Recording of Fingerprints from living and dead

1. QDFP UNIT 5

2. The fingerprint search
 starting place should be selected
point of entry
 make a preliminary survey of the entire premises
 with the help of a person or persons, well acquainted with the
scene of crime
 observe anything which may seem unusual
disarranged furniture,
scattered objects
unexplained damages

3. At the starting point
 methodically in a clock-wise direction
 All suspected surfaces should be carefully examined for finger prints
 particularly
door knobs
window panes and their surrounding area
Cash boxes
jewel cases
Desks
Trunks
safe

4.  Tools, torches or weapons left behind by the criminal
 manner of committing crime may indicate the field of search
 in cases of poisoning, glass bottles, cups, saucers, spoons and
cupboards should be carefully examined.
 firearms, fired cartridges, cases, unfired cartridges
 desk, tables or cupboards
 sharp pointed or sharp edged weapons or objects

5. Fingerprint Powders

6.  has an affinity for moisture
 clings to the residue deposited by friction ridge skin
 mechanical attraction between these particles and the
moisture and oily components
 absorption being a factor
 without “painting” the substrate
 Background painting
undesirable amount of powder adheres to the substrate

7. pigment and binder – the two elements of a fingerprint
powder
pigment –
provides for effective visualization
offering contrast and definition against the
background surface
The binder (carrier) –
provides for maximum and preferential adhesion to
latent print residue

8. Visualization
reflected light (light powders)
absorbed light (dark powders)
luminescence (fluorescent powders)
bichromatic powder

9. Commercially available powders
black, white, silver, gray, and so forth
carbon black (colloidal carbon)
lamp black, kaolin, aluminum, metal flake, and
dolomite.
Good binders include iron powder, lycopodium, corn
starch, etc

10. Carbon Black Powder
most common latent print powder
known for its versatility and effectiveness
causes little substrate painting
produce a dark gray-black image that can be
visualized on varying colored surfaces

11. Flake Powders
The spherical powders is milled to a flat particle
Increases the surface area
Increases the contact with the fingerprint residue
diameter of 10 μm and an average thickness of 0.5
μm

12. Fingerprint White powder
 White powder can be used for dark surfaces.
 It produces the better result in the shape of fingerprint impression.
 Produces better result in the contrast of black colour and it should be
photographed.
 If this print is lifted with the transparent tape and replaced on the other black
sheet.
 The print gets faint after some time.
 Therefore direct photography is preferred in such cases

13. Fingerprint Grey powder
Like white powder the grey one is also used on the
objects having dark background.
Grey powder should be used on dark colored objects
and on mirrored surfaces which will photograph
black.
This powder produces the better result on the
polished wooden objects/items or on the steel
vessels etc.

14. Fingerprint Red Fluorescent Powder
 Red powder known as Dragon’s Blood
 Finely powdered red resin from the fruit of a palm that is used
in the manufacture of zinc engravings.
 This colour is applied on the surface of multi-coloured for the
better results.

15. Fingerprint Green Fluorescent Powder
 Green powder can be used according to the surface and
background of the article having the chance print.
 If there is a multicolour background of the chance print, then
green fluorescent powder can be used for better result

16. CHEMICAL METHODS

17. Silver Nitrate Solution
 colourless, transparent, tubular crystal
 becomes grey or grayish black on exposure to light
 3% solution is considered to be the best choice
 develops latent prints on absorbent and non-absorbent materials
 reacts with the Sodium Chloride of the latent print
 Resulting in Silver Chloride
 an unstable salt and immediately breaks up into its components silver and
chloride on exposure to light including sunlight.

