CREED REVIEW CENTER

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THROUGH ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

MODULE 4: CRIMINALISTICS

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION – a system of recognizing and identifying a particular person based on his/her
characteristics as different from the other.

BC 200s China

Chinese records from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) include details about using handprints as evidence during burglary
investigations.

Clay seals bearing friction ridge impressions were used during both the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC - 220 AD).

ALPHONSE BERTILLON – father of personal identification

The first to devise a scientific method of identification called ANTHROPOMETRY, 1 ST used by the police in
identifying criminals.

Will & William West - a case questioned the science of anthropometry.

The West Case

For many years, scientists did not use fingerprinting as a serious tool for identifying criminals. Instead, they used a system
which recorded the dimensions of certain skeletal body parts (known as the Bertillon System). But in 1903, Leavenworth
Federal Penitentiary received a prisoner by the name of Will West.

Personalities in Fingerprints:

Marcelo Malpighi (1628-1694)

• Known for his discovery of the epidermis and dermis layer.
• Written the book entitled “De Externo Tactus Organo”
• Father of dactyloscopy
• Malpighihian layer nsmed after him.
• The grandfather of fingerprint.

Nehemiah Grew (1684)

 • Described the ridges and pores of the hands and feet ( Philosophical Transaction) presented in Royal Society of
London, England.

J.C.A. Mayer (1788)

• The first to state that fingerprint never duplicated in two persons ( Anatomiche Kephertafein).

Johannes Purkenjie (1832)

• Professor at the University of Breslau, Germany.
• Establish a certain role for classification and be able to identify nine types of pattern although never associated to
identification.

Herman Welcker
• Took his own fingerprints twice with a lapse of forty one years and show the ridges formation remains the same.

William Herschel
• The first to advocate the used of fingerprints as substitute for signature from among Indian native to avoid
impersonation.
• Rajadhar Konai the first person Herschel printed the palm.

Henry Faulds
• A surgeon at Tsukuji hospital, Tokyo, Japan, who claimed that latent prints would provide positive identification of
offenders once apprehended ( A Manual of Practical Dactyloscopy).

Francis Galton
• Developed the Arch, Loop and Whorl Patterns as general classification and identified nine types of pattern.
• First to establish a Civil Bureau of Personal Identification
• He said that the possibility of two prints being a like was 1:65,000,000,000 or 1 for every 65 billion person.

Edward Richard Henry

• Developed the Henry System of Classification at Scotland Yard which was accepted by almost all speaking
country.
• Making him the “father of fingerprint Azizul Haquet”.
• Khan Bhadur Azizul Haquet and Rai Hem Chandra Bose- the two Hindu police officers who have help Henry in
attaining his goal.

Juan Vucetich
• A Spanish counterpart of Henry who developed his own system of classification and was accepted in almost
Spanish speaking country.
• First person who successfully solved a criminal case of Francesca Rojas the first landmark case solve thru
fingerprint.
• First person who successfully convict criminal thru fingerprint.

IN AMERICA

Gilbert Thompson
• A geologist in New Mexico, adopted the first individual use of fingerprint in August 11, 1882 as a protection to
prevent tampering with the pay order.

Isaiah West Tabor

• Photographer in San Francisco who advocated the use of the system for the registration of the Immigrant Chinese.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens

• An Englishman who formally introduced Dactyloscopy in the United States in his book “Life in Mississippi” and Pupp
and Head Wilson”

Dr. Henry De Forest

• Utilized the first Municipal civil use of fingerprint for criminal registration on December 1902 ( Municipal Civil Service
/commission, New York).

Capt James L. Parke

 • Advocate the first state and penal use of fingerprint adopted in Singsing Prison on June 5, 1903 later on Auburn
Napanoch and Clinton Penitentiaries.

Sgt. John Kenneth Ferrier

• First fingerprint instructor at St. Louis Police Department Missouri.

Major. R. Mc Cloughry
• Warden of the Federal Penitentiaries of Leaven Worth.
• Establish the first official national Government use of fingerprint.

Mary K. Holand
• First American Instructress in dactyloscopy

FBI
• Identification unit herein was officially established by an act of congress in 1924.

Institute of Applied Science

• First private school to install laboratories for instruction purposes in dactyloscopy.

