Friction Ridge Examination

Question 1

Patent prints

Answer 1

Friction ridge prints that appear because of some transferrable material on the ridge pattern or because the pattern was transferred into a soft substrate
Ex. Prints in blood, prints in putty

Question 2

Latent prints

Answer 2

Friction ridge prints composed of the sweat and oils of the body that are transferred from the ridge pattern to a substrate

Question 3

Fingerprint powder

Answer 3

Material that is finely ground and brushed gently over a suspected print to produce contrast between the background and the now-visible print

Question 4

Francis Galton

Answer 4

Firs person to study fingerprints scientifically, published “Fingerprints,” first textbook on material

Question 5

Henry Faulds

Answer 5

First person to propose fingerprinting’s potential use in forensic work

Question 6

Minutiae

Answer 6

Various ridge characteristics that can be studied under low-magnification

Question 7

Partial prints

Answer 7

Only a portion of the complete print pattern

Question 8

Point-counting standard

Answer 8

Dictates how many points of comparison are required before a positive conclusion could be reached

Question 9

No-point standard

Answer 9

Most common, no minimum number of points of comparison for conclusions

Question 10

Three classes of fingerprints

Answer 10

Loops, arches, and whorls

Question 11

Loops

Answer 11

One or more ridges entering from one side of the print, curving back on themselves, and exiting the fingertip on the same side
60-65%

Question 12

Arches

Answer 12

Ridge enters one side of the fingertip, peaks, then exits the opposite side; can be plain or tented
5%

Question 13

Whorls

Answer 13

Have type lines and at least 2 deltas
subdivided into plain, central pocket loop, double loop, and accidental
30-35%

Question 14

Primary classification of fingerprints

Answer 14

Encodes fingerprint pattern information into two numbers based on pattern and location
Class evidence
Problem because it requires all 10 prints, which are not generally found at a crime scene

Question 15

AFIS

Answer 15

Automated fingerprint identification systems- computerized databases of digitized fingerprints that are searchable through software

Question 16

Level 1 detail (prints)

Answer 16

General ridge flow and pattern configuration

Not sufficient for individualization

Question 17

Level 2 details (prints)

Answer 17

Includes formations, defined as ridge endings, bifurcations, dots, or combos
Enables individualization through the relationship of these features across the print

Question 18

Level 3 details (prints)

Answer 18

Includes all attributes of a ridge, including width, shape, pores, breaks, creases, scars, etc.
Also enables individualization

Question 19

Latent Enhancement Techniques

Answer 19

RUVIS- UV image converter
Fingerprint powders
Iodine fuming
Ninhydrin
Physical developer/silver nitrate
Super glue fuming
ALS