NCJ Number
174240
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 1998 Pages: 466-477
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared the mutilated fingerprints of a convicted felon to his original fingerprints.
Abstract
A set of mutilated fingerprints, dated March 24, 1995, were taken from a man in Miami who called himself "Alexander Guzman." Although the impressions looked as though the subject had been injured from a severe industrial accident, the cuts on each finger were precise and straight. The demonstrated hypothesis predicted that the subject's fingers were intentionally cut and rearranged in an attempt to conceal his true identity and previous criminal activity. The mutilated fingerprints were forwarded to the FBI. In the FBI lab the mutilation process was reversed by using photographs of the fingerprint card and reassembling the pieces with enough accuracy to classify them. The classification had to be accurate enough to find the original set of prints. The project was successful, as the suspect was identified. The very act of fingerprint mutilation draws intense scrutiny from identification officers, attention that would not normally be warranted. The very purpose of the mutilation is rendered pointless by the act itself. The presence of any mutilating marks should immediately raise the suspicion of the examiner, and appropriate action should be taken to understand the reason for the mutilation marks. 8 figures and 8 references