Exam Flashcards
Who was the first person to be credited with solving the first murder using fingerprints?
Juan Vucetich
T/F: Fingerprint analysis is a sub-discipline of forensic science?
True
“Anthropometry” is an identification system also known as what?
Bertillonage
Which professor at the University of Bologna, Italy published the results of his examination of friction skin with a newly invented microscope?
Marcello Malphigi
This person is known as the “Father of Canadian Fingerprinting”
Edward Foster
Which pioneer experimented with fingerprint persistence by fingerprinting himself over a period of 50 years?
Sir William J. Herschel
Who created a fingerprint classification system which was used until the development of AFIS?
Sir Edward Henry
Which pioneer studied monkeys and noticed a resemblance of their volar friction ridges to man’s?
Harris Hawthorne Wilder
Where are friction ridges found?
Palmer and plantar surfaces
What is forensic science?
Any science applied to to legal matters
What are the 3 main fingerprint patterns?
Loops, whorls, arches
Do identical twins have identical fingerprints?
No - nobody does
Which layer of skin is the epidermis?
Outer layer
How much of eccrine sweat is water?
99%
What is the deepest layer of cells next to the dermis?
Basal layer
What are the 3 layers of skin?
Epidermis, dermis, hypodermis
Which layer of skin is located between the epidermis and hypodermis?
Dermis
T/F: Volar skin lacks pigmentation and is usually lighter in colour than surrounding skin
True
T/F: Secondary ridges develop with primary ridges and like primary ridges, they develop sweat glands
False
Are wrinkles a durable morphological (permanent) feature?
No
When do the solar pads on the hands and feet begin developing?
Hands within 5th-6th week of gestation, feet about 2 weeks later
T/F: The size and location of volar pads does NOT influence the fingerprint pattern development
False
Friction ridges are made up of individual what?
Ridge units
Aplasia
A rare condition where there is an absence of ridges on the fingers or palms
What is the rare condition where there is an absence of ridges on the fingers or palms called?
Aplasia
At what week of gestation are friction ridges fully developed?
24-25 weeks
Bloody handprint on wall - what is the matrix?
Blood
What does AFIS stand for?
Automated Fingerprint Identification System
T/F: You must have at least 10 points or characteristics to make an identification?
False - no real number
What does ACE-V stand for?
Analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification
Latent Print
Not readily visible and requires some form of development
Which type of impression means that the print is not readily visible and requires some form of development?
Latent
Level 1
This level is used to eliminate sources only and cannot be used to make an identification
T/F: As a general rule, fingerprints may be found on any surface with sufficient size and surface continuity to disclose the necessary ridge characteristics in sequence.
True
Which type of fingerprint brush causes the least amount of damage to an impression, while carrying the most amount of powder?
Fibreglass brush
Why do we use fibreglass brushes?
They cause the least amount of damage while carrying the most amount of powder
What light yields the best results when using fluorescent powders?
UV light
T/F: There is a tendency to over powder when using a fibreglass brush.
True
What is a problem with fibreglass brushes?
It holds a lot of powder so there is a tendency to overpowder
What are the common colours used for granular powder?
Black, white, grey
The “R #’ when identifying a fingerprint refers to what?
Reference number
T/F: Drawing a sketch in your notes to show where a print was located is not recommended and is considered bad practice.
False
T/F: All impressions located should be photographed first before attempting to lift.
True
What types of photographs of impressions should be taken?
Overall, midrange, and close up
Which is the most common and quickest method for lifting an found impression?
Lifting tape
What is commonly used as a clean up brush>
Camel or squirrel hair brush
T/F: When photographing a found impression, you should place a 20mm scale next to that impression.
True
What should be written on the 20mm scale?
R number, badge number, case number, date, initials
Using fingerprint tape, where should you place your lift?
On an acetate
The four parts to identification methodology are known as what?
ACE-V
Analysis
A systematic viewing of the print including general pattern, amount of detail visible, accidental features
Substrate
The surface on which a print has been deposited
T/F: Anatomical factors may assist in determining how an impression was deposited.
True
Fingerprint powders and chemicals are examples of what?
Development mediums
T/F: Pressure distortion happens on lateral or horizontal plane, usually accompanied by sideways sliding
True
ALWAYS compare what to what?
Unknown to known
The comparison stage is broken down into three levels. Which level can we expect to see relative pore locations?
Level 3
During the evaluation stage, the examiner must evaluate the clarity of the impression and ascertain the ______ and ______ of the agreement before opinion is formed
Quantity and quality
Verification
A form of peer review and is a part of most sciences
Opinion of individualization is expressed in three basic terms. What are they?
Elimination, individualization, insufficient
T/F: When forming an opinion regarding an impression that you’re NOT completely confident in identifying, you should just make an identification anyways
False
T/F: When following proper scientific identification processes and procedures, false identification is virtually impossible
True
Matrix
The substance deposited on the substrate by the friction skin or the substance that was on the substrate when the finger touched the item
T/F: Anatomical factors may assist in determining how an impression was deposited.
True
Using the GYRO system during the comparison stage, what colour is used when annotating a minutiae that was observed in the known impression first?
Orange
T/F: If you have an image without a scale, you can use other points of reference that can be measured for calibration purposes
True
T/F: If an impression is distorted, it is acceptable to use CSIpix to connect the dots (ridges).
False
Depending on the image format, some images can be too large for CSIpix and will need to be reduced in size. This can be done by calibrating and _______ the image.
Resampling
When using the annotation options in CSIpix, the ______ mode must be selected.
Draw
T/F: An image may not be at the ideal angle so de-warping an image may be necessary.
True
What colour is left view and what colour is right view on CSIpix?
Red highlight is left view, green highlight is right view
What will CSIpix History feature do?
Track the enhancement and changes made to the images
What is the most important thing you must do with your bench notes prior to starting your analysis?
Date
How many visible friction ridges on the unknown impression have to be examined and compared to the known impression during the comparison stage?
All of them
Identification
The opinion of an examiner that the two impressions originated from the same source
T/F: When making a friction ridge analysis report, Including pictures of the “Unknown” and “Known” prints showing corresponding minutiae is best practice?
True
T/F: In the “Conclusion” or “Opinion” portion of a FRAR, you should state that the print came from one person and everyone else can be excluded
False
When using CSIpix to compare an unknown and known print, you should place the unknown print on what side?
Left
First European to determine that fingerprints could be used to solve crimes
Henry Faulds
A thief. He stole Faulds’ work. Defined the three main fingerprint patterns
Sir Francis Galton
Helped Harris Hawthorne Wilder with his projects regarding friction skin in primates
Inez Whipple Wilder
Developed the first scientific method of identification- developed Anthropometry or Bertillionage
Alphonse Bertillon
Spent great deal of time studying dermatoglyphics - The study of ridge patterns of the skin
Harold Cummins
Introduced the term “ridgeology” and Introduced the ACE-V methodology for fingerprint identification
Davis Ashbaugh
