forensic fingerprint

• The main components of the learning process are attention, encoding, storage, and retrieval.
• Course Introduction: 'Dear Students, It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this comprehensive course focused on personal identification techniques. In today's world, where digital transactions, access control, and security are paramount, the ability to accurately identify individuals is crucial across various domains, from law enforcement to everyday applications like unlocking smartphones. Throughout this course, we will delve into the fascinating realm of personal identification, exploring a diverse range of techniques, technologies, and methodologies. Our journey will begin with an exploration of the fundamental principles underlying personal identification, including the importance of accuracy, reliability, and security. We will then proceed to examine the various identification methods available, discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world applications. Moreover, this course will not only equip you with theoretical knowledge but also provide practical insights into the implementation and evaluation of personal identification systems. Through hands-on exercises, case studies, and interactive discussions, you will gain valuable skills that are directly applicable to your professional endeavors. As we embark on this learning adventure together, we encourage you to actively engage with the course materials, participate in discussions, and ask questions to deepen your understanding. Our aim is to empower you with the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate the complex landscape of personal identification with confidence and proficiency. We are excited to embark on this educational journey with you and look forward to an enriching and rewarding experience ahead! Let us begin!'
• Accepted principles and concepts

  • Principle of Permanency (Constancy/Persistency/Perennial, Immutable)
  • Principle of Individuality (Variation/Differences)
  • Principle of Infallibility (Reliability)
• Principle of Permanency states that fingerprints are unchanging or constant from birth until the decomposition of the body of the person
• Principle of Individuality states that there are no two fingerprints that are exactly alike, except if two fingerprints were taken from the same finger and the same person. Fingerprints of two persons can be similar but NOT Identical
• Principle of Infallibility states that fingerprinting is one of the most reliable means of personal identification and fingerprints cannot be forged, unlike signatures and handwritings. DNA Fingerprinting is only applied to high profile and celebrated cases and when fingerprinting is not applicable (ex: when a corpse is burned)
• Fingerprint (also known as Dactylogram) is an impression, designed by the ridges on the inside of the end joints of the fingers and thumbs on any smooth surface through the media of ink, sweat, or any reagents capable of producing visibility
• Dactyloscopy is the science that deals with the study of fingerprints as a means of personal identification that involves manual comparison of fingerprints
• Dactylography is the scientific study and analysis of fingerprints as a means of identification
• Dactylomancy is the study of fingerprints for the purpose of interpreting one’s personality
• Related sciences of fingerprint

  • Chiroscopy - science of palm print identification
  • Podoscopy - footprints and footwear identification
• Pattern zones of palmprint: Thenar zone - the base of the thumb, Hypothenar zone - the base of the little finger, Palmar zone - base of the four fingers, Carpal delta zone - near the wrist, Distal side - tip of fingers and thumbs, Proximal side - towards the wrist, Ulnar side - towards the little finger, Radial side - towards the thumb
• Pattern zones of footprint

  • Ball pattern zone - below the big toe
  • Plantar pattern zone - below the four little toes
  • Tread area - includes the portion of the foot lying between the ball-plantar zones and calcar zone
  • Calcar pattern zone - located at the heel
  • Tibial side - where the big toe is also located
  • Fibular side - located on the little toe side
  • Distal side - towards the toes
  • Proximal side - towards the wrist
• Podoscopy


  Footprints and footwear identification
• Podoscopy


  Derived from two Greek words: Podo - means “the foot” and Skopein - means “to examine”
• Poroscopy


  Study of the pore structure for the purpose of identification
• Poroscopy


  Derived from the Greek words: poros - means “a pore” and skopein - means “to examine”
• The father of poroscopy is Dr. Edmond Locard
• Edgeoscopy


  Study of the edges and shapes of the ridges which includes the study of endings, puckering, and bifurcations
• Ridgeology


  Study of ridges with the combination of poroscopy, edgeoscopy, and ridge characteristics
• Ridgeology was introduced by Sgt. David R. Ashbaugh (1946-present), a book author entitled “Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to Basic and Advanced Ridgeology”
• Dermatoglyphics


  Study of the lines, tracings, ridges of the skin of fingers, palms and hands
• Dermatoglyphics


  Derived from the words: “derma” - means “skin” and “glyphein” - means “to study”
• Fingerprints of other species

  • Koala - one of the few mammals native in Australia that has fingerprints
  • Monkeys - have fingerprints almost the same as human beings and are mistakenly identified as human fingerprints
• Friction, epidermal or papillary skin is an epidermal hairless skin on the ventral or lower surface of the hands and feet
• Friction Ridges are found on every Friction skin/epidermal skin/papillary skin
• Minutiae are friction ridges which are considerably minute in sizes such as delta, core, dot, short ridge, bifurcation, recurving ridges, etc
• Components of the friction skin

  • Ridges - hill-like, elevated, appear as black lines with tiny white dots called pores in an inked impression
  • Furrows - canal-like, depressed portions found between the ridges which appear as white lines
  • Pores (sometimes called islands) - small openings found on the skin and appear white on a plain impression
  • Sweat Duct - long-host like structure that serves as the passageway for sweat
  • Sweat Glands - produces sweat/perspiration
• During the 3rd - 4th month, ridges start to develop. At about 6 months, ridges are expected to be fully developed. Fingerprints remain constant until during the decomposition stage of the skin of the corpse. Fingerprint size may change as a person physically grows. Ridge characteristics and pattern do not change
• Phalanges of fingers


  • Terminal phalange/phalanx - end joint/tip of fingers
  • Middle phalange/phalanx - middle portion of fingers
  • Proximal Phalange/phalanx - base of fingers
• Layers of skin


  • Epidermal layer (Epidermis) - the outer layer
  • Dermal Papillae (Dermis) - the inner layer of the skin containing blood vessels, arrector pili muscles, sebaceous glands (produce fats/oil), sweat glands (produce sweat) and nerves
  • Subcutaneous layer (Hypodermis) - the innermost layer of skin that also contains blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves and fat lobules (a rounded division or projection of an organ or part in the body, especially in the lungs, brain, or liver)
• Layers of skin - Summary: Outer - Epidermal - Epidermis; Inner - Dermal Papillae - Dermis; Innermost - Subcutaneous - Hypodermis
• Subcutaneous layer (Hypodermis)


  The innermost layer of skin that contains blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves, and fat lobules
• Layers of Skin


  • Outer: Epidermal, Epidermis
  • Inner: Dermal Papillae, Dermis
  • Innermost: Subcutaneous, Hypodermis
• Reasons of Destruction of Ridges

  • Manual works
  • Skin diseases (Warts)
  • Burns
  • Scars
• If Dermis and/or hypodermis is damaged, ridges may be destroyed or deformed
• The science of fingerprint identification, also known as dactylography, has a rich and fascinating history spanning centuries
• Ancient Civilizations used fingerprints for identification by pressing them into clay tablets for business transactions
• In 1684, Nehemiah Grew published the first scientific paper describing ridge patterns in human fingerprints
• In 1788, Johann Christoph Andreas Mayer made further observations on the distinctiveness of fingerprints and suggested their use for personal identification