Personal Identification Part 4

DACTYLOGRAPHY

PART 1

RECORDING OF FINGERPRINT AND ITS EQUIPMENT

Both the fingerprint examiner and police investigator must maintain their own equipment for fingerprinting as well as for lifting latent prints (the above picture is a portable fingerprint-taking kit). The reason is very basic and again self-explanatory. Availing the standard fingerprint kit or investigators kit may solve this problem, but those who cannot afford to have it may indigenously create this in their place of work. Most of the fingerprint stations in some police stations and even in other countries were ingeniously made, while below is a ready-made fingerprint table that can be availed from the police laboratory equipment supplier.

Whatever device your office has, as long as it can positively record the fingerprint of man, you can efficiently record, analyze and compile fingerprint cards or records of interests for the sake of law and justice. Below are some of the new technology for fingerprint printing without resorting to inking all the fingers that produce dirt. Conveniently this technology directly captures the image and store it in the database.

In order to provide a permanent record of fingerprint for comparison, and filing in an indexed series, the ridge patterns are covered with black ink and rolled on a still paper form (a.k.a fingerprint card). The procedure appears in the description to be relatively simple. Unfortunately, many investigators fail through carelessness to master this elementary technique. As a consequence, many fingerprint cards are submitted daily to identification bureaus with defectively recorded prints that are partially illegible and relatively worthless in a reliable fingerprint file.

An hour’s practice in the inking and rolling of fingerprints will reward the investigator with a lasting mastery of the basic technique.

A. THE EQUIPMENT

The essential equipment for rolling fingerprints consists of a tube of ink, a rubber roller, and a slab of glass. This is the basic requirement that can be built in the investigator’s office or lobby at a medium-size table. More complete equipment will include the following:

Ink. Fingerprint ink is similar to printer’s ink, containing an admixture of oil, which permits the ink to dry rapidly.
Rubber Roller. A hard rubber roller, 4 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter is used to distribute the ink evenly on the glass slab or plate.
Slab. A piece of a glass plate, 4 by 10 inches is used as a bearing surface for the ink. Aluminum, stainless steel, porcelain, and other non-porous substances will serve also the purpose.
Card Holder. A piece of wood with a metal strip serves to hold the conventional 8-inch square fingerprint card.
Fingerprint Card Form. The standard fingerprint card form of the FBI or other law enforcement agency is used. The front is marked with allotted spaces for single fingers and for the grouped fingers. The back of the card provides for description data of the subjects.
Table. A shelf or table of medium size will provide a comfortable surface for fingerprinting.

B. Inking the Slab.

One of the main causes of illegible prints is the excess of ink on the pad. The exercise of care in two simple operations will eliminate this difficulty.

1. 1. Squeeze four small (1/3-inch diameter) blobs of ink on the slab.
  2. Spread the ink evenly over the slab by applying the roller in a black and forth motion.

C. Cleaning the Fingers

The subject’s hands should be cleaned of perspiration, grease, and dirt by wiping with a small cotton ball dipped into carbon tetrachloride.

D. Rolling the Fingers for Print

For a new fingerprint technician, the following procedure is an important guide; Once these procedures had been familiarized the technician can deviate from the procedure and can take a fingerprint from any person with convenience. The operator must control the rolling process completely. Smooth-rolling, even pressure, and relaxed fingers are the key to successful rolling. The following steps are recommended:

1. 1. Place the fingerprint card in the holder and request the subject to sign his name in full in the signature block of the card;
  2. Instruct the subject to relax his fingers, look away from the card, and permit the operator to do the work without assistance;
  3. Roll each finger to the right hand separately on the glass, placing the finger so that it is inked from below the first joint to a point as close as possible to tip and from the nail edge to nail edge. The thumb should be rolled first.
  4. Beginning with the thumb, the finger is rolled in the appropriate space in the card. The right hand of the operator should be used to grip the subject’s finger between the first and second joint. The left hand should control the pressure and guide in the movement of the finger in rolling. The finger is first rolled on the inked plate through an arc of 180º arc in the appropriate card space. The pressure should be light and the direction of the roll away from the operator (except the thumb, but this is not always the case). The card is moved up to the correct space after each print.
  5. At the bottom of the card, space is provided for inking all four fingers simultaneously without rolling. This serves as a check on the sequence in which the rolled prints were taken. Again without rolling, each thumb is printed in the proper space. A notation of scars and deformation is made. The subject should then be requested to sign the card. Naturally, each print should be checked carefully for clarity and legibility.