18.  useful for paper, cardboard and even unpainted wood
 Prints those are as old as two years can be developed by this
method

19. Procedure
 The latent fingerprint-bearing item is treated with the test solution either by
dipping or by spraying.
 The treated item is then allowed to dry under natural conditions for 5-10
minutes.
 It is exposed to either sunlight or light from an ultraviolet lamp till the best
contrast between the developed fingerprints and the background surface is
obtained.
 After the fingerprints developed, the article should once again be washed with
water so as remove excess silver nitrate

20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ4dIvspLq
w

21. Ninhydrin Method
 first used as a method in developing fingerprints was by Oden and von
Hofsten in 1954
 1,2,3-triketohydrindene hydrate, also known as 1,2,3-indantrione hydrate
 in 1910 by Ruhemann
 milk, urine, saliva, blood plasma, serum, lymph, cyst contents, fresh eggs,
albumin, fresh and boiled meat, and sweat contain substances which
dialyze and react with ninhydrin

22. What component of sweat reacts with
Ninhdrin?
 Salts - No
 Fats and oils –No
 protinaceous residue – YES
 alpha amino adds
 persist for long periods of time
 can be detected at long intervals
 up to several years later

23. Preparing Ninhydrin
 0.5% solution of ninhydrin in acetone can be used.
 0.5% solution of ninhydrin in diethyl ether
 diethyl ether causes much less ink running than acetone
 Ink running is a common problem
 Acetone and diethyl ether are polar solvents

24. Polar solvent
 7.5 grams of ninhydrin are dissolved in' 40 cc of methanol.
 960 cc of petroleum ether F (B.P.- 30-60*C) is added and
stirred for several minutes.
 The mixture is poured into a separatory funnel and allowed to
stand for five to ten minutes.
 Two layers are formed
a small quantity of deep yellow liquid on the bottom
a larger quantity of less viscous pale yellow liquid on top

25.  The deep yellow phase on the bottom is drawn off and
discarded.
 The pale yellow upper phase is used to process documents.
 None of the deep yellow fluid be allowed to come in contact
with documents as this portion will cause inks to run.
 The pale yellow phase will not cause inks to run if properly
prepared

26. Applying ninydrin
 spraying, dipping, or by brushing.
 use of a fuming hood
 Drying is accomplished in a matter of 10-20 seconds
 appear anywhere from ten minutes to several weeks after
processing.
 Heat can be used to accellerate the reaction
 pressing iron, infrared lamps, and air curing

27. Problems with ninhydrin
 Not permanent.
 Fading will start to occur as soon as one month after
optimum development.
 It is good practice to photograph all developed prints having
identification potential.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuGGQ2XK9RM

28. Iodine:
Up until the 1970s Iodine fuming was one of the
classic/main methods to visualize latent
fingerprints. This method is now seldom used.
Iodine is one of the few chemicals that sublimate
(change phases from solid straight to gas)
It is toxic and should be used in well ventilated
areas

29. How does it work?
Keeping a print on paper in a closed container,
Iodine will react with the oil in the print resulting
in a brownish print to develop.
The print will fade quickly if it is not fixed. This
is done with a solution of Calcium Chloride and
Potassium Bromide in water. The print will then
last a few weeks

31. Super Glue:
Discovered accidentally by a civilian forensic
scientist at the U.S. Army Crime Laboratory in
Japan.
Contains Cyanoacrylate which is the ingredient
that combines with the print.

32. Fuming Tank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgqwMeWlzgI

34. Preservation of developed fingerprints

35. Fingerprint Lifters
 made with tape or a similar lifting material having the correct amount
of adhesive to remove enough of the fingerprint powder without
destroying the original item
 Fingerprint lifters come in a variety of types that vary in colour, size,
flexibility, and tackiness (stickiness).
 (1) transparent tape lifters
 (2) hinge lifters
 (3) rubber-gelatin lifters
 (4) lifting sheets.

36.  The tape should be unrolled in one continuous motion to the
desired length.
 If the tape is pulled in stages, the tape will contain hesitation
marks where each pull was stopped.
 Such marks may obscure lifted impressions.
 The colour of the powder that is used determines the colour
of the backing to which the tape is adhered.

