Week three-Fingerprint analysis-Mark Dunlap
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Mark Dunlap posted Apr 16, 2024 6:00 PM
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Greetings class and Professor Hunziker,
Few forensic techniques or science are better known than fingerprint analysis. Hundreds of TV shows, movies, and, in recent years, crime-based podcasts have made fingerprint analysis a household term, but what is it exactly? Surprisingly, fingerprints and palm prints go back thousands of years as even the ancient Indus Valley civilization reportedly used fingerprints on clay tablets for business purposes over 5,000 years ago (Forensicdigest, 2024). In more modern times fingerprint analysis has grown to be one of the most important ways of tying or freeing individuals from criminal suspicion.
Fingerprint analysis, like most forensic sciences, has several stages of methodology that include specific processes. This, concerning fingerprints, is referred to as the ACE-V: analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification (Hunziker, 2024). Analyzing involves determining if the latent print is of the right quality for comparison, which in turn involves examining the patterns, size, pore size, and shape of the fingerprints for evaluation and then verification via comparing the prints a suspect(s) fingerprints (Hunziker, 2024). The importance of fingerprint forensics would be difficult to overstate because it not only serves to identify or eliminate potential suspects but is also used to help identify victims and greatly inform how and where the crime took place (Hunziker, 2024).
The first step in the fingerprint process involving burglaries, besides having all the needed equipment, is identifying potential points of entry (Fisher & Fisher, 2022). In the abovementioned scenario, the point of entry and exit was determined to be the back window. Forensic technicians should begin at the outside of the bathroom window to dust for latent fingerprints which would include the entire area around the window. Such as the frame, glass, either broken or still intact, the walls around the window, and any screens that might have been broken or removed (Fisher & Fisher, 2022). Once the outside is complete the inner window and entire bathroom should be dusted for prints along with any of the items strewn about the floor because any of them might contain further fingerprint evidence linking an individual to the crime.
It is important to get as many fingerprints as possible because not all prints will end up being usable as some get smudged, smeared, or otherwise contaminated, often called patent fingerprints (Fisher & Fisher, 2022). Once all surface areas have been dusted and latent prints have been contained the next step would be to properly label, date, and categorize each set of prints to secure the chain of evidence.
Fingerprints are the layman’s term for friction ridge patterns found on a person’s fingers however, these patterns are present on human fingers, palms, and feet and developed between the 12th-16th week of fetal development, and do not change unless by accident, such as fire or chemical burns, or other scaring which can affect the friction ridges (TDPS, 2024). These ridge patterns are so unique that even twins, who are otherwise biologically identical, have different fingerprint, palm, and foot friction ridge patterns due to whats known as developmental noise, which is either genetic, environmental, or due to a lack of proper nutrition during pregnancy (TDPS.gov, 2024).
Reference list
Fisher, B. A. J., & Fisher, D. R. (2022). Techniques of crime scene investigation. Taylor & Francis Group.
Forensicdigest.com. 2024. History of fingerprints. Retrieved from https://forensicsdigest.com/history-of-fingerprints/#google_vignette
Hunziker, Stephanie. 2024. What are fingerprints? Week three lesson. Retrieved from https://myclassroom.apus.edu/d2l/le/enhancedSequenceViewer/180145?url=https%3A%2F%2Ff54cbe36-23a9-4505-85fe-e251f80ec34d.sequences.api.brightspace.com%2F180145%2Factivity%2F13848005%3FfilterOnDatesAndDepth%3D1
Texas Department of Public Safety. 2024. Friction Ridge Section. Crime Laboratory. Retrieved from https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/crime-laboratory/friction-ridge-section
