Crime Scene and Fingerprint Basics

Fingerprints are a result of oil and secretions that are transferred to a surface by the ridges of one's finger.

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Fingerprints are considered to be a form of class evidence.

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It is necessary to obtain a full print from a crime scene in order for it to be used as evidence.

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Loops are the most common form of fingerprints.

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With the aid of AFIS, it is possible to obtain a"match" of a fingerprint.

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A fingerprint examiner looks for similar minutiae patterns between a suspect print and a crime scene print.

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Cyanoacrylate fuming (or superglue fuming) is a fingerprint extracting method that makes prints visible.

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Fingerprints are formed

• in the womb when the baby is 6-8 weeks

• in the womb when the baby is 26-28 weeks

• after birth before the baby is 3 months old

• after birth before the baby is 1 year old

Fingerprints that are actual indentations left on a soft material such as putty or clay are referred to as

• plastic/impression prints

• latent prints

• patent prints

• visible prints

The use of fingerprint identification is not perfect because

• the current technology depends on humans to input and analyze the information.

• many people have the exact same fingerprints.

• people can easily change their fingerprints.

• AFIS shuts down from time to time making it hard for forensic examiners to use.