37.  The chosen backing should contrast adequately with the
colour of the powder that was used.
 Some stretchable polyethylene tapes are formulated to lift
latent prints off textured surfaces.
 These tapes are thicker and more pliable and are able to lift
powder from the contours of the textured surface
 whereas traditional lifting tape only lifts powder from the top
of the textured surface.

38. Hinge Lifters
 lifting tape and a backing card hinged together on one side
 The adhesive side of the hinge lifter is protected by a plastic cover
 the divider is removed and discarded
 The exposed adhesive is then placed on the latent impression, lifted off the
surface, and then folded back onto the hinged backer
 manufactured in various sizes and contain markings that indicate the correct
side for viewing when used as designed
 available with white, black, or transparent backings.

40. Rubber-gelatin Lifters
 the least tacky and most pliable
 a surface that is considered either fragile (peeling paint from
a wall) or irregularly shaped (e.g., doorknob).
 include
 a cover sheet,
 a low-adhesion gelatin layer,
 a high-quality elastic sheet of rubber

41.  The rubber sheet contains adhesive material
 This is applied to the powdered latent impression.
 Once it is removed from the surface the clear and clean
plastic covering is reapplied
 But here the print will be in reverse position.

43. Preservation using Photography

44. Ninhydrin Impressions
 Latent impressions processed with ninhydrin (a chemical
reagent) develop in the visible red range.
 Looking at the colour wheel, the colour opposite red is green.
Green (#58) and yellow-green (#11) filters have been found to
enhance latent impressions developed with ninhydrin.
 Additionally, ninhydrin impressions should be photographed
using balanced direct lighting.

45. Impressions on Reflective Surfaces
 Bounced lighting may also be used
 bounced lighting normally produces dark ridges on a light
background
 bounced lighting highlights the object and not the ridges

46. Indented Impressions
 Oblique lighting is primarily used for photographing “plastic”
impressions
 allows shadows to be cast into the areas impressed by the
ridges
 to prevent heat generated by the lights from degrading the
impressions.

47. FINGERPRINTING IN
DECEASED
• RECENT DEATH
• CADAVER IN RIGOR MORTIS STATE
• CADAVER IN DECOMPOSTION STATE

48. INTRODUCTION
 Postmortem fingerprinting is necessary when any body is
beyond recognition (mass disaster, homicide, drowning or
due to scavenger activity).
 Should be carried out only after completion of pathological
examination as scrapings of nails might become
contaminated with ink or powder.

49. PRELIMNARY PREPARATIONS
 Visual examination to determine whether the hands of cadaver are
clean or soiled.
 If it is soiled, then the fingers are first cleaned by dipping hands in
either soapy water or alcohol.
 To make fingers more flexible hands may be immersed in hot water
for few minutes. (If required)
 Fingers should be dried (blotting with clean, lint freepaper towel or
cotton, hair dryer) before proceeding for fingerprinting.
 Mid range photographs and close up photographs of each digit are
taken.

50. METHODS OF RECORDING FINGERPRINTS
 Method of recording fingerprint is determined by the
state/condition of cadaver.
 However, whatever be the method of recording, one should
always take multiple impressions for each digit as due to
wrinkles and depressions in skin, quality impression cannot be
obtained in one single attempt.

51. RECENT DEATH
If a corpse is found
within 4 – 7 hr of
death : fingers are
flexible
Fingerprint Pad Fingerprint Ink
Fingerprint powder
and lifting tape.

52. Fingerprint Pad Method
 Prints can be recorded by using fingerprint pad.
 Pad is rolled over the finger and then inked finger is rolled
over the respective box of fingerprint card.
 Method is effective only when the fingers are flexible.
 Single digit fingerprint pad is more suitable for this purpose.

53. Single digit fingerprint pad

54. Fingerprint Ink Method
 Used when fingers are moderately fexible.
 A drop of ink is placed over spatula and spread out using
horizontal roller.
 Ink is applied in fingertips with the help of spatula.
 Fingerprint card is placed in fingerprint spoon and it is rolled
over inked finger.
 One finger is inked at a time and after recording its
impression, another finger is inked.