E. Reasons for Rejection of the Fingerprint Card

The following are the common reasons given for the rejection of prints when they are submitted for identification.

1. 1. The ink was unevenly distributed;
  2. The entire first joint of each finger has not been entirely inked and rolled;
  3. Too much ink was used;
  4. Insufficient ink was used and the ridge characteristics are indistinct;
  5. Some of the impressions are blurred or smudged as though the fingers slipped while being rolled;
  6. The moisture of some other foreign substance may have been present in the fingers, as the impressions are blurred and indistinct.
  7. The ridge characteristics are not distinct, possible because they may have been partially effaced due to the nature of the subject’s employment, to some skin disease, or to some other temporary cause. In many instances, legible prints can be obtained in cases of this type by retaking the prints after the lapse of several days;
  8. The hands have been reversed, i.e., the left-hand fingers placed in the spaces provided for the right hand;
  9. The impression of the fingers of one of the hands was taken twice, and the impressions of the fingers of the other hand not at all.
  10. One or more of the rolled or plain impressions is missing or partially missing. It is necessary to have complete impressions of all ten fingers unless amputations appear. In cases of bent or paralyzed fingers, a spoon or similar instrument should be used and the fingers printed individually and then mounted on the card in the appropriate block.
  11. The impression has not been recorded in the correct sequence; and
  12. The printer’s ink was not used in recording the impressions. Fingerprints taken with ordinary writing fluid, stamp pad ink, or chemicals are not usually legible or have the quality of being permanent.

POINTS TO CONSIDER IN COMPARING FINGERPRINT

The video below will give us more insight into how dactylography is useful in identification purposes: WATCH!

THE LATENT PRINT

LATENT PRINTS are the hidden prints left in an object when touched due to a film of moisture, grease, not readily visible. Latent prints, regardless of the area of the ridge present are of greatest importance to the officer on the case, as identification of them may solve the crime and may result in the successful prosecution of the suspect. So every effort should be made to preserve and identify them.

LATENT PRINTS may be defined as the markings of an oily matter of perspiration from the skin glands left upon any surface which the hands and the fingers may have touched. They are not visible to the naked eye, which requires development to establish their identity.

The duration of time that latent prints may endure upon touched surface depends upon the following;

1. 1. Atmospheric conditions must affect the duration;
  2. The physical state of the person who left the traces;
  3. The nature of the surface where the latent prints adhere.

The most favorable results are obtained when the impressions have made but a short time, while the oxidation of fats, perspiration, grease are still sticky and not as yet contaminated by dust or other foreign matter. But despite the time element, a fingerprint may be developed under certain favorable conditions and by the proper method even when all the moisture has dried, this maybe years after they were recorded.

Latent Print May be Found in the General Classes of:

1. Molded Print. (Also known as PLASTIC OR INDENTED PRINT) These are impressions made by the fingers impregnated with coloring matter such as wax, tar, putty, partially dried paint, glue, adhesive gum with an envelope, or postage stamps, etc. (Most of the lipidic substances can produce molded prints like clay and soap.)
2. Visible Print. (INKED CARD, BLOOD, GREASE, THUMBPRINT (MARK), and the like) Prints impregnated with coloring matter such as blood, grease, or dust mixed with perspiration, etc.
3. Latent Print. (a.k.a. ACCIDENTAL OR INVISIBLE PRINT) The marking of oily matter or perspiration exuded, left upon a surface which has been touched by the finger not visible at the naked eye (unless developed like what is shown below).CRIME SCENE TECHNIQUE FOR SEARCHING LATENT PRINT

1. The search for latent print should be done in a systematic manner;
2. The fingerprint examiner should place himself In the criminal’s place and examine each object that he could have touched in committing the crime;
3. The examiner should pay attention to the point of entrance and exit. If entrance or exit was made through the doorknob panels and framework. If through the window, examine the window pane, jalousie, sash, and frameworks. Objects that appear to have been removed should receive a thorough examination.
4. The nature of the crime will indicate in many ways the places where latent prints may be found at the scene of bank robbery. The examiner should examine the vault, the tools that might have been used or might have been left. In theft of the motor vehicle, examine the rearview mirror, steering wheel, shifting knob, door handles, window glass, and all that might have been touched by the culprit.
5. Articles must be handled with caution. Gloves should be worn. Tweezers may be used in picking up objects such as documents, maps, letters;
6. Latent prints may reveal by the use of cross lighting. The oblique beam from a flashlight may reveal prints. A magnifying glass is valuable in locating latent prints.

