PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
( DACTYLOSCOPY )
DACTYLOSCOPY
the science of identification by means of fingerprints
DACTYLOGRAPHY
the science of fingerprint classification for the purpose of identification
DACTYL
Latin word for “finger”
POLYDACTYL
a person with excessive number of fingers, usually, an extra pinky or thumb
IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES IN THE HISTORY OF FINGERPRINTS
MARCELO MALPIGHI
the grandfather of fingerprints
an Italian anatomist who published a book entitled “De Externo Tactus Organo”
noted for his discovery of the inner and outer structures of the skin
NEHEMIAH GREW
published a report entitled “Philosophical Transaction” which was presented before the Royal
Society in London, England, describing the ridges and pores of the hands and feet
JOHANNES PURKINJE
a professor in the University of Breslau, Germany who identified nine (9) different fingerprint
patterns
HENRY FAULD
advocated the use of fingerprint identification in the detection of crime
SIR FRANCIS GALTON
the first scientist of friction skin identification
credited for discovering the three families of fingerprint patterns
was also able to make his own system of classification
SIR EDWARD RICHARD HENRY
the father of fingerprints
established his own system of classification, called Henry system, which was recognized and
officially adopted throughout England and later in almost all English-speaking countries in the
world
JUAN VUCETICH
developed his own system of classification which was officially adopted in Argentina and in
use today in most Spanish-speaking countries in South America
PEOPLE VS JENNINGS, 21 DECEMBER 1911
the first ever conviction in a criminal case using fingerprint as evidence
BRIEF HISTORY OF FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
MR JONES
the one who first taught fingerprint in the Philippine Constabulary
GENEROSO REYES
the first Filipino fingerprint technician employed by the Philippine Constabulary
ISABELA BERNALES
the first Filipina fingerprint technician
PEOPLE VS MEDINA
- first conviction in a criminal case in the Philippines using fingerprint as evidence
PLARIDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTION
now, Philippine College of Criminology
the first government-recognized institution to teach science of fingerprints and other police
sciences
THREE ALLIED SCIENCES
1) POROSCOPY
study of sweat pores
2) CHIROSCOPY
study of palm prints
3) PODOSCOPY
study of foot prints
FINGERPRINT
the impression or design formed by the ridges on the inside of the last joint of the finger and
thumb on any smooth surface through the media of ink, sweat or any reagent capable of
producing visibility
THREE DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS
1) INDIVIDUALITY
this means that no two fingerprints are alike
2) CONSTANCY
this means that fingerprints are unchangeable
3) INFALLIBILITY
this means that fingerprints cannot be forged
KINDS OF FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS
1) ROLLED
2) SIMPLE/PLAIN
ROLLING
the manner of placing fingerprints
a) thumb – rolled towards the body
b) remaining four fingers – rolled away from the body
LATENT FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS
hidden, fingerprints found at the crime scene
MATERIALS NEEDED TO GET A LATENT PRINT
1) flashlight – using the oblique focusing technique
2) fingerprint powder – black if the background is white; white if the background is black; blue if
the surface is hairy, like leaves; ninhydrin solution (spray) for ceilings
3) lifter – like cello tape
4) fingerprint brush – should not touch the surface of the fingerprint impression
5) latent print card – where the lifted impression is transferred
MATERIALS NEEDED IN TAKING PLAIN AND ROLLED FINGERPRINT IMPRESSION
1) fingerprint card
2) fingerprint card holder
3) fingerprint slab
4) fingerprint roller
5) fingerprint ink
BLOCKING
the identification of fingerprint patterns to be indicated in the fingerprint card
TYPELINES
the two innermost lines which are parallel or about parallel which diverge, surround or tend to
surround the pattern area
the boundaries of a fingerprint pattern
PATTERN AREA
that part of the loop or whorl in which appears the delta, core and other ridges
the area of concern in classification
always enclosed by the type line
RIDGES
tiny, elevated, hill-like structures on the surface of the skin of the fingers
the basis of examination, comparison and identification
FURROWS
depressed, canal-like structures found between two ridges
RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
little points of details in the formation of the pattern which are used in comparing two
fingerprints in order to determine its identity
FRICTION SKIN
also called epidermal skin or papillary skin
hairless skin found on the lower surface of the hands and feet covered with minute ridges
KINDS OF RIDGES
1) DIVERGING RIDGES/DIVERGENCE
the spreading apart of two ridges which have been running parallel or about parallel
2) CONVERGING RIDGES/CONVERGENCE
the meeting of the ridges which have been running parallel or about parallel
3) BIFURCATION
consists of a single ridge which forks into two or more branches
4) ISLAND RIDGE/EYELET/ENCLOSURE/LAKE RIDGE
consists of a single ridge which forks into two branches, running side by side towards the
same direction then meet to form the original ridge
5) ENDING RIDGE
refers to the terminus of a short or a long ridge
6) DOT RIDGE
a point ridge
TWO FOCAL/FIXED POINTS
1) DELTA
outer terminus; a point on a ridge which is in front of and nearest the center of the divergence
of the type line
2) CORE
inner terminus; a point on a ridge formation usually located at the center or heart of a pattern
THREE GENERAL TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
A. ARCH FAMILY
1) PLAIN ARCH
a type of fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges come from one side of the
impression, then flow out to the other side with a slight rise of the ridges somewhere at
the center, without a delta, core or recurving ridges
there is minimum curvature from the baseline
symbolized by small letter “a”
2) TENTED ARCH
a type of fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges are forming an arch and one or
more of the ridges at the center or base of the pattern shapes at tent in outline giving an
angle of 90º or less, or one with an upward thrust having an angle of 45º or more, or a
pattern similar to a loop but lacking one of its essential elements
