Why Is The Fingerprints Important

For over a century fingerprints have been one of the most used tools of forensic science. Fingerprints have been used to identify criminals of small crimes

The use of fingerprinting as a means of identification was born out of the need of law enforcement officials to have permanent records that could determine if a convict had been previously arrested or imprisoned. Before the advent of fingerprinting, law enforcement used a number of different methods to try to accomplish this. Ancient civilizations would tattoo or physically maim prisoners. In more recent times, daguerreotyping (that is, photographing) was used, but proved to be less than reliable, because people had the ability to dramatically alter their appearance (Skopitz). As a result, this method too, became obsolete with the discovery of fingerprinting, an absolutely infallible

There are different ways law enforcement can prove evidence and the guilty with impression evidence. Latent (invisible) or patent (visible) prints that are used in criminal investigations are typically collected from crime scene specialists to reveal or extract fingerprints from any surface or objects with the use of chemical or physical methods. Fingerprints can be shown when they are taken from a crime scene where the crime was committed. Fingerprints and bite-mark evidence have similar traits to shoe prints and tire tracks that can be used in criminal investigations. There are a percentage of palm prints that must be left at the scene to make a comparison for valid evidence.

Law enforcement and the criminal justice system depend upon technology to carry out their many demands. Many programs are created to ensure the security and effectiveness of the criminal justice system while improving the technological capacities of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Technology has impacted the communication capabilities of specialized databases in the criminal justice system in a substantial manner. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and

DNA fingerprinting is important in many different fields of study today, including forensic science. One case in which DNA fingerprinting was especially important was the O.J. Simpson case. According to New York Times in 1994, if the DNA tests were done correctly they “could establish Mr. Simpson’s innocence or convince a jury that he is guilty.” Basically, testing Simpson’s DNA and comparing it to the DNA found at the crime scene could greatly sway the jury’s decision on whether Simpson was guilty or not. This case was a very famous and popular, so introducing DNA evidence in a trail like this would bring much attention to the methods of DNA testing and how accurate the results were. Before this case took place, it was thought of as a possible

The introduction of the modern use of fingerprinting all started in 1984, when a British geneticist named Alec Jeffreys came across new methods for DNA fingerprinting (Jones, 2012). Since his discovery, this technique has been used successfully to identify perpetrators of crimes. For more than a century in fact, fingerprints have been used as identification tools by law enforcement. Known as “friction ridge analysis,” (Jones, 2012), this forensic method comprises of examiners comparing details of an unknown print against known prints. These details are analyzed

All over the world and as far as many people can remember, fingerprints have been used as a symbol of truth and justice in the forensics domain. The art of fingerprinting has been seen as a closure to many major crimes that have put many people in prison. However, in his article “Do Fingerprints Lie?” Michael Specter examines that fingerprinting has given rise to many questions as of the late 20th century. Fingerprints have been taken for granted, almost like money, which in this century, people believe is the best item to be handed to us. People tend to take what they hear, and just go with it without research or background knowledge. This practice has not been challenged as many concepts should. Specter brings in a solid argument with a lot of knowledge to support his claims and factual evidence to set his article with high credibility. While Specter builds a strong argument, he fails to consider how fingerprints have improved the forensic process.

From the early days, with little literary reference material, to the current day, with substantially more, but still insufficient formation, the science of fingerprint identification has managed to maintain its credibility and usefulness. Although, academic institutions have yet to recognize the field as an applied science and include it in the curricula, which would provide directed research and literary reference, in libraries. Without this academic recognition, progress in the field of fingerprint is destined to be sluggish. Description of fingerprint identification as a forensic science’ or an ~app1ied science’ in no way implies that is not a reliable science.

Sir Francis Galton, London Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, created his own system of fingerprint cataloguing. He assigned a number to each finger and based on the flow, direction, pattern, and other characteristics to narrow down candidates for a match. (“Forensic Science History”) Sir Galton fingerprint techniques have been used worldwide, however, with innovative and dramatized methods from other specialists, it made hard to prove which process would be reasonable and practical.

However, fingerprint can be contaminated if investigators are not careful, in which could lead to false conclusion and could develop false leads. Further, professional criminals would often avoid contaminating their crime by wearing gloves to prevent leaving fingerprints. The introduction of DNA methods has helped provide viable evidence for investigators. This is because DNA can leave traces such as, saliva, hair sweat and dandruff just to name a few. The DNA testing has also been accepted by the courts due to its accuracy and value to support evidence. (Hess, Orthmann, Cho, 2013)

In addition, these ridge patterns or also known as the fingerprints produce essential function to our body where these fingerprints allow human beings to have better grip in our daily lives(Champod et al, 2016. pg.1). Consequently, the fingerprint’s unique characteristics have also provided significant functionality to the police agencies in terms of the identifications and individualization. According to the Hawthorme and (Textbook), forensic scientists have established three fundamental principals to fingerprinting throughout the long period of studies which include every finer contains ridge detail which is unique to that finger and no other(no two fingerprints are identical), a fingerprint remains unchanged throughout life, there are general ridge patterns on the fingerprints that can be systematically classified and therefore can be filled and searched(Textbook). These unique aspects or principals of the fingerprints are allowing the police agencies to conduct the criminal investigations and individualizations more efficiently. Even though our recent development in the technology and scientific knowledges have enhanced the usability of the fingerprints in the criminal investigation, the concept of the fingerprint as a individualization is not a newly developed

The automated Fingerprint Identification System is also known as the AFIS within the law enforcement division (FBI, 2010). This system is an important element in the criminal justice system as some of its features encompass the storing of data, encoding, and fingerprint and facial comparison through graphics and other techniques. Law officials many centuries ago in the pursuit of positively identifying someone suspected of guilt have long used fingerprints techniques. Fingerprinting is also used in branches of our government, and in the Pentagon, the authentication method of fingerprints is used permit access to specified zones inside the building. Fingerprints are an effective and very precise method of identification purposes that does not pose

According to Merriam- Webster Dictionary; an impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip, especially as used for identifying individuals from the unique pattern of whorls and lines. One of the most important parts of a forensic investigation is fingerprinting. As fingerprints are unique to each individual, they serve as a highly accurate way for law enforcement agencies to identify a suspect, as well as potentially prove their guilt or innocence. This paper will talk about how a cold case was solved by a fingerprint, the procedures, reasons why the case was not solved at the time of the crime and the results.

“Fingerprint recognition is one of the divorce inference using the impressions made by the minute ridge formations or patterns found on the fingertips. No two people have exactly the same arrangement of the ridge patterns, and the remaining patterns of any one individual unchanged. Fingerprints infallible provide a means of personal identification. Other personal characteristics may change, but not fingerprints”. (1)

Every time somebody touches something, they leave behind a unique signature that forever links them to that object. This link is their fingerprints, which are unique to every person, for no two people have the same set, not even family members or identical twins. Palms and toes also leave prints behind, but these are far less commonly found during crime scene investigations. Therefore, fingerprints provide an identification process that is applicable to background checks, biometric security, mass disaster identification, and most importantly, crime scene investigations. Fingerprints are so differentiated because they are made up of distinct patterns of ridges and furrows on the fingers. The ridges are the “raised” portions of the prints, and the furrows are the “recessed” portions. This perceived uniqueness has led some people to falsely accept fingerprint analysis as absolute scientific fact. Although overall fingerprints are reliable, there are definitely situations where their accuracy can come into question.