FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

UNIT 1 HISTORY OF FINGERPRINT ,

FINGERPRINT PATTERNS and the
RULES ON DELTA AND CORE
LOCATION
 Unit Outcomes
:
At the end of this module, you should be able
: to

1.1 Explain the history of fingerprints both in International and Philippine setting as
well as the principles, uses and legality of fingerprint as evidence. (CILO - 1,)

1.2 Identify the different fingerprint patterns and its allied sciences. (CILO - 1,)

1.3 Identify the rules on delta and core location, ridge counting and tracing and the
evidence and standard prints
Direction: Watch and Read the history of Fingerprint both in International
and Philippines setting. Use the given links below.

1. https://www.slideshare.net/timr2700/fingerprint-history0911

2. https://www.slideshare.net/Ctantoco/introduction-to-fingerprints?
next_slideshow=1

3. https://www.slideshare.net/juroc26/whorl-patterns

4. https://www.slideshare.net/darwendloualbores/ridge-
countingandtracing

5. https://www.slideshare.net/KUL2700/fingerprint-classification-rules
Direction: Answer the following questions.

1. Can a fingerprint be forged? Support your answer.

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________.

2. Give at least one Use of fingerprint and give your idea about it.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

3. What is the importance of ridge characteristics to fingerprint identification?

Support your answer.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

4. What is the importance of the core and delta in a fingerprint?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

5. What is the importance of ridge count and ridge trace of fingerprint

patterns?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

Online Discussion

Attend to your scheduled classes to be able to

learn, understand and answer the questions
given.
Personal Identification - is the determination of the individuality of a person, which based on the
unique features or peculiarities of a person.

General Characteristics
1. Class Characteristics- refers to the characteristics that can be found in a group or class; it
also features the place of an item into a specific category.
2. Individual Characteristics -features that set one item apart from others of the same type;
also called identifying characteristics

TERMS:
 Fingerprint-A reproduction on some smooth surfaces of the pattern or design formed by the
ridges on the inside of the end join of a finger and thumbs.
 Friction ridge - is a raised portion of the epidermis on the fingers and toes, the palm of the hand
or the sole of the foot, consisting of one or more connected ridge units of the friction ridge
skin.These are sometimes known as "epidermal ridges"
 Fingerprint - is an impression left by the friction ridge of a human finger.
 Ridges- Tiny elevation or hair like structure found on epidermis and with several pores elevated
on the fingerprint portion.
 Furrows – the depressed area or canal between the ridges
 Friction skin- The skin of the human body devoid of hairs, which surfaces resist slipping and
provide constant gripping of objects.
 Dactyloscopy- the science of identification by means of fingerprint.
 Dactylography- is the art and study of recording fingerprints as a means of identification
-the science of fingerprint classification for the purpose of identification

ALLIED SCIENCE OF FINGERPRINT:

 Poroscopy- scientific examination of sweat pores.
 Chiroscopy –scientific examination of the palm of the hand
 Greek words: Cheir- palm/hand; skopein to examine/study.
 Podoscopy -scientific examination of the sole of the foot
 Greek words: Podo- Sole/foot

Studies related to fingerprint:

 Cheiloscopy- Scientific examination of lips Marks.
 Edgeoscopy - is the study of the characteristics formed by the sides or edges of papillary
ridges as a means of identification.
 Ridgeology - is a study of the ridge formations and its distinct characteristics for personal
identification.

SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

Primary Area:
 DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid
 ODONTOLOGY- Teeth identification
 DACTYLOSCOPY-the science of identification by means of fingerprint.
Secondary Area:
 Handwriting
 Gait Analysis
 Skeletal Examination

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

1. Comparison- identification criteria recovered during investigation are compared with records
available in the file.
2. Exclusion- If two or more persons have to be identified and all but on is not yet identified, then
the one whose identity has not been established may be known by the process of elimination.

Law of Multiplicity of Evidence in Identification.

-The greater the number of points of similarities and dissimilarities of two persons compared,
the greater is the probability for the conclusion to be correct.

Dogmatic PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS

1) INDIVIDUALITY: (Variation)
That the complex of the ridge details in a single fingerprints or even part one is not
duplicated in any other finger.

2) PERMANENCY: (Constancy/Perennial/Immutable)
That fingerprints do not change in its ridge characteristics of fingerprint pattern through
out or life time of an individual and they persist after DEATH until the skin is decomposed.
• 3rd - 4th month – ridges start to develop
• About 6 months - ridges are fully developed

3) INFALLIBILITY:
That fingerprint is absolute and cannot be forged.

Ridge Characteristics – minutiae ridge are little details in the ridges of fingerprint patterns which are
used in comparing and identifying fingerprint, this are ridges structures and elements which
impart INDIVIDUALITY to a fingerprint. Minutiae of ridge.
 Recurving ridge/looping ridge – a ridge that curves back in the direction from which it
started.
 Bifurcation ridge – a single ridge which splits/divide into two ridges.
 Appendage- a short ridge at the top or summit of recurving usually at right angle.
 Converging ridge- ridge that running parallel or nearly parallel and meet in one point.
 Diverging ridge- two ridges running side by side and suddenly separate to each other in
different direction
 Dot ridge- forming a dot
 Enclosure ridge- a bifurcation running a short distance, come together again to form a
single ridges.
 Island ridges- a ridge similar to enclosure ridge without a hole at the center.
 Crossover ridge- the ridges overlapping to each other.
 Bridge ridge- the ridge that connect the one ridge to another ridges
  Fragmentary- broken ridges

FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
• Arches - constitute 5% of all fingerprints.
Kinds of Arch
1) Plain Arch- 60%
2) Tented Arch- 40%
• Loops - constitute 60-65% of all fingerprint.
Kinds of Loop
1)ulnar Loop- 94%
2)radial Loop- 6%
• Whorls - constitute 30% of all fingerprints.
Kinds of Whorl
1) Plain Whorl- 71%
2) Central Pocket Loop Whorl- 13%
3) Double Loop Whorl- 13%
4) Accidental Whorl- 3%
Identification of fingerprint Patterns
• Type lines may be defined as the two innermost ridges which start parallel, diverge, and
surround or tend to surround the pattern area.
• Pattern area is that part of a loop or whorl in which appear the cores, deltas, and ridges with
which we are concerned in classifying. The pattern areas of loops and whorls are enclosed
by type lines.

