Drying The Fingers
In many instances it will be found that the outer skin is gone and the
fingers themselves are saturated with water. A quick method of drying
out the fingers is to place them in full strength acetone for
approximately 30 minutes. The fingers are then placed in xylene for
about an hour or until the xylene has overcome the reaction of the
acetone. After removal from the xylene the fingers should be placed on
a blotter until the surface of the fingers appears dry. They are then
ready to be inked and printed.
It will be noted in this procedure that when the fingers are removed
from the acetone they dry and harden in a matter of seconds. The
purpose of the xylene is to resoften the fingers. After this
treatment, should the resulting inked impressions be unsuitable for
classification purposes, the ridge detail should be photographed.
More
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Accidental
Within the whorl group the subdivision type accidental is used for extension purposes only. In general classification it is designated by the letter W and for extension purposes by the letter X. The accidental whorl is a pattern consisting of a co... Advanced Decomposition
If the case is one involving decomposition, the operator is confronted with the problem of dealing with flesh which is rotted or putrefied. The flesh may be soft or flabby and very fragile. If this is so, an examination is made of the finger tips to... Central Pocket Loop
Within the whorl group, the subclassification type central pocket loop is used for extension purposes only. In general classification it is designated by the letter W. Figures 213 to 236 are central pocket loops. The central pocket loop type of w... Chemical Development Of Latent Impressions
Chemical treatment in the development of latent finger impressions on paper, cardboard, and newly finished or unpainted wood may involve a slightly more complicated technique than that in which powders are utilized, but the results justify the add... Classification Of Amputations And Fingers Missing At Birth
When one or more amputations appear upon a fingerprint card, it may be filed separately from those having no amputations in order to facilitate searching. It is to be noted that before it may be filed in the amputation group, the card must contain a... Classification Of Bandaged Or Imprinted Fingers
As noted in the chapter pertaining to Problems in the Taking of Inked Fingerprints, an indication to the effect recently injured, bandaged is not sufficient to file a fingerprint card. It is obvious that a fingerprint card bearing these notations ca... Classification Of Scarred Patterns
Emphasis should be placed upon the necessity for fully referencing all scarred patterns. In connection with their proper classification, the following rules should be observed: - When an impression is so scarred that neither the general ... Death Notices
When persons whose fingerprints are on file are reported as deceased, the prints should be taken from the active file and assembled with any other prints of the person concerned. These should be plainly marked Dead and filed in a separate cabinet or... Deceased Infants
The foregoing has dealt with the securing of fingerprints of unknown deceased persons for identification purposes. The basis for such action is the presumptive possibility that the unknowns had been fingerprinted previously and through this medium m... Deformities
If a subject has more than 10 fingers, as occasionally happens, the thumbs and the next 4 fingers to them should be printed, and any fingers left over should be printed on the other side of the card with a notation made to the effect that they are e... Desiccation And Charring
The problem confronting the fingerprint examiner in treating fingers which are desiccated or dried and shriveled is that of distending and softening the skin. Desiccated fingers are generally found to have the outer layer of skin intact and the ridg... Dispositions
It is important to the bureau to have complete information concerning the ultimate disposition on each arrest fingerprint card. If the disposition of a charge is known at the time the person is fingerprinted, this fact should be indicated in the spa... Double Loop
Within the whorl group, the subclassification type double loop is used for extension purposes only. In general classification it is designated by the letter W. The double loop consists of two separate loop formations, with two separate and distin... Drying The Fingers
In many instances it will be found that the outer skin is gone and the fingers themselves are saturated with water. A quick method of drying out the fingers is to place them in full strength acetone for approximately 30 minutes. The fingers are then... Essentials Of A Loop
- A sufficient recurve. - A delta. - A ridge count across a looping ridge. A sufficient recurve may be defined as that part of a recurving ridge between the shoulders of a loop. It must be free of any appendages abutting upon ... Establishment Of A Local Fingerprint Identification Bureau
For the information and assistance of officials who desire to establish a local fingerprint identification bureau, the following suggestions are being made to indicate the principal materials necessary to equip such a bureau: ... Extensions
THE SECOND SUBSECONDARY CLASSIFICATION: When a group of fingerprints becomes so large that it is cumbersome and unwieldy, even though fully extended, it can be subdivided further by using a second subsecondary division, which is brought up into the ... Fbi Aid
The above techniques and procedures have been dealt with upon the basis that the law enforcement officers would, when a corpse has been found, attempt to secure a set of finger impressions in an effort to identify the unknown dead. If, however, the ... Filing Sequence
The sequence must be arranged properly at all times to make possible the most accurate work. Prints are sequenced and filed in this order, according to: I. Primary: 1 32. - to -- 1 32 In the primary classification the denominator rem... Fingerprint Files
It is suggested that the fingerprint card be white, light cardboard, 8 by 8 inches, slightly glazed. This size is convenient, as it allows all the space necessary for recording the classification of the prints and general descriptive information con... Fingerprinting Equipment
For the purpose of taking fingerprints there should be a stand with a clamp for holding the fingerprint cards steady. This latter item is necessary to prevent smudging the prints. A tube of printer's ink is used. The ink is applied by a roller to a ... General
These problems have dealt with the mechanical or operational processes. However, there are other problems dealing with the completing of the descriptive information. The fingerprint card may be returned because of the lack of information in the spac... General Photography
In the foregoing instances in which it has been impossible to obtain suitable inked impressions it will be noted that the last resort has always been photography. In all probability in advanced cases of decomposition, desiccation, and maceration it ... How To Take Inked Fingerprints
The equipment required for taking fingerprints consists of an inking plate, a cardholder, printer's ink (heavy black paste), and a roller. This equipment is simple and inexpensive. In order to obtain clear, distinct fingerprints, it is necessary... Illegible Inked Prints
A brief review of the problems of classifying and filing a fingerprint card in the FBI will help to clarify the FBI's policy concerning the processing of bad inked fingerprints. The criminal fingerprint file contains the fingerprints of millions o... Interpretation
Before pattern definition can be understood, it is necessary to understand the meaning of a few technical terms used in fingerprint work. The pattern area is the only part of the finger impression with which we are concerned in regard to interpre... Jacket Folder File
When an identification bureau receives prints of individuals on whom it already has prints, it is not practical to keep more than one set of prints per person in what may be called the active fingerprint file. In these instances the better print sho... Latent Fingerprints
To adequately develop the latent prints at crime scenes, it is necessary that the proper equipment be provided. This equipment includes latent fingerprint powders, brushes, lifting tape, fingerprint camera, searchlight, and scissors. All of this equ... Latent Impressions
Each ridge of the fingers, palms, and soles bears a row of sweat pores which in the average person constantly exude perspiration. Also, the ridges of the fingers and palms are in intermittent contact with other parts of the body, such as the hair ... Mechanical Operation
In order to take good fingerprints, the necessary equipment should be maintained in a neat and orderly manner at all times. Poor impressions are usually caused by one of the following faults: 1. The use of poor, thin, or colored ink, resulting i... Name Files
There will be times when it may be necessary to locate an individual's fingerprints when no current fingerprints are available, but the name with a police number or the classification is known. In order to facilitate work of this nature, as well as ... Permanent Disabilities
Another phase involves permanent disabilities which can in most cases be controlled by the identification officer. These can be lack of fingers (born without), amputations, crippled fingers (bent, broken), deformities (webbed, extra fingers), and ol...