Fingerprints

History of Fingerprints

1858 - Sir William Herschel, British Administrator in District in India, requires fingerprint and signatures on civil contracts

1880 - Dr. Henry Faulds, a Scottish doctor in Tokyo, Japan published an article in the scientific journal: “Nature”; in which he discussed fingerprints as a means of personal identification, and the use of printers ink as a method for obtaining such fingerprints.

1891 - Juan Vucetich, Argentine Police Official, Initiated the fingerprinting of criminals

1892 - Sir Francis Galton, a British Anthropologist publishes the first book on fingerprints. In his book, Galton identifies the individuality and uniqueness of fingerprints. 

1896 - International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Establish National Bureau of Criminal Identification, for the exchange of arrest information.

1901 - Sir Edward Henry, an Inspector General of Police in Bengal, India, develops the first system of classifying fingerprints. This system of classifying fingerprints was first adopted as the official system in England, and eventually spread throughout the world.

1903 - The William West – Will West Case at a Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, changed the way that people were classified and identified.

When a man named Will West entered the Leavenworth Prison System, in 1903, he was “booked” into the prison, as all other inmates. His face was photographed, and his Bertillion measurements were taken. Upon completion of this process, it was noted that another inmate, known as William West, who was already incarcerated at Leavenworth, had the same name, Bertillion measurements, and bore a striking resemblance to Will West.

The incident called the reliability of Bertillion measurements into question, and it was decided that a more positive means of identification was necessary. As the Bertillion System began to decline, the use of fingerprints in identifying and classifying individuals began to rise. After 1903, many prison systems began to use fingerprints as the primary means of identification.

1905 - U.S. Military adopts the use of fingerprints – soon thereafter, police agencies began to adopt the use of fingerprints

1908 - The first official fingerprint card was developed       

1924 - Formation of ID Division of FBI

1980 - First computer data base of fingerprints was developed, which came to be known as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, (AFIS).  In the present day, there are nearly 70 million cards, or nearly 700 million individual fingerprints entered in AFIS.

Types of Prints

Patent

Patent prints are friction ridge impressions which are obvious to the human eye and which have been caused by the transfer of foreign material from a finger onto a surface. Because they are already visible and have no need of enhancement they are generally photographed rather than being lifted.

Latent

Latent prints may exhibit only a small portion of the surface of a finger and this may be smudged, distorted, overlapped by other prints from the same or from different individuals, or any or all of these in combination. For this reason, latent prints usually present a source of error in making comparisons.Latent

Plastic

A plastic print is a friction ridge impression left in a material that retains the shape of the ridge detail. Commonly encountered examples are melted candle wax, putty removed from the perimeter of window panes and thick grease deposits on car parts. Such prints are already visible and need no enhancement.


Fingerprint Patterns


Arch 


Plain Arch




Tented Arch

Arches are in about 5% of finger print patterns. Plain arch ridges enter on one side and flow out the other with a minor rise in the center. The ridges of radial arches slope towards the thumb, have one delta and no re-curving ridges. Ulnar arches are the same but the ridges slope away from the thumb. Tented arches have an angle, up thrust, or two basic characteristics of a loop.

Loop

Loops occur in about 60-70 % of fingerprint patterns. One or more of the ridges enters on either side of the impression, re-curves, touches or crosses the line running from the delta to the core and terminates on the side where the ridge or ridges entered. Each loop pattern has one delta and one core and has a ridge count. Radial loops run toward the thumb, radial loops are not very common and most of the time will be found on the index fingers. Ulnar loops run away from the thumb

 

Whorl



Plain Whorl



Double Loop Whorl

Whorls are seen in about 25-35 % of fingerprint patterns. In a whorl some of the ridges make a turn through at least one circuit. There are four types of whorls. Plain whorls consist of one or more ridges which tend to make a complete circuit with two deltas. Central pocket whorl ridges make one complete circuit, consist of at least one re-curving ridge or an obstruction at right angles to the line of flow; with two deltas no re-curving ridge within the pattern area is cut or touched. Double loop whorls consist of two separate and distinct loop formations with two separate and distinct shoulders for each core, two deltas and one or more ridges which make a complete circuit. Accidental whorls consist of two different types of patterns and follow none of the definitions.

Developing and Lifting Fingerprints

Fingerprints are made up of tiny droplets ranging in size from 1-20 micrometers, which consist mainly of sweat and approximately one millionth of a gram of chemical material in total.

Powder and Brush: The surface is brushed with a very fine powder that sticks to the print the powder is then lifted with tape. Some surfaces, however, absorb this powder and the fingerprints are not distinguishable.

Electrostatics: The article to be analyzed is attached to a negatively charged electrode connected to a high voltage. A fine powder is placed on the positive electrode that becomes charged and is attracted to the negatively charged specimen. Due to the high voltage, the particles travel quickly and stick firmly to the fingerprint. Particles hitting the electrode lose their positive charge and return to the positive electrode where they are recharged.

