Fingerprint Collection and Preservation Fingerprints are one of the best identifying factors when it comes to recognizing who someone is. But did you know that you could also lose your prints for a short period of time? No worries, they do regenerate themselves if not permanently damaged (Horowitz, 2016). However, in relation to criminal activity, prints can illustrate what might have happened at a crime scene. First before fingerprints can be collected or analyzed they must be located. At a crime scene fingerprints can be found in various places from door knobs to in blood found on the floor. There are three different types of fingerprints that can be discovered; patent, plastic, and latent prints. Patent prints are visible to the naked …show more content…
Lifting of a fingerprint consist of applying a piece of adhesive tape over the print and using something with a blunt end, like a ruler, to pass over the print to better adhere the print to the tape. Then the tape is carefully peeled up off the object and placed on a clear backing to ensure the integrity of the print (Sheridan, 2013). By placing the print onto a clear backing helps to preserve the print as well. These collected and preserved prints must then be properly placed into evidence containers to later be analyzed at a crime lab. The grand purpose of following the necessary steps in locating, collecting, and preserving prints is to, at best, guarantee the accuracy of not only fingerprints but other evidence as well. This information will aid greatly in gaining an understanding of what took place at a crime scene. For instance, if investigators were directed to a scene of reports of criminal activity at a gun store and discovered that a glass window had been broken and one specific case inside this building had been shattered, they can infer that something had been stolen. By collecting, preserving and analyzing prints that were found at this scene, investigators can conclude that the store had been robbed and by analyzing the prints found they can determine who the culprit was by comparing their fingerprints to the prints located in the AFIS
James, Stuart H., and Jon J. Nordby. "Fingerprints." Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2005. 341-60. Google Books. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
Fingerprints are collected from the evidence, and ran through a database such as IAFIS. DNA evidence that is extracted from hair, bodily fluids and skin cells are also ran through databases that help identify the suspects. Firearms, bullets and cartridges are analyzed and can be used to trace a weapon back to its owner. All of the information gathered from collected evidence is pooled together to create a solid base for use in the conviction of suspects in a crime.
...using forensic science and in 1901 fingerprinting was introduced as a new way of appointing the criminal to the crime they committed. The different methods that the police used in the late nineteenth century. ranged from walking the beat, in which the policeman would have to. walk about the streets looking for the crimes to be committed to the newly introduced detective work such as line-ups and photos of the crime scenes because the forensics had not really developed that much, yet to be of any help. But a breakthrough happened in the last few years of the nineteenth century when a man was convicted of murder because of the torn paper. used for his pistol wabbing was the same paper that was recovered from the victims of the wound.
Another discrepancy between actual forensics and how it is portrayed in the media is the availability of information in databases. There is only a small percentage of the entire population’s fingerprints or DNA samples stored within databases such as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). This makes finding a match between a DNA sample or fingerprint difficult, as a match would only be found if the person’s information was already stored within the database. If there is no match previously stored in a database, the fingerprint or DNA sample could be potentially rendered useless within a trial. Typically, in order to perform an analysis, investigators must already have a suspect in mind and request a DNA or fingerprint sample from him or her. If the suspect does not want to provide one however, the sample collected as evidence may not count as valid. The CSI effect creates an idealized image that all crimes can be solved with a hair or drop of blood, but this is not always the case in real life.
The easiest way to figure out who was at the crime scene is by taking fingerprints. Good impressions such as fingerprints can be the most valuable pieces of evidence in a forensic investigation. Impressions help link a person to a crime scene or crime as well can provide information on any weapon that could've been used at the scene. An educated technician would compare and search fingerprints manually and on AFIS computer system for classification, comparison and identification. "Analyzing evidence is not a quick or simple process.
Contextual information also affects the human comparative part of fingerprint analysis, in ways that alter the matching of the same fingerprints, years apart; however, when contextual information is provided, it actually helps 20% of forensic technicians, but that still leaves 80% hindered by contextual information (Dror et al, 2006). Contextual information affects the psychological aspects of perception and problem-solving, in a way that can obscure information that does not support the context, and it can even affect how forensic technician’s view and handle forensic evidence (Bernstein et al, 2013). However, there are some advantages of contextual information, because it can give the forensic division a mental shortcut, saving time and money; however, these shortcuts lead to inaccurate and biased conclusions. This essay has shown that contextual information creates erroneous mistakes and prejudiced results in forensic investigations. A possible way to remove the negative effects of contextual information is to have the forensic technicians, not know the context of the crime so that they do not
In 1893, Francis Galton introduced a remarkable new way to identify people ("Fingerprinting" pg 1 par 3). His observation that each individual has a unique set of fingerprints revolutionized the world of forensics. Soon, all investigators had adapted the idea to use fingerprints as a form of identification. Unfortunately, over the course of the past century, criminals have adapted to this technique and seldom leave their incriminating marks at the crime scene. Forensics specialists were in need of a new way to identify criminals, and DNA provided the answer. When it comes to genetic material, it is virtually impossible for a criminal to leave a crime scene "clean." Whether it is a hair, flakes of skin, or a fragment of fingernail, if it contains genetic material then it has potential to incriminate. However, there are still concerns regarding DNA fingerprinting. What are the implications of using these tests in a courtroom scenario? What happens when DNA tests go awry? It is debatable whether or not DNA fingerprinting has a place in America's court systems.