55. Fingerprint spoons are curved metallic devices used for recording post mortem fingerprints

56. Fingerprint Powder And Tape Method
 Used if fingers are rigid.
 Black fingerprint powder is applied on the fingertip with fingerprint
brush.
 Quantity of the powder should be sufficient to cover the entire
fingertip. Excess powder is blown off.
 Fingerprint lifting tape is pressed firmly against the fingertip and
then removed and pasted at appropriate box of the fingerprint card.
 As tape is elastic in nature, it confirms to the shape of the finger.
Thus entire ridge pattern is recorded by this method.

58. CORPSE IN RIGOR MORTIS STATE
 Fingers need to be straightened before recording the imprints. Thus
Rigor mortis needs to be removed.
 Hands are immersed in hot water, up to the wrist.
 If water is very hot then immerse it for one minute and if not vthen for
two three minutes. Then take’em out and dry with towel.
 If even after immersion method fingers are not straightened, then force
is applied for breaking the rigor.
 Methods of breaking rigor mortis :
 Done by pressing on the finger just above the knuckle zone.
 Or by bending the wrist in direction of the forearm and press each finger
close to the palm.
 If above methods fail then a finger straightener is used to unclasp the
digits.
 In case where one is unable to break the rigor, doctor is asked to make
the deep cuts on each fingers in the joints ( tendons).

59. CADAVER IN STATE OF DECOMPOSITION
 During early decomposition, skin of the fingers become shrunken and
wrinkled at the bulb portion of the fingers.
 To remove these shrinkages and to restore fingers to its approximate original
shape, glycerinated gelatin or air is used.
 Mixture of gelatin and glycerin in the ratio 1:7 or 1: 1 (v/v) is effective.
 Mixture is heated and hypodermically injected beneath the finger tissues.
 Air can be injected hypodermically to flatten the shrunken ridges.
 About 1-1.5 ml of air is injected to inflate the tissue.

60.  Hypodermic needle is injected at the joint of the finger up
into the tip of the finger.
 Injected until the finger "bulbs" are rounded out.
 In cases where injection of the fluid does not completely fill
the finger bulb, Fluid is injected at other points of the finger
such as the extreme tip or sides, until suitable results are
achieved.
 Needle is quickly withdrawn and place is massaged to close
the perforated spot.

62.  NaOH Solution method :
 Digits are amputated.
 Done with a bone spine.
 Amputated digits are soaked in an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide
or sodium hydroxide.
 Each digit is immersed in a separate vessel.
 Strength of solution may vary form 1.5 %- 3%.
 Once the fingers reaches their original lengths , they are removed from the
solution.
 Digits are then washed with distilled water and if the ridges become too soft
due to oversoaking in NaOH, then soak the digits in 1-3% formaldehyde
solution.

63. Formaldehyde solution
 If ridges are too soft then upper layer is immersed in stronger
solution of formaldehyde i.e 9%.
 Formaldehyde retards the decomposition process and also
hardens the skin layer.
 Operator wears gloves and places the upper layer of
deceased’s finger on his own fingers and prints are taken
after inking.

64.  In cases where first layer of skin is missing, or epidermis is
broken down . the dermis or second layer of skin would be
dealt with as though it were the outside skin.
 Skin is first loosened from the flesh by boiling in water.
 Then skin is peeled off and placed on a cardboard with inner
surface turned outward.
 The ridge pattern is now reverse of the original.
 A better way is to take a cast of the underneath skin and then
print from the mould.

65. Radiography method
 In cases where finger is badly decomposed, radiography is done.
 Photograph is taken by the means of X ray.
 An opaque material (barium sulfate or lead carbonate) is injected in
the inner surface of the fingers, which are then X-rayed.
 The photographs display the bony structure of the fingers in
addition to the ridge details.
 The latter are sufficiently clear as to identify the deceased.

66. Postmortem fingerprints are compared to
 Previous arrest records
 Military service records
 Federal employment records
 State driver’s license records

67. Thank you