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Basic Crime Scene Analysis > Fingerprints > Flashcards

Fingerprints Flashcards

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1
Q

1882 - Alphonse Bertillion, French anthropologist, devised method of body

A

___measurements__ to produce a formula used to classify individuals.

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2
Q

Bertillion’s __formula_ involved taking the

A

measurements of a persons body parts, and recording these __measurements__on a card.

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3
Q

what happened in the will west case?

A

Will West sent to Leavenworth, KS in 1903 and his measurements and picture were taken. It was determined that he was already in prison!​

William West was already in prison for murder. Their measurements were the same.

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4
Q

what is dermatoglyphics?

A

The study of patterns of dermal ridges present on fingers, palms, toes, and soles

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5
Q

? ridge patterns

A

friction

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6
Q

hills are called ?
valleys are called ?

A

ridges
furrows

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7
Q

what are dermal papillae?

A

are upward extensions of the dermis into the epidermis forming the ridge pattern the fingerprint

they continue to regenerate, therefore the ridges maintain permanent

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8
Q

2 different layers of friction ridge skin

A

-epidermis
-dermis

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9
Q

characteristics of epidermis

A

-outermost layer
-protection
-skins that are shed

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10
Q

characteristics of dermis

A

-innermost layer
-protection of internal organs
-nutrient exchange

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11
Q

Fingerprints can be used as a means of identification because of two characteristics:

A

-permanence: remaining unchanged indefinitely
-uniqueness

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12
Q

fingerprints are one of the oldest ?

A

fingerprint disciplines

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13
Q

friction ridges are formed early in ?

A

embryonic development (4th fetal month)

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14
Q

friction ridges ? change

A

NEVER

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15
Q

Families may possess ? characteristics

A

class
-papillae arrangement is genetically based

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16
Q

when can friction ridges change?

A

-except to amputations, mutilation, scars​
-growth will only change relative size of fingerprint

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17
Q

Maternal environment will?

A

determine the final arrangement of the ridges

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18
Q

identical twins ? have identical fingerprints

A

DO NOT
-only identical DNA

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19
Q

While the baby is developing within the womb, the baby is moving around, touching things, etc. And this will determine what?

A

the final ridges

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20
Q

3 types of fingerprints

A

-Latent
-Patent
-Plastic/3D

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21
Q

what are latent prints?

A

made when a person leaves the oil, water, salt (perspiration) from their hands onto another object​
- typically invisible to the naked eye
- need black powder to make visible

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22
Q

what are patent prints?

A

-visible
made when a print is contaminated with a foreign substance and is deposited onto another object​
- example: blood, paint, ink, food

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23
Q

what are plastic/3D prints?

A

made when a print is left in a malleable material​
- example: clay, chocolate, wax, gum