Having the ability to identify types of prints and surfaces, and the corresponding techniques to develop the prints, has helped crime scene investigators identify criminals and victims of scenes, and aided in the prosecution of defendants in the criminal justice system. Although the history and techniques go far beyond what was discussed in these few pages, it is important as a law enforcement officer or investigator to understand the very basics of how fingerprint identification began, and the simple techniques used to develop them today.
Document examiners can look at these and establish the similarities in the handwriting, and computer forensic specialists can extract logs and other data from most devices. As you can see, there is no perfect crime. The littlest piece of hair, paint, or anything left behind can be found. Suspects often miss these tiny pieces of evidence and while they look over it, it is still lurking at the crime scene. It is guaranteed that a Crime Scene Investigator will find this evidence no matter how small and use it to find, prosecute, and convict a criminal.
The criminal justice system has changed a lot since the good old days of the Wild West when pretty much anything was legal. Criminals were dealt with in any fashion the law enforcement saw fit. The science of catching criminals has evolved since these days. We are better at catching criminals than ever and we owe this advancement to forensic science. The development of forensic science has given us the important techniques of fingerprinting and DNA analysis. We can use these techniques to catch criminals, prove people's innocence, and keep track of inmates after they have been paroled. There are many different ways of solving crimes using forensic evidence. One of these ways is using blood spatter analysis; this is where the distribution and pattern of bloodstains is studied to find the nature of the event that caused the blood spatter. Many things go into the determination of the cause including: the effects of various types of physical forces on blood, the interaction between blood and the surfaces on which it falls, the location of the person shedding the blood, the location and actions of the assailant, and the movement of them both during the incident. Another common type of forensic evidence is trace evidence. This is commonly recovered from any number of items at a crime scene. These items can include carpet fibers, clothing fibers, or hair found in or around the crime scene. Hairs recovered from crime scenes can be used as an important source of DNA. Examination of material recovered from a victim's or suspect's clothing can allow association to be made between the victim and other people, places, or things involved in the investigation. DNA analysis is the most important part of forensic science. DNA evidence can come in many forms at the crime scene. Some of these forms include hair; bodily fluids recovered at the crime scene or on the victim's body, skin under the victim's fingernails, blood, and many others. This DNA can be the basis of someone's guilt or innocence; it has decided many cases in the twentieth century. As the times continue to change and the criminals get smarter we will always need to find new ways to catch them. Forensic science is the most advanced method yet, but is only the beginning. As the field of science grows so will the abilities of the
Fingerprinting information varies in numerous ways. Each person’s fingerprints are different in someway (Unique). The technical term is actually “DNA fingerprinting” because us as a person obviously cant just take a look at a fingerprint and see the difference; we must analyze the actual DNA behind it. Sometimes a miss concept of most people is, that fingerprints stay perfectly fresh for extended periods of time. Partial fingerprints and even degraded full fingerprints can turn up to be useless sometimes. Fingerprints are not admissible if they are 99.9% sure, they must be 100% or a Forensics lab will not support them. DNA Fingerprinting, and the fingerprints that are at the tips of your actual fingers are two different things. The ones we a...
Forensic genetics has other applications . The " fingerprint " DNA represents a valuable tool for forensic science . As is the case with an ordinary fingerprint genetic fingerprint is unique to each individual (except identical twins ) . The determination involves the observation of specific DNA sequences which can be obtained from extremely small tissue samples , hair, blood or eventually left at the scene . As Fifty microliters of blood, semen or five microliters of ten roots of hairs are enough , and nozzles secretions and cells from the fetus . In addition to its use in the capture of criminals , especially rapists , the genetic fingerprints can be used to establish family relationships . People involved in the conservation of species use them to be sure that captive breeding is among individuals who do not belong to the same family .
The three different main types of fingerprints are Loops, Arches, and Whorls (Jackson 1). Henry Faulds is known as the Father of Fingerprints and developing fingerprints (Jackson 1). His discovery of fingerprints has made a huge impact not only in his time but, in Modern Crime Scene Investigation (Jackson 1). Without fingerprinting, it would be very difficult to convict criminals of crimes and very hard to try to process information. Crime Scene Investigators make a huge impact in Forensic Science. We need CSI workers, without them people could only imagine what crime would be like not only in our community, but in our
Crime investigators have the job to solve crime and find the suspect responsible. Sometimes the offense is very difficult to solve, but with the right pieces of evidence and tools, the investigation can be answered a little more easily. The use of fingerprints is a main tool used at crime scenes. Investigators find these at the actual crime scene and analyze them at the lab to determine whom the prints belong to. Each person has an individual print which is why this is a very useful piece of evidence. Sir Francis Galton found that the prints could be categorized into different types as well as different groups. The research of fingerprints from decades before has shaped the way detectives identify suspects and victims.
Physical evidence is additionally important in every criminal investigation because too often witness accounts are sometimes biased or unreliable. Physical evidence such as trace evidence, DNA, and fingerprints may objectively attach one or more persons to a victim or suspect to a crime. Favorably, physical evidence can also demonstrate inestimable for exonerating an innocent suspect. Laboratory members and criminal investigators should perform together to resolve the biggest portion of evidence to institute the right suspect for a strong prosecution. Willingly, investigation officers should aggressively contact laboratory personnel when questions arise about the cases because DNA evidence is sensitive.