LOOP - one or more ridges enter upon either side, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line
between delta and core and pass out or tend to pass out upon the same side the ridge entered.

THREE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A LOOP

1. Sufficient Recurve
2. Delta
3. Ridge Count - Across a looping ridge

Type of Loops:
• Radial loop –the downward of the loop is toward the thumb.
• Ulnar loop- the downward of the loop is toward the little finger

PLAIN ARCH - is that type of pattern in which ridges enter upon one side, make a wave in the
center and flow out upon the opposite side.

TENTED ARCH - majority of the ridges form an arch and one or more ridges at the center shape a
tent in outline giving an angle or one with an upward thrust having an angle or more.
1. Angular
2. Up-thrust
3. Looping type

PLAIN WHORL - consists of one or more ridges which make a complete circuit, with two deltas,
between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, at least one recurving ridge within the inner pattern
area is cut or touched.
CENTRAL POCKET LOOP - consists of at least one recurving ridge, or an obstruction at right
angle to the line of flow, with two deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, no
recurving ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched.

DOUBLE LOOP - consists of two separate loop formations with two separate and distinct sets of
shoulders and two deltas.

ACCIDENTAL WHORL - consists of a combination of two different types of patterns with the
exception of the plain arch, with two or more deltas.

EXCEPTION:
 A loop over a plain arch is classified
 as a loop. (generally called a “lazy loop”)

Focal points of Fingerprints

1. DELTA
• First focal point
• outer terminus
• is that point on a ridge at or nearest the point of divergence of two type lines, and
located at or directly in front of the point of divergence.

2. CORE
• second focal point
• Inner terminus-
• heart of fingerprint print impression
• the approximate center of the pattern
• placed upon or within the innermost sufficient recurve.
• farthest from the delta.

RIDGE COUNTING
A number of intervening ridges between delta to core exclude delta and core in counting.

WHORL TRACINGS
The coursing or tracing of ridges, start from left delta to right delta.

I (Inner)- towards the pattern area with 3 or more intervening ridges

M (Meeting)- towards the right delta or with 2 or less than 3 of the intervening ridges

O (Outer)- towards outside the and 3 or more intervening ridges.

Direction: Identify the following fingerprint patterns below. Write your answer on the
space provided after the number.
1. _____________________________ 2. ___________________________ 3.____________________________
4.

_____________________________ 5.____________________________ 6._____________________________

7. _____________________________ 8.____________________________ 9. ____________________________

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:

PARTS OF THE HAND (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be able to label the divisions and creases in the palm and fingers.

II. Materials: Pencil, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: On the space provided, draw a hand and label its divisions and
creases.
IV. Output:

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:

TYPES OF RIDGE FORMATIONS (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be acquainted with the basic ridge formations that may appear in a
fingerprint pattern.

II. Materials: Pencil, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: On the space provided, draw the four basic ridge formations using
pencil.

IV. Output:

1. Recurving ridge 2. Bifurcating ridge

3. Converging ridge 4. Diverging ridge

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:

TYPE LINES AND PATTERN AREA (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be able to label type lines and pattern area of fingerprint patterns.

II. Materials: Red ballpen, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: Label the type lines and pattern areas in the different fingerprint
patterns using red ballpen.
IV. Output:

1. 2.

3. 4.

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:
 RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be acquainted with the different ridge characteristics of a fingerprint.

II. Materials: Pencil, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: On the space provided below, draw a fingerprint pattern and label at
least 10 ridge characteristics.

IV. Output:

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:
 RULES IN DELTA LOCATION (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be able to identify the delta in a fingerprint pattern in case there are
several ridges found at the point of divergence.

II. Materials: Pencil, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: Illustrate the following rules in delta location. Label the delta in each
illustration.

IV. Output:

1. The delta may not be located at a bifurcation which does not open towards the core.

2. When there is a choice between a bifurcation and another type of delta equally close
to the point of divergence, the bifurcation is selected.

3. When there is a series of bifurcations opening towards the point of divergence of the
two type lines, the bifurcation nearest to the core is chosen as the delta.

4. The delta may not be located in the middle of a ridge running between the type lines
toward the core but at the nearer end only. The delta depends entirely on the point of
origin of the ridge.

5. If the ridge enters the pattern area from a point below the divergence of the type
lines, the delta must be located at the end nearer to the core.

NAME: Score:

Schedule: Date:
 RULES IN CORE LOCATION (ILLUSTRATION)

I. Objective/s: To be able to identify the core in a fingerprint pattern in case of several

ridges inside the innermost part of the pattern.

II. Materials: Pencil, bond paper and ruler.

III. Procedure/s: Illustrate the following rules in core location. Label the core in each
illustration.

IV. Output:

1. The core is placed upon or within the sufficient recurving ridge.

2. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains uneven number of rods rising
as high as the shoulders, the core is placed upon the end of the center rod
whether it touches the looping ridge or not.

3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains an even number of rods

rising as high as the shoulder, the core is placed upon the two center rods
being treated as though they were connected by a recurving ridge.

References:

2018.Veneranda D., The Basics of Fingerprint, Palmprint & Footprint. 2nd edition.
Wiseman’s Books Trading, Inc.