People vs. Jennings, December 21, 1911

• Illinois court, United States leading case wherein the first conviction based on fingerprint was recognized by the
judicial authorities.
Edmond Locard
wrote that if 12 points (Galton's Details) were the same between two fingerprints, it would suffice as a positive
identification. Locard's 12 points seems to have been based on an unscientific "improvement" over the eleven
anthropometric measurements (arm length, height, etc.) used to "identify" criminals before the adoption of
fingerprints.
•

John Dellinger
• Knowon US enemy number one who attempt to destroy his own fingerprint using corrosive acid.

Robert James Pitts

• Work on surgery to forged his own fingerprints and was named ”Man without fingerprint”

IN THE PHILIPPINES

Mr. Jones
• One who first taught fingerprint in the Philippines (1900).

Bureau of Prison
• 1968 1st first government agency in the Philippines used fingerprint and it was used in carpeta.

Generoso Reyes
• First Filipino fingerprint technician employed in the Philippine Constabulary.

Isabela Bernales
• First Filipina fingerprint technician.

Capt. Thomas Dugan, New York Police Dept. and Flaviano Guerero, FBI Washington
• Gave the first examination in fingerprint in 1972. Agustin Patricio of the Philippines top the examination.

People of the Phil. vs. Medina

• First conviction base on fingerprint and leading case decision in the Philippine jurisprudence.

Lucila Lalu
• The first Filipina chop-chop lady who was identified through fingerprint.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
DACTYLOSCOPY
• the science of identification by means of fingerprints .

DACTYLOGRAPHY
• the science of fingerprint classification for the purpose of identification .

DACTYL
• Latin word for “finger”

POLYDACTYL
• a person with excessive number of fingers, usually, an extra pinky or thumb

ALLIED SCIENCES

1) POROSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of sweat pores.

2) CHIROSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of sweat pores.

3) PODOSCOPY Is the science which deals with the study of soles of the feet.

4. DACTYLOGRAPHY – Is the science which deals with the study of fingerprint as a means of identification. It
embraces four allied subjects within its scope namely: Dactyloscopy, Poroscopy, Chiroscopy and Podoscopy.

5. RIDGEOLOGY – The study of poroscopy, edgeoscopy, and ridge characteristics for the purpose of the
positive identification of fingerprints.

6. EDGEOSCOPY – The study of the characteristics formed by the sides or edges of papillary ridges as a
means of identification

FINGERPRINT
• the impression or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the last joint of the finger and thumb on any smooth
surface through the media of ink, sweat or any reagent capable of producing visibility

A. Polydactylism – appearance of extra fingers as anatomically known.

B. Syndactyl – having two or more fingers or toes joined together, congenital abnormality.

C. Brachdactyl – in this condition, the fingers or toes are abnormally short.

D. Ectrodactyl – the congenital absence of one or more digits. Sufferers may be born with as few as two fingers and a
thumb on one or both hands

E. Polydactylism – appearance of extra fingers as anatomically known.

F. Macrodactyl – this is a congenital abnormal largeness of fingers or toes.

G. Orthodactyl – here, the fingers or toes cannot be flexed, ordinarily as a result of symphalangy.

THREE DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS

1. PRINCIPLE OF CONSTANCY – The papillary ridges are immutable, perennial or individual for the third month of the
embryonic period till decomposition sets in after death.

2. PRINCIPLE OF VARIATION – That no two prints of the different persons nor the neighboring fingers of the same
person have ever been found to be identical in all respects.

3. PRINCIPLE OF INFALLIBILITY – That man fingerprint cannot be changed.

LAYERS OF FRICTION SKIN

1. EPIDERMIS - Outer layer of the skin.

2. DERMIS – Inner layer of the skin

HOW FINGERPRINTS PRODUCED

FRICTION SKIN- absence of hair

A. SWEAT PORES – Tiny opening across the ridge.

B. SWEAT DUCT – It is a passage way towards to sweat pores.

C. SWEAT GLANDS – Producing the sweat.

NON FRICTION SKIN- presence of hair

KINDS OF FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS

1) ROLLED
2) SIMPLE/PLAIN

ROLLING
- the manner of placing fingerprints
a) thumb – rolled towards the body
b) remaining four fingers – rolled away from the body

LATENT FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS

- hidden, fingerprints found at the crime scene

TYPELINES
- the two innermost lines which are parallel or about parallel which diverge, surround or tend to surround the
pattern area
- the boundaries of a fingerprint pattern
-
PATTERN AREA
- that part of the loop or whorl in which appears the delta, core and other ridges
- the area of concern in classification
- always enclosed by the type line

Appendage – A short ridge at the top or summit of a recurve usually at right angle.

