent print is considered as that time
in which the impression may be processed or develop to a
point of usefulness from an investigative standpoint and for
purposes of evidence. in this connection to prevent the
print from becoming useless, it will be developed and lifted
as soon as possible before it is obliterated and affected by
foreign substances, and while the oily substance or
perspiration still adheres to the surface.
 Latent prints should not be lifted if powdered by
Mercurize white or mercury with chalk powders because
those materials blend into the rubber’s surface that it is if
the rubber lifted is used, and destroyed the impression.
In lifting latent fingerprints it must be witnessed by
at least two competent persons. The fingerprint technician
should not forget to record the date and time when the
print is lifted.
 PHOTOGRAPHING LATENT PRINTS
Photography has a vital role in the prevention of any
physical evidence, much more for latent prints. Therefore
any visible print, should be photograph first even if it is only
in the aid of strong light that this print appear. The reason
for this is that there might be any chance in time of
powdering process to be unsuccessful or may be the
evidence might be destroyed.
Photographing the evidence may encounter
difficulties and sometimes it is impossible to do this, in that
situation the fingerprint technician should study carefully
the situation and select the best method that will give
better result in photographing the visible print found at the
crime scene.
 If it is not possible to take photograph, powdering
and lifting the evidence is the only alternative way in
getting the latent print at the crime scene.
But the standard procedure to follow is that visible
latent prints shall be photographed first, then powder and
lift them up and transfer them into a piece of white paper
intented for the purpose.
 INVESTIGATION AT THE CRIME SCENE
The complete guidelines for the technician to follow
in his investigation at the crime scene are as follows;
1. No object should be removed from its original position
or touched with the bare fingers while the inspection is
being conducted.
2. Persons who are not members of the household or
business establishment must be excluded.
3. Secure first hand information pertinent to the case.
4. Select a starting place which in case of a burglarized
building, could logically be the point of entry.
5. Beginning here, make a preliminary survey of the entire
premises, noting the general conditions, position of all
objects and other geographical features. At the stage it
is important to recognize anything that may be unusual.
6. Make written notes describing the locations and objects,
supplemented by sketches and photographs to show
everything as it was at the time.
7.After the survey, the technician should return to the
suspected place of entry and again go over the same
territory more methodically, with a clockwise direction.
8. All suspected surfaces should be examined for
fingerprints.
9. Then examine the objects that are centrally located, also
at doors, windows and other possible point of entrance and
exit.
10. Examine the underside of chairs and tables, the bottom
and side of drawers that may be pulled by the male factor.
11. In the case of stolen vehicle, examine the steering
wheel, horn button, gear-shift knob, rear view window,
dash pictures, door handles and the back part of the
vehicle.
12. Objects bearing fingerprints to be processed in the
police laboratory must be carefully packed and protected
during transit.
 METHODS IN FINGERPRINT COMPARISON
ORDINARY METHOD – characterized by the marking of the points,
of identity, one after another, by means of lines drawn from them
to the margin and in clockwise direction.
SIMPLE METHOD – the identical points of identity in both
enlargements are drawn with a straight lines to the margin. Begin
the numbering from any of the focal points until you have
numbered all the identical points in both enlargements.
MODIFIED METHOD – in lines preceding the numbers are names
of the corresponding ridge characteristics or their equivalent
abbreviations are written.
DRAWN METHOD – the numbers are placed about one centimeter
immediately at the end of the lines. Circles are drawn at the end of
the lines of the margin of the photograph, then inside the sais
circle are the drawn the corresponding ridge characteristics.
OSBORN METHOD – the two enlarged photographs are divided
into squares, both exactly alike, with the squares occupying
identical positions on each and then examining them in their
order, squares for squares, designating the identical points in each
square.
SEYMOUR METHOD – make first a skeleton tracing of the
questioned print and also the standard print of the suspect by
making comparison by placing them together and holding them
near a reflector or sidelight.
PRICKING METHOD – make enlargement of the same size of the
chance impression and the suspect’s standard print. Place the
standard print over the chance impression in the same position.
With the use of the needle prick the identical points to determine
if they coincide with one another.
WHO IS AN EXPERT?
WHO IS AN FINGERPRINT EXPERT?
QUALIFICATION OF THE FINGERPRINT EXPERT
Fingerprint history
Fingerprint classification
Latent print procedures
Scientific publications
 PREPARING FINGERPRINT FOR COURT USE
How to compare two fingerprint