Although fingerprinting has been around for thousands of years, we are now able to use fingerprints for more things then ever before. People use their fingerprints to get into locked rooms, onto their computers, and for time clocks at work (1). Fingerprints are also used for the reason that most of us know about, to identify victims, witnesses, and criminals in criminal justice cases. No two fingerprints have ever been found to be alike, and that is why it is the most commonly used forensic evidence in the world (2). Without it, many cases would never be solved.
There are three different types of fingerprints that can be collected,
plastic, visible, and true latent (3). Plastic prints can be found in anything
that leaves ridge impressions, like soap. Visible prints are ones that can be
seen by the naked eye. This would be like if someone touched ink and then left
a print on a wall. Finally, true latent prints are, “caused by the transfer of
body perspiration or oils present on finger ridges to the surface of an object”
(3). Regardless of the type of print, making sure that it is collected properly
and without damaging it is crucial in any case.
While some of these fingerprints may be visible, many are not. It is
important for investigators to carefully analyze the scene in order to not
damage any potential prints. There are many different ways to discover and
collect prints. The most common and well known is dusting with powder and using
tape to collect them. By carefully spreading a powder over a surface, the
particles attach to the ridges left by the fingerprint and it can carefully be
lifted by tape. Different color powders are useful depending on the surface one
is trying to get a print from (4). Surfaces that are absorbent may require a
magnetic powder, while prints from blood require a chemical called Amido Black
(4). Other lifting materials include rubber lifters, cellophane tape, and
hinged lifters (4). The different methods of collecting prints depend on where
the print is located. The video below demonstrates collecting latent prints
with magnetic powder.
Once the print is collected, it is entered into a national database. In
the United States, our database is called the Automated Fingerprint
Identification System, or AFIS. The computer system used is the LifeScan Device. This
computer scans in the fingerprint and it labels all of the minutiae, or
individual characteristics, of that particular print. Whether you are getting
your fingerprints taken for a job, or a print was found at a crime scene, it is
entered into this database and saved with is unique markings labeled. If the
print is entered into the computer in order to identify a person, the computer
brings up the most likely matches and an examiner determines which one matches
best (4). Having all of the prints that have ever been taken entered into one
database makes the likelihood of identifying a person much more likely.
The most recent fingerprinting technique discovered was determined a few
years ago in Britain. This technique allows for fingerprints to be detected, “on
spent bullets and shell casings, even when the print had been wiped off. It
works by detecting the minute corrosion of metal caused by sweat, which
corrodes the metal in the shape of the fingerprint” (5). This is a
groundbreaking discovery because it can determine the person that is
responsible for using a weapon without that person having to touch anything else.
The metal is dusted with a fine black powder that sticks onto corroded areas,
allowing the print to be visible and lifted (5). The video below gives more
information regarding this newly discovered technique.
Overall, fingerprinting is one of the most important pieces of evidence
available in a case. Without it, many cases would never be closed and dangerous
people would continue to roam the streets. Cases that were never resolved are
now being looked at again due to the new technology revolving around
fingerprints. I think being a fingerprint analyst would be such a unique and
cool job, and fingerprinting will always be around. It’s crazy that every
single person in the world has different fingerprints, and imagine where we
would be without them.
Sources
This article is interesting to say the least. Fingerprinting is by far the best advance in the Criminal Justice System. The reason being is it less time consuming and more efficient in finding out who the offender is. For instance without fingerprinting, it would take a detective all day to find the criminal. It would be countless back and forth work. At this rate we would never match a criminal to a case unless he was standing there committing the crime when the police showed up.
ReplyDeleteWhats even more impressive is the fact that you can trace prints off the bullet alone. If an officer can figure out the criminal that way, there will never be a such thing as the perfect crime. I love this technology, Its amazing. This is also just another way to show that our technology is advancing at a fast rate.
Fingerprints have become one of the biggest forensic advances in the CJS system. Imagine life today how easy for police to get your criminal records based on your finger prints. I could not imagine our criminal justice system without it today. More criminals would still be on the street without advance system.
ReplyDeleteFingerprinting is just another fantastic tool that has been given to law enforcement. I like this article as it explains the different types of fingerprinting and its uses. I really like the video of the bullet caseing and that ways in which we are now able to recover fingerprints. Without all of these tools given to law enforcement innocent and guilty individuals alike could be mistaken for a crime committed.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be very interesting because I didn't know that fingerprinting had so many different types and uses for those types. I also think that it's amazing how we can use fingerprints to solve so many cases.
ReplyDelete