HISTORY OF FINGERPRINTS
- During China's T'ang dynasty (eighth century A.D.), clerks used inked fingerprints on business contracts.
- In 1888 Bertillon was made Chief of the newly-created Department of Judicial Identity, where he used Anthropometry, as the only accurate means of identification.
He later introduced Fingerprints, but relegated them to a secondary role in the category of special marks.
*ANTHROPOMETRY ~ the study of human body measurement. (became unreliable during the WILL and WILLIAM WEST Case)
ANATOMY OF FINGERPRINTS
Fingerprints have sweat pores, which is 98 to 99 percent water. It is estimated that a fingerprint initially may weigh 0.1 milligram, so after evaporation of the water, we have left about 1 microgram of residue, made up of half salt and half complex organic compounds such as amino acid, lipids, vitamins and perhaps additional body oils picked up on the finger by touching oily or hairy parts of the body.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
DACTYLOSCOPY – Refers to the practical application of fingerprints (the making of identification by fingerprints comparison and classification).
DACTYLOGRAPHY – Refers to the scientific study of fingerprints as a means of identification.
FINGERPRINTS – an impression design by the ridges on the inside of the last joint of the finger or thumb on any smooth surface. Through the media of an ink, or any reagents capable of producing visibility.
POLYDACTYLICISM – the appearance of extra fingers as anatomically known.
FRICTION RIDGES – are strips of the skin on the end joint of sour fingers and thumbs by which fingerprints are made.
POST- MORTEM FINGERPRINTING – means fingerprints of the deceased person for identification purposes
OSTEOLOGY – for bones
ODONTOLOGY - for teeth
POROSCOPY – is the study of pores.
CHIROSCOPY – is the study of palm.
PODOSCOPY – is the study of soles of the feet.
SYNDACTYL – having two or more fingers or toes joined together, congenital abnormality.
BRACHDACTYL– in this condition, the fingers or toes are abnormally short.
ECTRODACTYL – the congenital absence of one or more digits. Sufferers may be born with as few as two fingers and a thumb on one or both hands.
MACRODACTYL – this is a congenital abnormal largeness of fingers or toes.
ORTHODACTYL– here, the fingers or toes cannot be flexed, ordinarily as a result of symphalangy.
DACTYLOSCOPY~ The Study of fingerprints. The word is derived from the Greek "daktulos", meaning finger.
PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION:
Principles of Individuality – states that there are no two person having the same fingerprints.
Principles of Permanency/Constancy – states that once ridges are fully develop their general arrangement remains the same throughout life.
Principles of Infallibility – states that fingerprints is a reliable positive means of identification.
WHY WAS FINGERPRINT MORE RELIABLE FOR IDENTIFICATION THAN D.N.A?
~ because fingerprint is uniquely formed in an individual and cant be changed. In DNA, twins share the same genes which makes it unreliable for identification. (refer to Will and William West Case.)
GENERAL CLASSES OF FINGERPRINT:
Arches-5%
Loops- 60%
Whorls- 35%
---
YOU ARE READING
CRIMINALISTICS
RandomArticles published in here arent mine. These are from my review notes when I was preparing for the licensure examinations in 2017.