Furrows – Are depressions or canals between the ridges which maybe compared with the low area in a tire tread.

RIDGES
- tiny, elevated, hill-like structures on the surface of the skin of the fingers
- the basis of examination, comparison and identification .

RIDGE DESTRUCTION

Persons Doing Manual Work - fingerprints of persons who handle lime, cement, plaster or of persons whose hands are
continually wet, are somewhat destroyed for it is only temporary destruction, the ridges assuming their natural or normal
condition when such person ceases that particular employment.

Diseased Person - A diseased condition of the skin would have an effect upon the ridges similar to persons who handle
lime, cement, etc., but the ridges shall resume their natural or normal condition when the skin disease has been cured.
Ulcers - in cases when ulcerous attack the ridges, they are permanently destroyed; for ulcers work so deeply into the flesh
as to destroy the sweat glands, which characterized the surface of the skin, not only where ridges appear but through out
the entire body, by supplying nature`s oil or grease, thereby keeping the skin soft and pliable.

Warts - Warts are fibrous growths in the skin and are easily distinguished in impressions by the appearance of a light spot,
usually encircled by a black ring. Warts, like creases, are not permanent, and when they are removed the ridges assume
their natural condition and position without even the appearance of a scar.

Creases – these are caused by a folding of the skin and in impressions they appear as white lines differ from those caused
by a scar (the result of a cut), in as much as the ridges show up no puckering ; creases may disappear, while scars are
permanent.

Burns - A burn severe enough to leave a scar will change the appearance of the skin and totally destroy the ridges. In fact,
the destruction of the sweat glands from any cause whatever will change the skin surface, by leaving a scar in some form.

Scars – in all fingerprint impressions having a scar (the result of a cut), it will be noticed that the scar has the appearance of
a thin white line, with the ridges slightly puckered on both sides of the scar. If the wound is deep, it will be a permanent scar.
If the scar is slightly cut which did not go through the glands, it will disappear as it heal.

FURROWS
- depressed, canal-like structures found between two ridges
RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
- little points of details in the formation of the pattern which are used in comparing two fingerprints in order to
determine its identity
FRICTION SKIN
- also called epidermal skin or papillary skin
- hairless skin found on the lower surface of the hands and feet covered with minute ridges
KINDS OF RIDGES
1) DIVERGING RIDGES/DIVERGENCE
o the spreading apart of two ridges which have been running parallel or about parallel
2) CONVERGING RIDGES/CONVERGENCE
o the meeting of the ridges which have been running parallel or about parallel
3) BIFURCATION
o consists of a single ridge which forks into two or more branches
4) ISLAND RIDGE/EYELET/ENCLOSURE/LAKE RIDGE
o consists of a single ridge which forks into two branches, running side by side towards the same direction
then meet to form the original ridge
5) ENDING RIDGE
o refers to the terminus of a short or a long ridge
6) DOT RIDGE
o a point ridge

CLASSIFICATION PATTERNS

ARCH LOOP WHORL

IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS

RIDGE ENDING BIFURCATION DOT (or ISLAND)

Individuals generally have a mixture of pattern types on their fingertips, with some correlation between the left and right
hands. There is also evidence that the general fingerprint pattern may be genetically determined. While the loop pattern is
the most common pattern, classification of individuals by assigning a pattern type to each of the ten fingers in an ordered
fashion, serves as a first line of differentiation, however, no such classification is likely to be unique.

TWO FOCAL/FIXED POINTS

1) DELTA
- outer terminus; a point on a ridge which is in front of and nearest the center of the divergence of the type line
2) CORE
- inner terminus; a point on a ridge formation usually located at the center or heart of a pattern

RULES GOVERNING THE SECTION OF DELTA

1. The delta may not be located at the bifurcation which does not open towards the core.

2. When there is a choice between bifurcation and another type of delta, the bifurcation is selected.

3. When there are two or more possible deltas which conform to the definition the one nearest the core is selected.

.4. The delta may not be located at the middle of a ridge running between the type lines towards the core but at
near end only..