Laser luminescence: Involves the illumination of fingerprints due to fluorescing particles picked up during everyday life from paints, inks and oil. It can be used on painted walls, metals, plastic and rubber, cloth and wood.

Metal evaporation: The fingerprint is developed by first evaporating a thin layer of gold onto the specimen, followed by a layer of cadmium which fills in the print and provides a contrast.

Silver nitrate: Used for fingerprints on paper, silver nitrate is sprayed onto the fingerprint where it reacts with the chlorides, to give the insoluble silver salt, silver chloride. Not suitable for fabrics or rough surfaces such as wood.

Ninhydrin Test: Indantrione hydrate reacts with the amino acids in the fingerprint, giving a visible deposit. Not suitable for fabrics or rough surfaces.

Iodine Vapor: Can be used to develop fingerprints on fabrics and rough surfaces. Iodine vapor alone is useful only for prints up to 24 hours old, however a mixture of the vapor and steam allows this method to be effective for up to two months.

Bacteria: Certain bacteria can be used to develop prints on valuable oil paintings, without harming the painting in the process. The bacteria in a nutrient gel are pasted onto the surface of the painting, making the print visible as they multiply. The gel can then simply be wiped off, leaving the painting unaffected.

Autoradiography: Radioactive atoms are incorporated into the fingerprint by placing the piece of fabric into a container containing radioactive gases, such as iodine or sulfur dioxide, at a humidity of less than 50%.  The fabric is then put into contact with photographic film, and the radioactive atoms cause a picture to become clear.





Hair and Fiber

History of Hair and Fiber Analysis

1899- Francois Goron, a forensic scientist, was able to tell the court the victim of a murder scene who had dyed his hair before the crime took place. This important discovery led to the identity of the body and brought the case a step closer to finding the criminal. In later years forensic scientists would discover that by studying a piece of a victim you can tell whether or not metal toxicity or different types of drugs were involved.

1857- The mere idea of the scientific study of hair, trichology, was published in France. This study rapidly grew in the early 20th century after the examination of microscopic hair.

1937- The basis for hair analysis information was published written by Professor John Glaister titled "Hairs of Mammalia for the Medico-legal Aspect".

1977- The groundwork for the use of hair evidence was published written by John Hick titled "Microscopy of Hairs: A Practical Guide and Manual".

1989- Ted Bundy was executed for murder after fibers were found in his van that were consistent with a young girl’s clothing who he killed.

Fiber

The Importance of Hair and Fiber

Hair and fiber are two of the most important resources in Forensic Science and are often responsible for providing valuable clues as to the identity of an assailant or attacker.

The discovery of hair on the body of a victim or on the clothes of someone who has been the victim of an assault can often be used to determine race and sex. It can also be used to extrapolate DNA for comparison.

Although hair is classified as benign dead matter it still contains DNA even though the hair itself is not actually a living organism but is merely pushed through the follicles of the scalp, arms, legs or any other part of the anatomy where hair is found.

Fibers too are an important discovery and can go some way to determining what an attacker or killer was wearing at the time of the incident. Many forensic scientists use fibers as a means of determining the nature of the item worn and in some instances can be as precise as to identify the make of the garment and thus the manufacturer. In some instances this technique is so successful that garments that are rare or indeed specially made can be identified and thus a list of possible suspects drawn up simply by the number of units sold.

Collecting Evidence

At the crime scene hair and fiber samples are collected from the surrounding area. These samples are collected by Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO) dressed in protective clothing so that their own clothing and hair doesn’t contaminate the evidence. These samples are collected in sealed containers to prevent cross contamination. The victim's clothing may be examined for hairs and fibers that don’t match their hair and the fibers they’re wearing. Hair and fibers are also collected at the autopsy when the pathologist will scrape the underside of the victim's fingernails for any hair, skin, fibers or material that might have gathered there from the victim possibly scratching their attacker in the process. These materials are then collected and stored so further examination and comparison may take place later.

Types

Wool




Natural

Natural fibers are hair-like materials that are able to be spun into thread or rope. Examples of natural fibers are silk, wool, and cotton.

Synthetic

Polyester

Synthetic fibers are created by forcing fiber forming materials through holes to form a thread. A few examples of synthetic fibers are polyester, nylon, and acrylic fiber.

Hair Analysis

Analyzing a hair sample can conclude whether it’s animal or human. Through examination of a human hair, scientists can determine the person’s race, where on the body the hair came from, how the hair was removed, alteration of the hair, and damage done to the hair.

Fiber Analysis

Fiber samples allow scientists to identify whether the sample is natural or synthetic. Once identified, the fiber can be compared to fibers from the victim, a suspect's clothing, a vehicle's interior, or the fabric in a carpet.  

Reliability

Hair samples can’t always serve as a definite source identification, but are very useful for closing in on a group of suspects.

Labeled Hair Diagram

Famous Case

A serial killer named Ted Bundy was responsible for over 30 deaths, but with a lack of physical evidence to prove him guilty to the claims when he was arrested in 1975. Two years later Bundy was accused of kidnapping and was prepared to stand trial for murder in Colorado, but he fled to Florida where he killed 3 more people in 1978. He was captured in February during the same year due to the physical evidence. With conviction of another murder, 12 year old Kimberly Leach, fibers were found in Bundy’s van that matched the young girl’s clothing. Ted Bundy was executed in the electric chair in 1989. 

