Sir Edward Richard Henry, a British official stationed in India, began to develop a system of fingerprint identification for Indian criminals. It didn't take long for law enforcement officials to recognize the potential value of fingerprint evidence. These classifications are still used today. Galton published a book on his findings in 1892 in which he listed the three most common fingerprint types: loop, whorl, and arch. He determined through his studies not only that no two fingerprints are exactly alike, but also that fingerprints remain constant throughout an individual's lifetime. Beginning in the 1880s, Galton (a cousin of Charles Darwin) studied fingerprints to seek out hereditary traits. The pioneer in fingerprint identification was Sir Francis Galton, an anthropologist by training, who was the first to show scientifically how fingerprints could be used to identify individuals. In 1823, another physiologist, Jan Purkinje, noted at least nine different fingerprint patterns. In 1686 the physiologist Marcello Malpighi examined fingerprints under a microscope and noted a series of ridges and loops. The idea that fingerprints might be unique to individuals dates from the fourteenth century. In ancient Babylonia and China, thumbprints and fingerprints were used on clay tablets and seals as signatures. The use of fingerprint ID goes back to ancient times, although the use of DNA evidence is considered more accurate today. The History of Fingerprint Identification Experts use fingerprint powder or chemicals to set a print they then "lift" the print using special adhesives. There is no set number of points required, but the more points, the stronger the identification.įingerprints can be visible or latent latent fingerprints can often be seen with special ultraviolet lights, although on some surfaces a simple flashlight will identify the print. If there are only matching points and no differences, the fingerprints can be deemed identical. If two fingerprints are compared and one has a point not seen on the other, those fingerprints are considered different. How Are Fingerprints Identified?Įach fingerprint has a unique set of ridges and points that can be seen and identified by trained experts. The following is an introduction to fingerprint identification in the context of criminal evidence. No two people (not even identical twins) have the same fingerprints, and it is extremely easy for even the most accomplished criminals to leave incriminating fingerprints at the scene of a crime. Fingerprints are the oldest and most accurate method of identifying individuals.
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