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24
Q

3 types of fingerprint classifications

A

-loops
-whorls
-arches

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25
characteristic of loops and 2 types
65% of population 1. ulnar 2. radial
26
characteristic and classes of whorls
30% of population 1. plain 2. central pocket loop 3. double loop 4. accidental
27
characteristic of arches and 2 types
5% of population 1. plain 2. tented
28
what is the core?
the center of the pattern
29
what is the delta?
the area of the pattern where there is a triangulation or dividing of the ridges
30
which type of fingerprint classification has a delta and a core?
loops
31
which type of fingerprint classification has at least 2 deltas?
whorls
32
which type of fingerprint classification has no delta or core?
arches
33
individual characteristics of fingerprints
points of minutiae
34
what does it mean to be unique?
ridge details within fingerprint patterns that make it possible to compare and individualize prints
35
average amount of minutiae on a given print
75 individual minutiae
36
comparing unknown to known samples
More minutiae in common, the better​ Research suggests 8-16 ​ No set standard
37
types of minutiae
-ridge ending -spur crossover -short ridge -lake -ridge dot -bifurication
38
detection of fingerprints
_oblique_ lighting for initial search​ Enhance with fingerprint powder​ OR Enhance with _chemical_
39
what is oblique lighting? another word for it?
Oblique lighting/ skim lighting: holding flashlight at 40 degree angle
40
Type of fingerprint powder and brushes
Traditional _Black_ Powder- fiberglass brush​ Application: Dip, Tap, Twirl​ __Magnetic__ Powder- magnetic wand “Magna Brush”​ __Fluorescent_ Powder- feather brush, requires ALS
41
how are the powders used?
Used on non-porous surfaces​ Lift with tape/photograph​ Be gentle and don’t over-powder
42
pro tip on magnetic powder
tiny pieces of magnet in it, pull plunger on top of brush and pour powder back into jar and pick up filament of extra black powder from fingerprint
43
13 most common types of chemical enhancers
Amido Black​ Coomassie Blue​ Cyanoacrylate​ DFO​ Dye Stains​ Gentian Violet​ Iodine Fuming​ LCV​ Ninhydrin​ Physical Developer​ Small Particle Reagent​ Sticky Side Powder​ Sudan Black
44
Blood stain reagents
stain reacts with proteins in blood turns blue-black color
45
what are the techniques used for bloody fingerprints?
Amido Black​ Coomassie Blue (to enhance)​ Leuco-Crystal Violet (LCV) Used for comparison photo with enhancer
46
cyanoacrylate (superglue fuming)
used on non-porous surfaces (no small holes) creates visible white prints Preserves print and makes it semi-_permanent_ Can potentially be dusted and lifted numerous times​ Can also be used on __deceased_ persons
47
what happens after creating visible white prints
- can then be dusted or dyed​ - photographed and/or lifted
48
types of dye stains
RAM, MBD, M-Star, Ardrox, Nile Red, Basic Yellow, Rhodamine 6G, etc.
49
how does the dye stain work?
Adheres to _super glued_ prints​: First superglue print then dye on it Analyzed under _alternate_ light source, print will fluoresce, must photograph
50
What is small particle regaent (SPR)?
Reagent is powder suspended in water and detergent
51
how does SPR develop fingerprints?
Develops fingerprints on _Wet_ and __metal_ non-porous surfaces NO POROUS SURFACES Adheres to _lipids_ in fingerprints and develops a grey colored print
52
characteristics of Gentian Violet (crystal violet)
Stains __Fatty________components of latent prints​ Used on the ____sticky_________side of tape​ Turns prints purple
53
characteristics of sticky side powder (wet wop)
Black powder in solution​ Used for retrieving fingerprints on _tape______​ Adheres to fingerprint ___residues__________ and turns prints black​ Process can be repeated numerous times
54
what can sticky side powder be used after?
cyanoacrylate
55
characteristics of ninhydrin?
Used on ___porous_________ surfaces​ Reacts with ___amino acids____________ in fingerprints to form a purple colored compound​ Popular because it is easy to use Can apply by spray, swab, or dunk
56
what is it called when the purple compound forms in reaction with amino acids in fingerprints?
- Called _Ruhemann's_ Purple
57
with ninhydrin, prints will usually appear ? but may take ?
within hours up to 10 days for weaker prints
58
how to speed up the reaction for ninhydrin?
humidity/temp
59
ninhydrin is used last if also processing with what?
with DFO or Iodine, not good on wet items
60
characteristics of iodine fuming
Good on __porous________ and non-porous surfaces​ Heat iodine crystals to form iodine gas​ Gas adheres to fingerprint as a yellow/brown color
61
what are cons with iodine fuming?
-Vapors are _toxic​ >causes cancer -Interferes with using other ___techniques___​ -Temporary, so must __photographs_ to preserve​ >print begins to disappear as reaction ends
62
characteristics of diazaflouren (DFO)
Used on __porous__ surfaces​ Can use in conjunction with __Ninhydrin___________, but must use DFO first​ Must use _ALS__ to view print
63
DFO reacts with amino acids ?
to give a highly fluorescent red colored product​
64
DFO can use in conjunction with ?
__Ninhydrin_, but must use DFO first​
65
characteristics of physical developer
_silver-nitrate_ based solution​ Used on __porous_ surfaces that are wet or have been wet​ >especially good on paper bags and currency​ >has tendency to develop older prints Must photograph to preserve prints​ Cumbersome and multiple step procedure >very effective on currency but tedious
66
physical developer reacts with sweat components in the fingerprints to create ?
grey or almost black color
67
physical developer can use after ?
ninhydrin or iodine
68
characteristics of sudan black
Used on non-porous substrates Reacts with _lipids________ and will stain the print blue-black Messy
69
sudan black is good for what type of substrates?
oily and greasy substrates
70
what can't sudan black be used on?
cannot use on dark colored substrates
71
characteristics of fingerprints of children
fragile will dissipate in a short time minimize powder used
72
how long will a fingerprint last for a child vs adult?
4-6 hours days to weeks
73
characteristics of fingerprints of human skin
Can retrieve on living or deceased persons​ Fingerprints may last up to 1.5 hours on living person​ Don’t put body in ___fridge_________
74
why shouldn't you put a body in the fridge?
it will form condensation on skin, no more prints can use super glue on part of body then use powder to dust
75
what is dead man's spoon?
Use _curved__________ fingerprint card strip holder​ aka “dead man’s spoon”​ ​ Fingerprint card cut into two strips which fit into spoon slots​ Finger pressed into __curved__________ spoon to obtain print
76
how to take prints of dehydrated fingerprints?
Tie off finger just below ___first_______ joint with twine​ Inject fluid (saline solution) with needle under skin to “plump” flesh Then use dean man's spoon technique to take fingerprints
77
what are putrefied fingerprints?
Secure peeled skin of deceased ‘_skin glove’​ Slide peeled glove over own gloved hand and roll
78
a newer way to get fingerprints? why is it good?
-live scan -If you don't get a good print, the computer will tell you to do it again​ -Will know if it is a good and classifiable print the same day vs back in the day would have to re-roll prints -don't need ink, very clean very demure
79
what does AFIT stand for?
Advanced Fingerprint_Identification_ Technology
80
what does AFIT do?
Converts images of fingerprints to __digital_ minutiae​ >records relative position and orientation​ Different requirements from state to state​ List of possible __matches__ are retrieved​ Examiner must __visually_ compare
81
how is AFIT not like CSI?
Renders back POSSIBLE matches (~COULD BE 300)​, not a 100% match Doesn't need to go further down the list once a match is made
82
what is AFIT formerly known as?
AFIS 2010
83
AFIT is the new fingerprint-matching algorithm improved matching accuracy from
92 percent to more than 99.6 percent
84
how is AFIT effective according to contributors?
Contributors experienced faster response times, fewer transaction rejects, and increased frequency of identification
85
what does IAFIS stand for?
_Integrated_ Automated Fingerprint Identification System >National Database
86
when did the FBI implement the IAFIS?
1991
87
More ? million sets of criminal subjects and ? million of civil subjects in database
70, 31
88
How is the search algorithm very advanced?
can search millions of prints in ~27 minutes​ must still verify match by human​ must be qualified as expert to testify in court

Basic Crime Scene Analysis (9 decks)

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