Forensic Biology > Finger Printing > Flashcards

Finger Printing Flashcards

(55 cards)

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1
Q

fingerprint

A

an imprint made by the fiction ridge patterns on the last joint of the finger

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2
Q

friction ridge

A

one of the corrugated ridges characteristic of the skin of the palmar & plantar surfaces of primates

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3
Q

what kind of finger prints are indistinguishable?

A

human, chimp, and koala prints

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4
Q

what are finger prints composed of?

A
  • ridges
  • grooves
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5
Q

ridge colors on print

A

black

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6
Q

groove colors on print

A

grey color

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7
Q

four factors that determines the value of associative evidence

A
  • the specificity or degree of identity of the evidence
  • the frequency of occurrence
  • the persistence of the transferred material
  • the likelihood of alternate explanation
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8
Q

why fingerprints can be used as associative evidence

A
  • uniqueness
  • persistence
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9
Q

fingerprint uniqueness

A
  • fingerprints are unique to the individual
  • no two people have been observed to have the same fingerprint
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10
Q

do identical twins have the same finger print or forensic genotype?

A

forensic genotype

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11
Q

fingerprint persistence

A

fingerprints are persistent morphological features that do not significantly change through time

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12
Q

affect of age on friction ridges

A
  • surface ridges flatten making the appearance less sharp when recovered
  • numbers of wrinkles increases
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13
Q

exceptions to fingerprint persistence

A
  • considerable skin damage
  • genetic disorders resulting in printless fingerprints
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14
Q

how considerable skin damage can effect finger prints

A

new scars that are persistent can be used to identified suspects

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15
Q

three categories of finger prints

A
  • latent
  • patent
  • plastic
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16
Q

latent prints

A
  • invisible to the naked eye
  • requires a physical or chemical process to enhance or make prints visible
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17
Q

patent prints

A

visible prints created when residue, contaminating the finger, are transferred to a hard surface

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18
Q

plastic prints

A

visible, impressed prints that are made in a soft surface resulting in indentations

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19
Q

details of plastic prints

A
  • less common than patent & latent fingerprints
  • relatively easy to locate
  • negative prints
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20
Q

common surfaces for plastic fingerprints include

A
  • fresh paint
  • putty
  • wax
  • soap
  • grease/oil
  • dust
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21
Q

negative print

A

the resulting finger impression has the opposite features as the associated finger

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22
Q

positive print

A
  • the resulting finger impression has the same features as the associated finger
  • elevated residue represents an elevated ridge
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23
Q

broad level comparison (level 1)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • class characteristics
  • fingerprint pattern type
24
Q

3 general fingerprint patterns

Study These Flashcards
A
  • loops
  • whorls
  • arches
25
loops
- 65% - ridge flow enters & exits on the same side
26
whorls
- 30% - resembles a bullseye
27
arches
- 5% - ridge flow enters & exits on the same side with a wave/rise in the center
28
most common finger print type?
loops
29
least common finger print type?
arches
30
finger print core
the focus of the innermost recurving ridge in a finger print
31
finger print delta
a meeting point on 3 individual ridge flows
32
subdivisions of loops
- radial loop - ulnar loop
33
subdivisions of whorls
- plain whorl - central pocket loop whorl - double loop whorl - accidental whorl
34
how to determine whorl type
draw a line between 2 deltas, line cuts across through inner pattern
35
double loop whorl
2 loops combined into one fingerprint
36
accidental whorl
contains 2 or more patterns
37
subdivisions of arches
- plain arch - tented arch
38
individual finger print characteristics (minutiae) (level 2)
- the point where a friction ridge begins, terminates, or splits into 2 or more ridges - comparison involves type of feature & location of feature
39
level 3 fingerprint details
- edge features: shape & size - pores: shape, location, & numbers
40
analytical methods involved in the analysis of evidence
- ACE-V - analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification
41
ACE-V: analysis
examiner studies the print to assess quantity & quality of detailed present
42
ACE-V: comparison
side by side observation of friction ridge detail
43
ACE-V: evaluation
examiner assess correspondence/non-correspondence & forms a conclusion
44
ACE-V: verification
independent re-examination by a second examiner using the ACE process
45
suitability: quality of
- clarity of observed features - as quality increases, so does the discernibility & reliability of the ridge features
46
suitability: quantity
- amount of features/area - number of ridge endings, bifurcations, & dots in contiguous ridges, determined with out any reference to known impressions
47
sufficiency graph
- in the analysis phase - the assessment of the impression based on quality & quantity is positioned on the graph to determine its suitability for individualization
48
sufficiency graph: impressions falls below the solid curve
an individualization is not warranted
49
sufficiency graph: impressions fall above the solid curve
it may allow individualization
50
factors affecting the quality & quantity of fingerprint characteristics
- was the surface touched by friction ridges in a suitable manner? - was there a suitable amount of residue transferred to the surface? - was the surface suitable to maintain the reside transfer? - was the environment suitable to receive and maintain the residue?
51
AFIS - Automated Fingerprint Identification System
- examiner captures the latent print - latent print is trimmed & enhanced - examiner plots the minutiae
52
colors of AFIS
- the red circles indicate ridge endings - the yellow squares indicate bifurcations
53
how does the AFIS examiner determine the Y-axis?
- core location - direction of the print
54
fingerprint verification
- Quality Assurance protocol - blind verification
55
blind verification
the independent examination of one or more friction ridge impressions by another component
Forensic Biology
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