RULES GOVERNING THE SELECTION OF CORE

1. The core is placed upon or within the innermost sufficient recurve.

2. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains no ending ridge or rod raising as high as the shoulder of the loop,
the core is placed on the shoulder of the loop farther from the delta.

3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contain an uneven number of rod raising as high as the shoulders, the
core is placed upon the end of the center rod whether it touches the looping ridge or not.

4. When the innermost sufficient recurve contain an even number of rod raising 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 the recurving ridge.

THREE GENERAL TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS

TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS

PLAIN ARCH TENTED ARCH PLAIN LOOP

PLAIN LOOP WHORL CENTRAL POCKET LOOP

LATERAL POCKET LOOP TWINNED LOOP ACCIDENTAL

A. ARCH

1) PLAIN ARCH
o a type of fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges come from one
side of the impression, then flow out to the other side with a slight rise of
the ridges somewhere at the center, without a delta, core or recurving
ridges
o there is minimum curvature from the baseline
o symbolized by small letter “a”

2) TENTED ARCH
o a type of fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges are forming an
arch and one or more of the ridges at the center or base of the pattern
shapes at tent in outline giving an angle of 90º or less, or one with an
upward thrust having an angle of 45º or more, or a pattern similar to a
loop but lacking one of its essential elements
o there is maximum curvature from the baseline
o symbolized by small letter “t”

THREE KINDS OF TENTED ARCH

• The type in which the ridges at the center form a definite angle i.e. 90 degrees or less.
• The type in which one or more ridges at the center form an Up thrust. An up thrust is an ending ridge of any length
rising at a sufficient degree from horizontal plane;
45 degrees or more.
• The type approaching the loop type, possessing two of the basic or essential characteristics of the loop, but lacking
the third.

LOOP FAMILY

RADIAL LOOP
• a type of fingerprint pattern which possesses a delta, a core and one or more
of the ridges within the pattern area form a sufficient recurve, part of which
crosses or touches a straight line when drawn between the delta and the
core, then flow out or terminate to the same side of its point of origin
• the slope or downward flow of the innermost sufficient recurve is towards the
thumb or radius bone of the hand of origin
• symbolized by either / or \, depending on the origin of the hand

ULNAR LOOP
• a type of fingerprint pattern which possesses a delta, a core and one or more
of the ridges within the pattern area form a sufficient recurve, part of which
crosses or touches a straight line when drawn between the delta and the core,
then flow out or terminate to the same side of its point of origin .
• the slope or downward flow of the innermost sufficient recurve is towards the
little finger or ulna bone of the hand of origin .
• symbolized by / or \, depending on the origin of the hand
RADIUS BONES
• the wrist bone close to the thumb

ULNA BONES
• the wrist bone close to the pinky

ELEMENTS OF A LOOP
1) one delta
2) one core
3) at least one ridge count
4) sufficient recurve

RIDGE COUNT
o the number of intervening ridges between the delta and the core (excluding the delta and the core in
counting)

SUFFICIENT RECURVE
o is that part of a loop between its two shoulders
o this part must be free from any appendages abutting upon the outside of the recurve at right angle

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE KIND OF LOOP

1) origin of the hand
2) elements of a loop
3) slanting position of the ridges towards or down to the respective bone of the hand

INNER LOOP
o ridge counting is 1-9 if in the index finger, 1-10 if in the middle finger and 1-13 if in the ring finger

OUTER LOOP
o ridge counting is 10 or more if in the index finger, 11 or more if in the middle finger and 14 or more if in the
ring finger

WHORL FAMILY
PLAIN WHORL
• possesses two (2) deltas (left and right), one (1) core, a complete
circuit (either oval, spiral, circular or any variant of a circle)
• symbolized by capital letter “W”

CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORL

• possesses two (2) deltas, one (1) core, with one or more of the
ridges forming a complete circuit which may be oval, spiral, s-
shaped, circular, second recurve or any variant of a circle
• symbolized by capital letter “C”