Methods of Detecting & Developing Latent Fingerprints

- Visible or plastic prints are easy to detect; Latent ones are more difficult to detect
- The Method of detection depends on the surface on which the print is left.
  - - Hard Surfaces: Use powder method or super-glue
    - Note: use black powder on white surfaces and white powder on dark surfaces
- Soft or Porous Surfaces: Use chemical methods

The illustration below are methods of developing latent print using varying techniques: The first video is about the use of fingerprint powder and brush (a video compliments of CSI.net/www.crime-scene-investigator.net).

Our next video is about the use of a magnetic wand, and magnetic powder (another video compliments of CSI.net/www.crime-scene-investigator.net).

Even though magnetic powder has been available since the early 1960s, many latent print examiners and crime scene technicians are still not using it to full advantage. The magnetic powder adds a wide range of flexibility to one’s resources. In general, magnetic powder is used on non-magnetic surfaces and regular powder on iron-based surfaces.

However, the regular fingerprint powder is inappropriate for some surfaces, including many plastics and textured surfaces, where magnetic powder develops latent prints very well. Textured surfaces such as vinyl imitation-leather or lightly textured automobile dashboards or door panels often respond well to magnetic powder, where the regular powder would pack into the low places in the Texturing and make the development of a good latent impossible. In addition, using the “hot breath” technique, also known as “huffing” works better with magnetic powder than with regular powder.

The same video production is a demonstration of how superglue (cyanoacrylate) is used to develop latent print.

Some latent print technicians believe superglue should be listed 2nd only to powder as the most effective latent print development technique. Others believe it should come first. Either way, no one can deny that superglue fuming is the revolutionary new method to be discovered since the invention of powder. Superglue fuming works on many surfaces where the powder is ineffective, such as plastics, and has the advantage of fixing the print on the surface for later presentation in court.

A more or less airtight container to hold the evidence. 3 elements necessary inside the chamber: superglue fumes, humidity, and warmth. For a chamber, large coffee can for small items such as a handgun or a baggie of dope. An Aquarium is an ideal medium-size chamber. For a large chamber, an old refrigerator body with removable wire shelves is excellent. Cardboard boxes (with the seams taped) and plastic garbage bags (blown up loosely like a balloon, then closed with a wire twist).

Above is an aquarium-type fume hood. In a larger object like cars, the examiners use a tent, and of course, the glue is no longer tube or portable adhesive plaster but this time a gallon of cyanoacrylic glue and the source of heat is a stove.

THE CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT

Chemical Development of Latent Prints

Chemical applications to develop latent fingerprints is another technique that has been used widely by European and American law enforcers for as far as the last quarter of 1800s is concerned. One of the oldest and best methods is the iodine technique used as early as 1888 by Eber in Berlin, Germany. Ever since the discovery of this method, several researchers have tried to develop their own methods, thus paving the way for new and more effective latent print development and enhancement technique. To date, there are more than 30 ways of developing latent print chemically. In the country, iodine and ninhydrin development are very common. Gentian or crystal violet also becomes familiar to some crime laboratory technicians, although slowly the cyanoacrylate or glue fumes become a subject of interest in some local experiments.

Our last video here is the development of latent print using a “ninhydrin chemical, this one among the most known chemical use aside from amido acid and iodine fumes. (A video production of RACI and University of Technology Sydney)

Lifting Latent Fingerprints

Crime scene prints or chance impressions are commonly found on objects connected with the commission of a crime. As soon as these latent prints have been developed, they should be transferred or lifted. After the pattern has been brought out clearly with powder, a procedure for lifting should be followed. Thus, if a person is right-handed, he should hold the roll of transparent cellulose tape in his right hand with the loose end of the tape from the roll enough to permit holding a surplus portion; then place the end of the tape about one-half inch in front of the print and firmly press the tape evenly over the print with your finger (watch again at the demonstration in the video). Be sure that no air bubbles should be shown on the latent print upon application of the lifting tape.

