Authors
Varsha Chauhan
Abstract
Fingerprints are a unique characteristic which is used by the law enforcement agencies for criminal identification and also help to reconstruct the crime scene. Fingerprints are unique to every person; even identical twins with identical DNA do not share the same fingerprint pattern. Fingerprints are likely to be found on every surface to which the offender touches, there are numerous methods for locating and visualizing such prints. This review paper focuses on the use of non-conventional methods. For locating and developing the chance prints, various conventional methods are available but they are proved to be toxic in nature for humankind, therefore investigators must focus on the use of non-conventional methods that are easily available, cheaper, and non-toxic in nature. Non-conventional methods produce better results on various surfaces than the conventional one. Using the non-conventional methods results in betterment for forensic services in the long run as these methods do not cause health hazards, non-destructive nature, and also saves the expenses. Key Words: Fingerprint, Non-Conventional, Forensic, Non-Toxic, Non-Destructive
Introduction
In forensic science, fingerprints treated as a unique and individualistic characteristic that is helpful in the identification of a person. The science of study of fingerprints is called dactyloscopy. Fingerprints are made of deep valleys called furrows and raised portion called friction ridges/ papillary, which together ensures a firm grip and resist slippage. The friction ridge is formed inside the womb and grows eventually as the baby grows. It consists of millions of tiny dots which are meant for discharging perspiration/ sweat. The sweat content is largely composed of 98% of water and the remainder is composed of organic acids, salts (sodium chloride), urea, and a small amount of albumin. Each fingerprint ridge is represented in various shapes and sizes such as bifurcation, trifurcation, ridge ending, dot, enclosure, etc. are called minutiae. For the comparison purpose, the type and location of these minutiae impart the uniqueness of the fingerprint pattern of an individual (Siegel, 150-151).
It is one of the most important tool for criminal identification, due to its uniqueness and permanency. No two people share exactly fingerprint patterns, even the identical twins have a different pattern of fingerprint, although they have identical DNA. It is likely to encounter on every possible surface to which the offender often comes in contact (mutual exchange principle), unknowingly. Fingerprints do not change with time (permanent damage to the finger is the only way a fingerprint can change), which makes it a more reliable technique for identification. Attempts were made by the gangster named John Dillinger, he intentionally applied the corrosive substance to prevent himself from the police officials. But he shot, the prints were taken and successfully matched with the prints taken at his previous arrest, proving his efforts non-profitable (Cummins, 982-983).
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| APA Style | Chauhan, V. (2020). Fingerprint Studies and Dactyloscopy. Academic Journal of Anthropological Studies, 3(1), 11–16. |
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