DOUBLE LOOP
• possesses two (2) deltas, two (2) distinct sets of shoulders and two
independent loop formation but with only one (1) core
• symbolized by capital “D”
ACCIDENTAL WHORL
• a combination of two (2) or more different types with the exemption of
the plain arch, or a pattern possessing some of the basic elements of
two or more different types, or a pattern in which does not conform to
the seven other types
• symbolized by capital letter “X”

RIDGE TRACING
• the tracing of ridges from the left delta to the right delta

INNER WHORL
• one in which the ridge tracing passes inside or above the right delta with three or more ridges intervening between
the traced ridge and the right delta
• symbolized by capital letter “I”

MEETING WHORL
• one in which the ridge tracing exactly meets the right delta or passes inside or above the right delta with less than
three ridges intervening between the traced ridge and the right delta
• symbolized by capital letter “M”

OUTER WHORL
• one in which the ridge tracing passes outside or below the right delta with three or more intervening ridges between
the traced ridge and the right delta
• symbolized by capital letter “O”

FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

BLOCKING
• is the process of writing below its pattern the corresponding symbol of the fingerprint patterns in the space provided
for in the chart, conspicuously or in capital letters, purposely to facilitate the attainment of the primary classification.

1. PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION

FOUR STAGESTO ATTAIN THE PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION

1. PAIRING
o 1st pair = 16
2nd pair = 8
3rd pair = 4
4th pair = 2
5th pair = 1

2. ASSIGNING NUMERICAL VALUE TO WHORL PATTERN ONLY

3. KNOWING THE NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR

ODD NUMBERS 1,3,5,7,9 ARE DENOMINATOR

 EVEN NUMBERS 2,4,6,8,10 ARE THE NUMERATOR

4.SUMMATION OF THE NUMERICAL VALUE OF WHORLS ASSIGNED TO THE FINGERS PLUS THE PRE
ESTABLISHED FRACTION OF 1/1

Whenever a whorl appears it assumes the values of the space in which it is found. Spaces in which types of patterns other
than whorls are present are disregard in computing the primary.
The summation of the value of the whorls, it any, in fingers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, plus one is the numerator of the
primary. Where no whorls appears in a set of impressions, the primary therefore, would be 1 over 1.

2. SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
o involves the index finger
o right hand = numerator
o left hand = denominator
o just write down the symbols of the fingerprint pattern
o when found in the index finger, the respective symbols for central pocket loop whorl, double loop whorl and
accidental whorl are used
o when found in the other fingers, the symbol used is capital letter “W”

o r.a.t. (radial loop, plain arch, tented arch) found before and after the index finger
o written as subscript

3. SUB-SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
o involves the index, middle and ring fingers
o when pattern is a loop, perform ridge counting to determine if it is an inner or outer loop
o when pattern is a whorl, perform ridge tracing to determine if it is an inner, meeting or outer whorl

- Is the exhibition of the resultant symbol for the ridge counting in LOOPS as expressed by the symbols capital
letter I, O
- ( INNER – OUTER) and the ridge tracing for WHORLS as expressed by the symbols I , M, O. ( INNER –
MEETING, OUTER) from the right INDEX to the LEFT ring finger. Excluding the THUMBS and the little fingers
of both hands.

4. MAJOR CLASSIFICATION

o involves the thumb

o right hand serves as the numerator and left hand serves as the denominator
o involves ridge tracing if whorls
o if pattern is either tented or plain arch, symbol to write is – (dash)
o 1st formula = for the left hand:
1-11 = S
12-16 = M
17 and above = L

The first formula is used when:

a) one pattern is a loop type, the other is either a whorl or an arch
b) the loop type pattern has a ridge counting of 16 or less

o 2nd formula = right hand

1-17 = S
18-22 = M
23 and above = L

The second formula is used when:

a) when both thumbs have loop type patterns and the ridge counting of the loop in the left hand is 17
or more

5. FINAL CLASSIFICATION
o involves the little finger/pinky
 o right hand = numerator
o left hand = denominator
o involves ridge counting, and even whorls are treated like loops
o if whorl is found at the right hand, count the ridges from the left delta going to the core
o if whorl is found at the left hand, count the ridges from the right delta going to the core
o if either plain or tented arch, just write the symbol – (dash)