To lift the powdered print, raise the right hand, which holds the roll of the tape pulling the tape off the surface of the developed print, and grasp the loose end of the tape between the left thumb and index finger, being careful not to touch the developed powdered print. Now lift the print, and having done so, place it in the latent print transfer card in the same manner that you have done over the print originally. Then cut the transferred print from the roll of the tape. Be careful not to touch the gummed side of the lifting tape near the spot where you plan to press down the powdered print. If you do so, you are leaving a perfect impression of your own finger.

After using, don’t just press down the end loose of the tape against the roll, it would surely make difficulty in the future in peeling up the loose end if you want to use it.

Upon lifting, for documentation purpose and identification, it is advised to write whatever important data you wish directly underneath the print. The address of the scene, date, name of the technician, the name of at least two witnesses present during the lifting process. After transferring and lifting the impression in the presence of the witness, have it initialed by them (indicate the time and date elements) so they can swear in court for that matter in case their presence warrants.

In latent print development with powder, it is important that there must be a contrast with respect to the color of the powder used and that of the object where the latent print is found. The illustration below is an example of a good combination of fingerprint powder, against the color of the surface making it clear and visible.

Powder contrasting in color with the background on which the print appears should be used. A latent fingerprint is, at best, a very fragile form of physical evidence and extreme care should be taken if it is to be of any value. A good latent print powder must have sufficient adhesiveness in order to cling to the ridge patterns and must have sufficient wetting characteristics to keep the developed print from being broken up by brush strokes.

Additional requirements must be noted also before developing the latent prints. As a matter of procedure, especially in the criminal investigation that a latent print must be PHOTOGRAPHED before it is lifted.

MORE NOTES AND DETAILS ABOUT CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT:

THE MOST COMMON METHOD

1. IODINE SPRAY AND FUMING is one of the most known methods used in the Philippines.
2. NINHYDRIN & ZINC CHLORIDE
3. AMIDO BLACK
4. DFO (Diazaflouren-9-One)
5. GENTIAN VIOLET

Many chemicals may be applied to develop latent print. The slides below will suggest the most appropriate chemicals according to the surface.

FINGERPRINT AS EVIDENCE

In the Philippines, the leading court decision pertaining to fingerprint was decided in 1933 in the case of PP. vs. Medina (59 Phil 330). It had been followed by several cases that recognize fingerprint as a matter of evidence.

The most common form of evidence submitted in court is COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS of questioned print against the standard print. The following are the REQUISITES IN COMPARING QUESTIONED PRINTS FROM STANDARD PRINT (or you can watch again the video on how to compare fingerprint at the mid part of this lecture:

1. The likeness of general types of fingerprint patterns. Both prints must be of the same fingerprint pattern;
2. The quantitative likeness of the ridge characteristics. The ridge characteristics on both prints must show its clearness and spacing in between the ridges. The ridge characteristic such as the bifurcation’s, island ridge, ending ridges, of one print must be the same as those of the other print.
3. The quantitative likeness of the point of identity. It corresponds to how many ridge characteristics were found on each print. Most of the courts like to have at least 12 corresponding characteristics but there are many cases on records wherein courts have accepted the expert testimony on less number of ridge characteristics.
4. The likeness of the location of the ridge characteristics. The ridge characteristics which are the part of identity must be of the:

1. - Same relative position in both prints.;
  - Same relative directions from each other;
  - Same relative distance apart; and lastly
  - They must show the same number of ridge intervening between the ridge of both prints.

But the point of comparison in the above example is not much clear, for a credible comparison, the two prints must be placed SIDE BY SIDE COMPARATIVELY WITH THE CORRESPONDING LABEL pointing out the relative likeness of the ridge characteristics, just like the illustration below.

If you remember, in the video slide about fingerprint comparison, United States has no requirement as to the number of points of comparison. This is because of the limitation of the number of points that can be discovered in a latent print, being an accidental print. At this very nature the “Daubert Standard or rule” may be applied where the scientific explanation of the fingerprint examiner can attest to the validity of his or her fingerprint evidence. if points of comparison are so limited, scientifically the examiner can even use POROSCOPY to examine further the latent fingerprint comparing it with established standards.

Below are examples of the limited nature of LATENT PRINT but careful analysis, diligence, and application of science can still discover the identity and non-identity of an impression.