Handwriting Analysis

History of Handwriting Analysis


The history of handwriting analysis, or graphology, dates back to over 2,000 years ago to when Aristotle noticed the correlation between handwriting and personality.

1622- an Italian professor published a book that said “It is obvious that all persons write in their own peculiar way…” providing the basis for modern day handwriting analysis. 

1882- a women named Mary Booth became very interested in the study of handwriting and started publishing books on the subject.

Since the early 1900’s handwriting analysis has helped solve crime as well as study one’s character. Handwriting analysis can be used to compare a suspect’s handwriting to notes that could link the suspect to the crime determine if handwritten documents are authentic.


12 Handwriting Characteristics

There are many handwriting characteristics that handwriting experts will look at when attempting to match up two different samples.





1 Line quality: Are the marks smooth and flowing, or are they shaky and wavering?

2 Spacing of words and letters: Is the spacing consistent between each letter and word, or does it vary?

3 Ratio of relative height, width, and size of letters: Is the ratio of the letters consistent, what is the ratio?

4 Pen lifts and separations: Does the person stop to form new letters and begin words, are there dark spots where the pen may have rested?

5 Connecting strokes: Are the capitals connected to the lowercase letters, are there connecting strokes between lowercase letters and words?

6 Beginning and ending strokes: How are the beginning and ending strokes curved, upwards, downward, long short, etc.?

7 Unusual letter formation: Are any letters formed differently, such as backward letters or unusual capitals?

8 Shading or pen pressure: Is the pressure on the upward or downward strokes?

9 Slant: Which direction is the writing slanted, right, left vertical?

10 Baseline habits: Is the writing above or below the line, do certain letters drop lower than the rest?

11 Flourishes and embellishments: Are there any flourishes or embellishments, what are they?

12 Diacritic placement: How are the t’s crossed, how are the j’s and i’s dotted, are they to the right or to left of the letter? 

Handwriting Analysis Template

On he handwriting analysis template, we had to write a sentence and then exchange papers with someone. Then we each had to attempt to forge each others handwriting using the freehand method and tracing method. The freehand forgery had a smoother line quality, smaller letter size, dark marks where I paused, more connecting strokes, and lighter pen pressure than the authentic sample. In the tracing forgery, many characteristics were consistent between my forged sample and the original one. However, my pen pressure was still lighter, and dark marks formed where I paused. I think the tracing method is better than the freehand method.

Check Forgery Lab    

For the check forgery lab each person created a fake check and ripped it up. Then each group traded checks and we had to find out who forged the checks by using the prior activity for real samples to match up. Once I reconstructed the check, it was easy to identify the individual using the 12 handwriting characteristics. The most distinguishing characteristics were unusual letter formation, slant, and diacritic placement.

Famous Case       

Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son was kidnapped on March 1, 1932. Although he paid a ransom of $50,000, his son was never returned. In May his son's body was found just a few miles from home. From tracking the circulation of the bills used in the ransom payment, authorities were led to Bruno Hauptmann. Authorities found over $14,000 of the ransom money in his garage. Even though Hauptmann claimed the money belonged to a friend, handwriting analysts were able to match his writing to the ransom notes. Hauptmann was convicted and executed in 1936.  

Create a Profile

Clue 1 Four fingerprints consisting of a plain whorl, two radial/ulnar loops, and a central pocket loop
Clue 2 Human caucasian hair
Clue 3 Torn up note when put back together, read, "You will never find her."
Clue 4 Cat hair
Clue 5 Blood with a brown spec possibly a scab or a trace of feces

Witness Lab

We cut out faces of similar sizes, cut it into sections by the main features hair, forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and ears and then mix them all up in a pile. then we all took sections and mixmatched them to make different faces. Then we showed the face to another student, mixed it up, and had them re-create it from memory kind of like what a witness would have to do. Everyone in the group made a good witness and had no trouble re-creating the faces.

Lip Print Lab

We put on lipstick and then each of us made a print of our lips on a notecard an identified five distiguishing characteristics about our lips. Then we put all the samples in the middle and the whole group left new prints on a sheet. Then we did a carousel where the groups rotated and we tried to match the prints on the sheet with the individual notecards. We successfully matched up all the group's prints using distinguishing characteristics like size, spacing, and curves.

Footprint Lab

My footprint 28cm long, 10cm wide

In this lab, we analyzed each other's footprints left in a container full of dirt. We looked at the size, shape, pattern, and other distinguishing points of the print. We recorded characteristics such as weather conditions, temperature, wind strength and direction, humidity, recent precipitation, substrate, length, width, and depth of the footprint. The footprints showed what kind of shoe it was. A sandal with a flat bottom, a  skate shoe with flat bottom and different shapes, or a basketball shoe with a circle on the ball of the foot and heel.