6. KEY CLASSIFICATION
- involves ridge counting of the first finger with the first loop, except the little finger
- if there is no finger with a loop pattern, then the first finger with the first whorl
- if whorl, use the same formula as the one used for the final classification
- if there is no loop or whorl pattern, then the first finger with the arch, just write the symbol – (dash)

As a general rule in fingerprint classification in cases of amputated fingers, the fingerprint pattern opposite the amputated
finger shall be copied. If both fingers are amputated, the fingerprint pattern assign

Classification of scarred patterns, amputation – missing at birth

1. When an impression is so scarred that neither the general types of pattern nor the ridge tracing or count can be
determined with reasonable accuracy, the impression should be given both the general type value and the sub
classification value of the corresponding finger of the other hand.

2. When an impression is partially scarred, i.e., large scars about the core so that the general type cannot be
determine with reasonable accuracy, but the ridges allow reasonably accurate sub classification by ridges tracings
or counting the impression should be given the primary value of the pattern of the corresponding finger and the sub
classification value as indicated by the ridges of partially scarred impression.
3. When an impression is partially scarred and the general type of pattern can be determined with reasonable
accuracy, but the ridges cannot be traced or counted so as to fall within the proper sub secondary classification ,
the impression should be given the ridge count or tracing value of the corresponding finger of the other, if the
corresponding finger of the other hand, if the corresponding finger is of the same general type. If the corresponding
finger is not of the same general type, the scarred impression should be given the probable value and referenced to
all other possibilities.
4. When an impression is so scarred that neither the general type of pattern nor the ridge tracing or count can be
determined with reasonable accuracy, and it so happen that the corresponding finger of the other hand is similarly
scarred, both pattern are given the arbitrary value of WHORL with MEETING tracings.

HOW TO TAKE INKED FINGERPRINTS

Two Types of Impression

A. Rolled Impression – the fingers being rolled from side to side in order to obtain all available ridge detail. It is the
upper 10 prints taken individually.

B. Plain or Fixed Impression – the small impression at the bottom of the card are taken by simultaneously printing
all of the fingers of each hand and then the thumb without rolling.

Points to consider in taking fingerprints

1. Cleanliness of equipment.
2. The right kind and correct amount of ink.
3. Proper distribution of ink on the glass slab or inking plate.
4. The distance of the subject from the inking plate on the fingerprint card.
5. The advise of the operator to the subject to relax and never to aid the operation.
6. The pressure exerted must be slight and even the rolling be continuous movement including the lifting.

PROBLEMS IN TAKING INKED FINGERPRINTS

Mechanical Operation – Poor impression are usually caused by one of the following faults;
 • use of poor, then or colored ink resulting in impression which are too light and faint or which the ink has
run, obliterating ridges.

- Failure to clear thoroughly the inking apparatus and the fingers of foreign substances and perspiration, causing
the appearance of fake markings and the disappearance of characteristics.

- Failure to role the fingers fully from one side to the others and to ink the whole area from tip to below the first
tissue.

- The use of too much ink, oblitering or obscuring the ridge.

- Insufficient ink, resulting in ridges too light and faint to be counted or traced.

- Allowing the fingers to slip or twist, resulting in smears, blurs and false-appearing patterns. The fingers shall be
held lightly without too much pressure. The subject should be warned not to try to help but to remain passive.

Temporary Disabilities – there are temporary disabilities, affecting an individual hand which are sometimes beyond
the control of the identification officer. These can be fresh cuts, or wounds, bandaged fingers or finger, occupational
(carpenters, bricklayers, etc.) blisters and excessive perspiration. In some instances by means of softening agent (oils
and creams), it is possible to obtain legible inked impression. It is further suggested that in these cases a very small
amount of ink should be used on the inking plate.

• Excessive perspiration causes the inked impression indistinct. It is suggested to wipe the finger with a cloth and
then immediately ink the finger and roll it on the fingerprint card, further suggested possibly the fingers could
be wiped with alcohol, benzine or similar fluid which would act as a drying agent.

