Fingerprint Identification Flashcards

1
Q

What are current applications of fingerprint identification unrelated to the criminal realm? (4)

A

Biometric security features for building clearance
Laptop fingerprint reader
Smartphone locking systems
Job clearances/checks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define ridgeology.

A

The study of the uniqueness of the friction ridge structures and their use for personal identification.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who was Sir William Herschel?

A

Promoted fingerprint use to prevent frauds and impersonation of contracts.
Credited with being the first European to recognize the value of friction ridge prints and to actually use them for identification purposes.
Conducted persistency tests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are persistency tests?

A

Tests to show prints remain the same over time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who was Dr. Henry Faulds?

A

Commented about locating fingerprints at a crime scene and using them to apprehend the criminals responsible.
First to use fingerprints in criminal cases.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did Alphonse Bertillon invent?

A

Bertillon System (Anthropometry)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Bertillon System/Anthropometry?

A

A method of personal identification through a series of body measurements, typically including one print
Full face and profile photographs of perpetrator now commonly known as mugshots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What type of information was included in the Bertillon System?(6)

A

Head length and breadth
Finger and foot measurements
Eye and hair colour
Weight
Complexion
A single fingerprint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What were the flaws with the Bertillon System?

A

Characteristics being measured are dynamic and can change, therefore not 100% reliable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the case of the West Brothers in Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas.

A

William and Will West
1 twin was already incarcerated, the other was charged with a crime
Took Bertillon measurements and concluded he was already there

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who was Sir Francis Galton?

A

First person to define and name specific minutiae known as Galton Details

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was Sir Francis Galton responsible for?

A

Acceptance of the use of fingerprints for personal identification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What was the Troup committee?

A

A committee appointed under Charles Troup of the Home Office in England to look at two areas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When was the Troup Committee established?

A

1893

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What were the two areas to be looked at under the Troup Committee?

A

Current method for registering and identifying criminals in England (Bertillon)
The suggested system of identification by means of a record of fingerprints only (Galton)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What were the results of the Troup Committee?

A

Anthropometry and fingerprints were both considered to be effective means of identification, but fingerprints did not have an adequate classification system at the time.
Committee felt compelled to not implement one system over the other but to implement both.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was the suggested system of the Troup Committee?

A

Five major anthropometric measurement to be taken for primary classification and fingerprints to be attached as an additional component to the classification system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Who was Sir Edward Henry?

A

Learned of Troup Committee and in response developed a classification system for fingerprints (Henry Classification System)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Is the Henry Classification System still used?

A

Yes, but with modifications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What was the Belper Committee?

A

A new committee appointed to revisit registering and identifying of criminals in England

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When was the Belper Committee established?

A

1900

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What were the recommendations/findings of the Belper Committee?

A

Recommended that all criminal identification records be classified by the fingerprint system.
The Henry Classification System and the individualization of criminals by means of fingerprints became standard practice in England

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What did Dr. Nehemiah Grew contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Described friction ridge skin in detail (ridges, furrows, pores)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What did Marcello Malpighi contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Described several layers of the epidermis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What did Inez Whipple contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Provided insight to a possible evolutionary theory on the development of volar skin (ridges allow us to grasp)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What did Harris Hawthorne-Wilder contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Provided research supporting third level detail as permanent and highly discriminating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What did Harold Cummins contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Examined fetuses and described volar pad regression in conjunction with friction ridge formation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What did Alfred Hale contribute to the science of fingerprints?

A

Examined cross sections of fetal skin and described the differential growth of friction ridge skin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are the four premises of friction ridge skin?

A

Friction ridges develop on the fetus in their definitive form prior to birth (embryology)
Friction ridges are persistent throughout life except for scarring, disease, or decomposition after death (Histology)
Friction ridge paths and the details in the small area of the friction ridges are unique and never repeated
Friction ridge patterns vary within limits therefore allowing for classification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

At what time of embryological development are the hands paddle-like and volar pads can be seen?

A

6 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

At what time of embryological development do fingers separate?

A

8 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

At what time of embryological development are the digital pads distinct?

A

10 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

At what time of embryological development do friction ridges start to develop and volar pads start to regress?

A

12 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What determines your fingerprint pattern?

A

Position of volar pad

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What are the four factors that affect the growth of friction skin and regression?

A

Shape and size of volar pad
Timing between regression of volar pads and onset of friction ridges
Relative speed of the 3 developmental fronts
Genetics/disease

36
Q

What type of volar pad results in an ulnar loop?

A

Intermediate volar pad with steep radial side

37
Q

What type of volar pad results in a whorl pattern?

A

High and narrow volar pad

38
Q

What type of volar pad results in an arch pattern?

A

Low and broad

39
Q

What type of volar pad results in a radial loop pattern?

A

Intermediate volar pad with steep ulnar side

40
Q

What are the three developmental fronts?

A

First flexion
Apex
Tip of finger

41
Q

What are the five friction skin attributes?