there is maximum curvature from the baseline
symbolized by small letter “t”
THREE KINDS OF TENTED ARCH
a) upthrust formation – maximum curvature all the way
b) well-defined angles – ridges with angles
c) similar to a loop but lacking one of its elements
B. LOOP FAMILY
1) RADIAL LOOP
a type of fingerprint pattern which possesses a delta, a core and one or more of the
ridges within the pattern area form a sufficient recurve, part of which crosses or touches a
straight line when drawn between the delta and the core, then flow out or terminate to the
same side of its point of origin
the slope or downward flow of the innermost sufficient recurve is towards the thumb or
radius bone of the hand of origin
symbolized by either / or \, depending on the origin of the hand
2) ULNAR LOOP
a type of fingerprint pattern which possesses a delta, a core and one or more of the
ridges within the pattern area form a sufficient recurve, part of which crosses or touches a
straight line when drawn between the delta and the core, then flow out or terminate to the
same side of its point of origin
the slope or downward flow of the innermost sufficient recurve is towards the little finger
or ulna bone of the hand of origin
symbolized by / or \, depending on the origin of the hand
RADIUS BONES
the wrist bone close to the thumb
ULNA BONES
the wrist bone close to the pinky
ELEMENTS OF A LOOP
1) one delta
2) one core
3) at least one ridge count
4) sufficient recurve
RIDGE COUNT
the number of intervening ridges between the delta and the core (excluding the delta and
the core in counting)
SUFFICIENT RECURVE
is that part of a loop between its two shoulders
this part must be free from any appendages abutting upon the outside of the recurve at
right angle
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE KIND OF LOOP
1) origin of the hand
2) elements of a loop
3) slanting position of the ridges towards or down to the respective bone of the hand
INNER LOOP
ridge counting is 1-9 if in the index finger, 1-10 if in the middle finger and 1-13 if in the
ring finger
OUTER LOOP
ridge counting is 10 or more if in the index finger, 11 or more if in the middle finger and 14
or more if in the ring finger
C. WHORL FAMILY
1) PLAIN WHORL
possesses two (2) deltas (left and right), one (1) core, a complete circuit (either oval,
spiral, circular or any variant of a circle)
symbolized by capital letter “W”
2) CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORL
possesses two (2) deltas, one (1) core, with one or more of the ridges forming a complete
circuit which may be oval, spiral, s-shaped, circular, second recurve or any variant of a
circle
symbolized by capital letter “C”
3) DOUBLE LOOP
possesses two (2) deltas, two (2) distinct sets of shoulders and two independent loop
formation but with only one (1) core
symbolized by capital “D”
4) ACCIDENTAL WHORL
a combination of two (2) or more different types with the exemption of the plain arch, or a
pattern possessing some of the basic elements of two or more different types, or a
pattern in which does not conform to the seven other types
symbolized by capital letter “X”
RIDGE TRACING
the tracing of ridges from the left delta to the right delta
INNER WHORL
one in which the ridge tracing passes inside or above the right delta with three or more
ridges intervening between the traced ridge and the right delta
symbolized by capital letter “I”
MEETING WHORL
one in which the ridge tracing exactly meets the right delta or passes inside or above the
right delta with less than three ridges intervening between the traced ridge and the right
delta
symbolized by capital letter “M”
OUTER WHORL
one in which the ridge tracing passes outside or below the right delta with three or more
intervening ridges between the traced ridge and the right delta
symbolized by capital letter “O”
FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
1) PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION
assigning of numerical values to whorls
1st pair = 16
2nd pair = 8
3rd pair = 4
4th pair = 2
5th pair = 1
2) SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
involves the index finger
right hand = numerator
left hand = denominator
just write down the symbols of the fingerprint pattern
when found in the index finger, the respective symbols for central pocket loop whorl,
double loop whorl and accidental whorl are used
when found in the other fingers, the symbol used is capital letter “W”
r.a.t. (radial loop, plain arch, tented arch) found before and after the index finger
written as subscript
3) SUB-SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
involves the index, middle and ring fingers
when pattern is a loop, perform ridge counting to determine if it is an inner or outer loop
when pattern is a whorl, perform ridge tracing to determine if it is an inner, meeting or
outer whorl
4) MAJOR CLASSIFICATION
involves the thumb
right hand serves as the numerator and left hand serves as the denominator
involves ridge tracing if whorls
if pattern is either tented or plain arch, symbol to write is – (dash)
1st formula = for the left hand:
1-11 = S
12-16 = M
17 and above = L
the first formula is used when:
a) one pattern is a loop type, the other is either a whorl or an arch
b) the loop type pattern has a ridge counting of 16 or less
2nd formula = right hand
1-17 = S
18-22 = M
23 and above = L
the second formula is used when:
a) when both thumbs have loop type patterns and the ridge counting of the loop in
the left hand is 17 or more
5) FINAL CLASSIFICATION
involves the little finger/pinky
right hand = numerator
left hand = denominator
involves ridge counting, and even whorls are treated like loops
if whorl is found at the right hand, count the ridges from the left delta going to the core
if whorl is found at the left hand, count the ridges from the right delta going to the core
if either plain or tented arch, just write the symbol – (dash)
6) KEY CLASSIFICATION
involves ridge counting of the first finger with the first loop, except the little finger
if there is no finger with a loop pattern, then the first finger with the first whorl
if whorl, use the same formula as the one used for the final classification
if there is no loop or whorl pattern, then the first finger with the arch, just write the symbol –
(dash)
As a general rule in fingerprint classification in cases of amputated fingers, the fingerprint pattern
opposite the amputated finger shall be copied. If both fingers are amputated, the fingerprint pattern
assigned is whorl.
