Fingerprints: Analysis and Understanding the Science

by Mark Hawthorne, Sharon Plotkin, Bracey-Ann Douglas

Overview

Fingerprints: Analysis and Understanding the Science, Second Edition is a thorough update of Mark Hawthorne’s classic written by two professionals with combined experience not only in crime scene investigations but also as court-recognized experts in latent print examination. Designed as a concise text to cover the fundamental techniques and principles of obtaining and analyzing latent fingerprint evidence, the book is laid out and written in an easy to understand format for those front-line professionals collecting and analyzing fingerprint evidence.

Over time, the degree of sophistication and education on fingerprints and friction ridge analysis has increased. Ultimately, through scientific study by pioneers in the field, the composition of friction skin soon became evident: that it could be used as a unique identifier of individuals. Now, fingerprints and footprints as unique identifiers—and their use in criminal cases—have become commonplace and an essential component of criminal investigation with most cases involving some component of fingerprint evidence.

Divided into two parts, the book begins with the basics of analysis, providing a brief history, systematic methods of identification, fingerprint pattern types and their associated terminologies and current classifications. The second part of the book discusses the identification and presentation of evidence in the courtroom, demonstrating both the traditional, manual method of lifting prints and the newer techniques for automated and live scans. Coverage provides instruction on searching and developing latent prints, storage, and comparison of prints.

New to this edition are updated techniques on collecting and preserving fingerprint evidence—including packaging and maintaining chain of custody. More detailed documentation processes, and additional chemical and lifting techniques, are described including use of light sources, latent backing cards and lifting material, casting material, ten print cards, and the enhancement of prints in blood. A discussion of laboratory equipment and comparison tools, the addition of photography techniques, and recent courtroom challenges to fingerprint evidence is also presented.

Fingerprints, Second Edition will provide a hands-on, fresh look at the most commonly utilized evidence found at crime scenes: fingerprints. The book will provide law enforcement, crime scene personnel and students just such an opportunity to easily understand and grasp the concepts, and relevant issues, associated with friction skin and fingerprint evidence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367479510
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/07/2021
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mark R. Hawthorne, now retired, was a professor and faculty member at the City College of San Francisco, where he began teaching in 1985 in the Administration of Justice programs and has also served as the coordinator of the forensic science program in criminal justice. In addition, he was an instructor at Sky-line College in San Bruno, California and taught at other universities and colleges since 1985. Mr. Hawthorne possesses an Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees. He was previously the lead instructor in physical evidence and crime scenes at the San Francisco Police Regional Training Academy. Mark is also a retired member of the San Francisco Police Department after serving with distinction for twenty-nine years, the last twenty-three as a crime scene investigator. During his career, Mark has processed more than three thousand crime scenes, has processed thousands of pieces of evidence and has testified as an expert witness numerous times in California state courts as well as U.S. district courts. Mark has conducted thousands of fingerprint comparisons and has made in excess of three thousand identifications. Mark is also an I.A.I. Certified Latent Print Examiner as well as a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst. Mark is also a recognized subject matter expert by the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in subject matter of physical evidence and crime scenes. Mark has made numerous presentations to various forensic organizations and meetings and is a published author (First Unit Responder: A Guide for the Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers.) He also mentored and assisted countless students achieve the goal in the Forensic Science field.

Sharon L. Plotkin obtained her Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Florida International University. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, also from Florida International University and an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology from Broward Community College. Ms. Plotkin received her certification through the International Association for Identification in 2006 and has been doing crime scene work for almost 20 years. She has handled thousands of cases ranging from burglaries to homicides and suspicious death cases. Ms. Plotkin has a passion for teaching and loves the opportunity to excite students in wanting to embark on a career in law enforcement. She has been teaching at the college level for almost 13 years. She is full-time faculty at the largest school in the nation that currently has 165,000 students enrolled, teaching in the crime scene technology degree program. Ms. Plotkin has received specialized training in various fields of crime scene investigations, including bloodstain reconstruction, photography, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprinting, and shoe wear casting. She has had the opportunity to be involved in casework with Dr. Henry Lee, assisting in crime scene reconstruction. Some of her cases have appeared on Court TV. Ms. Plotkin is also a member of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team).

Bracey-Ann Douglas is a Police Officer in the Miami-Dade County Police Department. She worked previously in the County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department in the Fingerprint Section as a Fingerprint Analyst. Prior to that, she was a Crime Scene Technician with the North Miami Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit. She is currently an Adjunct Faculty Professor in the Miami Dade College’s North Campus School of Justice providing classroom instruction, curriculum development, and supervisor for students’ field experience and internships. Ms. Douglas holds a Master of Science in Management with a Concentration in Criminal Justice Administration, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Management with Concentration in Crime Scene Investigations from Miami Dade College.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

About the Authors xiii

Part I Fingerprint Analysis

1 The History of Fingerprints 3

Outline of the History of Fingerprints 4

Early Cases Resulting in the Acceptance of Fingerprints 9

Early Nonsystematic Methods of Identification 11

Chapter 1 Study Questions 13

2 Systematic Methods of Identification 15

Bertillonage 16

Fingerprints 20

Definitions Associated with Fingerprints 20

Fingerprint Patterns and Ridge Characteristics 24

More Fingerprint Definitions 25

Chapter 2 Study Questions 27

3 Fingerprint Pattern Types and Associated Terminology 29

Loop Pattern 29

Loop Ridge Counting 34

Radial and Ulnar Loops 35

Other Issues Pertaining to Loops 36

Plain Arch and Tented Arch Patterns 39

The Plain Arch 39

The Tented Arch 39

The Whorl Pattern 41

Plain Whorl 43

Central Pocket Loop Whorl 44

Double Loop Whorl 50

Accidental Whorl 52

Ridge Tracing and Counting Whorl Patterns 54

The Palm Print 55

Chapter 3 Study Questions 57

4 Introduction to Classification Systems 59

Henry with FBI Extension 59

Ridge Count Conversion 66

Conversion Chart for Ridge Counts 66

Referencing 70

Filing Sequence 71

NCIC Classification System 72

IAFIS 73

Other Fingerprint Systems (Manual Methods or Systems) 74

Chapter 4 Study Questions 75

Part II Development, Identification, and Presentation of Fingerprints

5 Known/Direct/Inked Fingerprints: Processing Technique for Unknown/Latent Fingerprints 79

Known Fingerprints 79

Manual Method 79

Live Scan 88

Unknown Fingerprints (Commonly Referred to as Latent Prints) 89

Conditions Affecting Latent Prints 90

The Crime Scene Search and Fingerprint Development 91

Fingerprint Development Techniques 93

Powder Techniques 94

Chemical Techniques 104

Ardrox Dye Stain-Aqueous Premix 120

Basic Yellow 40 Dye Stain 120

Fingerprint Comparison and Identification 131

Chapter 5 Study Questions 143

6 Court Preparation and Presentation 145

Preparation of the Exhibit 145

Courtroom Etiquette 147

Qualifying the Expert Witness 147

Courtroom Testimony 148

Presentation of the Exhibit 149

The historic case that allowed fingerprint evidence in the courtroom 149

Review 149

Challenges to the Science of Fingerprints 151

Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 702 152

Chapter 6 Study Questions 153

Appendix A 155

Appendix B 159

Appendix C 163

Bibliography 167

Glossary 169

Index 173