NCJ Number
17104
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
AUDIOVISUAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN FINGERPRINT DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
THE ABILITY OF FINGERPRINTS TO LINK A CRIMINAL WITH HIS CRIME GIVES THEM A KEY POSITION IN MANY TYPES OF INVESTIGATION. EVEN OFFICERS WHO NEVER DEAL WITH PRINTS DIRECTLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURES EMPLOYED. FINGERPRINTS ARE FRAGILE. NOTHING IS EASIER THAN FOR AN UNWARY OFFICER TO DESTROY ONE WITHOUT REALIZING THAT A SINGLE CARELESS MOVEMENT CAN COST HIM HIS CASE. THIS AUDIOVISUAL TRAINING AID BEGINS WITH A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF HOW PRINTS ARE MADE, HOW THEY ARE CLASSIFIED, AND HOW THEY ARE COMPARED. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF METHODS USED TO FIND, RECORD, PHOTOGRAPH, AND PROTECT PRINTS. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF WHEN TO TRANSPORT ITEMS TO THE LAB IS GIVEN AMPLE CONSIDERATION. THE HEART OF THE PROGRAM IS DEVOTED TO A STEP-BY-STEP EXPLANATION OF THE PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING A PRINT. THIS IS BASED ON THE DUSTING TECHNIQUE. HOWEVER, METHODS USING IODINE FUMES, NINHYDRIN, AND SILVER NITRATE ARE ALSO DESCRIBED IN FULL. VISIBLE AND PLASTIC PRINTS ARE TREATED SEPARATELY. THE PROGRAM ENDS WITH A NOTE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTING ELIMINATION PRINTS WHILE THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS. THE AIM THROUGHOUT HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE THE INVESTIGATOR WITH A CLEAR, CONCISE ACCOUNT OF EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO KNOW IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE FINGERPRINTS THAT HE FINDS IN THE FIELD. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE DESCRIBES THE MATERIALS PROVIDED, EQUIPMENT NEEDED, PROJECTOR AND RECORDER ACCESSORIES, MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT AND SUGGESTED WAYS TO USE THE PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)