Permanent disabilities

These can be lack of fingers (born without), amputation, crippled fingers (bent, broken) deformation (webbed, extra
fingers and old age)

With respect to lack of fingers, put notation “missing at birth” or some similar notation. This situation will
prevent the fingerprint card from being returned. It is suggested that the special inking devices used for taking the prints
of deceased individuals be used in taking inked impressions of bent or crippled fingers, like spatula, roller and curved
holder.

DEFORMITIES

Subject has more than 10 fingers, the thumbs and the next 4 fingers to them should be printed, and any fingers left
over should be printed on the other side of the card with a notation extra fingers.

PROBLEM AND PRACTICES IN FINGERPRINTING THE DEAD

Three Classes of Deceased Person:

1. Those who have died recently in which cases the task is relatively simple.
2. Those dead for a longer period, in which cases difficulty is experienced due to pronounced stiffening of the fingers,
the early stages of decomposition, or both.
3. Those cases in which extreme difficulty is encountered because of maceration, desiccation or advance decay of the
skin.

The following problems will be considered separately:

1. Fingerprinting the Newly Dead.

When the fingers are flexible it is often possible to secure inked fingerprint impression of a deceased
person though the regular inking process on a standard fingerprint card, this task can be made easier if the deceased is laid
face down and palms down on the table.
2. Fingerprinting the dead, where stiffening of the fingers and/or early decomposition are present.
This hand of the deceased are clenched or the finger tips are wrinkled or decomposition begun or
combination of these three condition. Cases of this sort may necessitate cutting off the skin, but legal authority is necessary
before cutting a corpse, such authority maybe granted by state law or by an official having authority to grant such right.

In cases where rigor mortis ( stiffening of the muscle) has set in and finger are tightly clenched, the fingers maybe
forcibly straightened by breaking the rigor. This is done by holding the hand of the deceased person firmly with one hand,
grasping the finger to be straightened with the four fingers of the other hand and placing the thumb, which is used as a
lever, on the knuckle of the finger and forcing it straight.

Another problem is which the tips of the fingers are fairly pliable and intact yet due to the presence of wrinkles in the
skin, complete impression cannot be obtained. This method is simple, injection of the tissue builder, glycerin or water is
accomplished by the use of hypodermic syringe. The hypodermic needle is injected at the point of the finger up into the tip
of the finger, the solution is injected until the finger bulbs are rounded out, after which they are inked and printed
2. 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, an effort should be made to determine whether the missing finger or fingers or even
a hand was amputated during the person lifetime, or whether the loss was one to other causes such as
destruction by animal or marine life.

Three General Types of Condition to be Considered:

A. Decomposition or putrefaction, prevalent in bodies found in brush or buried in earth.

B. Desiccation or mummification (dried out), bodies found in the open in dry protected places or bodies subjected to
severe heat.
C. Maceration (water soaking) which ordinarily results from being immersed in water.

THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SEARCHING OF LATENT PRINTS:

1. Precaution is important, do not remove the object from the original position or touch by your bare fingers
anything that requires fingerprint examination.
2. Search of latent prints should be conducted in a systematic way and intelligent manner.
3. Attention should be given to objects, such as guns, door knobs, glasses, windows, papers, bottles, and protect
and preserve intact of any latent print developed. If you think you cannot do it alone call immediately a
laboratory technician to assist you.

Amount and quality of powder to be used. The purpose is to developed latent prints that can be classified, analyzed
and identified.

LATENT PRINTS

- Fingerprints usually found at the crime scene are LATENT PRINTS known as chance impressions or latent
prints. Latent means something hidden or concealed.

DEFINITION OF LATENT PRINTS:

- are those markings usually rather indistinct, left by the oily matters or perspiration exuded from the finger tips or
palms upon any substances which the fingers/ palms may have touched. FOOT PRINT is also included.

TYPES OF LATENT PRINTS

1. Invisible latent prints- are latent prints whose markings are caused by the sweat that left on the surface whenever
our fingers touch on object.
2. Visible latent prints- are latent prints which are left on the surface when our fingers are smeared with any colored
substances such as wet paint or blood, oil or dust.

3. Semi-visible latent prints- are latent prints which are marked on the surface whenever our fingers touch soft object
like wax or candle. These latent prints are known as plastic or mold prints and also known as three dimensional
prints because it has length, width and depth.