A

Assists in grip
Provides traction to mitigate slippage
Abundance of nerves
Waste elimination through sweat glands
Thick with layers to withstand daily gripping, lifting, touching, etc. otherwise would be painful due to nerve endings

42
Q

What are the 6 characteristics of friction ridge skin?

A

Sweat glands only
More sweat glands per square inch than other skin areas
No hair
Lack of pigmentation
Each individual friction ridge unit has one sweat gland and one pore

43
Q

What are the two layers of the skin?

A

Epidermis and dermis

44
Q

How much thicker is the dermis than the epidermis?

A

15-40x thicker

45
Q

How many layers of flat dead cells does the epidermis have?

A

15-20

46
Q

What are the 5 layers of the epidermis?

A

Corneum/horny layer
Lucidum/hyalin layer
Granulusom/granular layer
Spinosum/spinous layer
Basale/basal layer

47
Q

Describe the basal layer of the epidermis.

A

Cells created in this layer migrate up towards the top layer
Cells typically flatten as they migrate through the layers
Eventually once cells reach the top they slough off dead skin cells

48
Q

How long is the cycle of basal cell generation take?

A

30 days

49
Q

What layer of the epidermis is damaged in scarring?

A

Basal

50
Q

Describe desmosomes.

A

The skin cells are connected through cell junctions called desmosomes
Desmosomes release and reattach as needed during migration
Surface cells are shed continuously as their junction point breaks down and there is always a new cell to replace it.

51
Q

What is the significance of an injury that damages or penetrates the basal layer?

A

May destroy its ability to regenerate cells in that damaged area.
Surrounding cells can regenerate, but the deformation will result in the formation of a scar on the surface.

52
Q

What is the significance of an injury that damages only the top layers of the epidermis?

A

The skin will repair itself and friction ridge skin would gradually return to normal.

53
Q

What is the significance of decomposition on friction ridges?

A

No new skin growth and skin is less stable, friction ridges simply degrade with the decomposition of the body.

54
Q

What is dysplasia?

A

Normal cells undergo random abnormal changes
May or may not be cancer

55
Q

How common are loops?

A

65%

56
Q

How common are whorls?

A

30%

57
Q

How common are arches?

A

5%

58
Q

Describe a loop

A

Pattern types in which the ridges flow in from one side, re-curve and flow out in the same direction. A core and a delta.

59
Q

Describe a whorl.

A

Has at least one ridge in the middle making a complete circuit (spiral, oval or circle)
A core and two deltas

60
Q

Describe an arch.

A

Ridges enter on one side and flow out the other side. No core or deltas

61
Q

What overall pattern is present in this image?

A

Loop

62
Q

What overall pattern is present in this image?

A

Whorl

63
Q

What overall pattern is present in this image?

A

Arch

64
Q

What are the two sub-categories of loops?

A

Ulnar and radial

65
Q

Describe an ulnar loop

A

Flow of ridges enter and exit towards little finger

66
Q

Describe a radial loop

A

Flow of ridges enter and exit towards thumb

67
Q

What is a?

A

Ridge ending

68
Q

What is b?

A

Bifurcation

69
Q

What is c?

A

Lake/enclosure

70
Q

What is d?

A

Dot

71
Q

What is e?

A

Island/short ridge

72
Q

What is f?

A

Hook/spur

73
Q

What is g?

A

Bridge

74
Q

What is d?

A

Ridge crossing

75
Q

What is j?

A

Opposed bifurcation

76
Q

What type of detail is Galton details?

A

2nd level

77
Q

What is 3rd level detail?

A

Size and shape of pores and angles

78
Q

What specifically is looked at in 3rd level detail?

A

End shapes and angles
Adjacent ridge formation
Ridge width
Pores

79
Q

What are incipient ridges?

A

Ridges that did not fully develop

80
Q

What causes incipient ridges?

A

Formation ceasing after 13 weeks

81
Q

What causes creases/voids?

A

Result of pressure, environmental factors in utero

82
Q

How does dysplasia appear?

A

Ridge units are present but do not fuse together, appears dotty.

83
Q

What are the 5 principles of friction ridge uniqueness?

A

Relies on differential growth occurring at different times and speeds while being subject to both genetic and physical forces during fetal development
Friction ridge skin is made up of individual ridge units
All ridge units vary in shape, size, and alignment but grow in concert to cover entire surface area of volar pad
Each ridge unit contains one sweat gland and a pore opening
Pore openings are established at random, also enhancing the uniqueness of friction ridge skin.

84
Q

Can identification be made using 1st level detail?

A

No. Only exclusions can occur/

85
Q

Can identification be made using 2nd level detail?

A

Yes, as well as exclusions.

86
Q

Can 3rd level detail lead to identification?

A

Identification and exclusion decisions can be supported at this level.

87
Q

The opinion of individualization or identification is subjective, so how much is enough?

A

The identification of a fingerprint is established through the continuous agreement of friction ridge formations, in sequence having sufficient uniqueness (highly discriminating features) to individualize.