NCJ Number
60543
Date Published
1965
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILMSTRIP EXPLAINS THE NATURE OF FINGERPRINTS AND THE HISTORY OF THEIR USE IN CRIME DETECTION AND PROVIDES DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCATING LATENT PRINTS AND SECURING THEIR IMPRESSIONS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
LATENT PRINTS BECOME VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN FINE POWDER IS BRUSHED ACROSS THEM. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FIBERGLASS, MAGNETIC BRUSHES, AND NEW FINGERPRINT POWDERS HAVE FACILITATED THE PROCESS. LATENT PRINTS WILL BE FOUND AT THE PLACES THE CRIMINAL NEEDED TO TOUCH IN ORDER TO COMMIT THE CRIME BEING INVESTIGATED. SUCH LIKELY SPOTS ARE WINDOW EDGES, RIFLED DESK DRAWERS, REAR VIEW MIRRORS OF CARS, SURFACES OF REVOLVERS AND TOOLS, AND TELEPHONES, DOORKNOBS, AND HANDLES. BREATHING ON SURFACES, THROWING OBLIQUE LIGHT ON THEM, OR USING AN ATOMIZER WILL ALSO REVEAL FINGERPRINTS. GLOVE PRINTS MAY PROVE IDENTIFIABLE, AND SHOULD BE OBTAINED. ANY ATTEMPT TO LIFT A FINGERPRINT SHOULD BE PRECEDED BY PHOTOGRAPHING AND IDENTIFYING IT. THE SELF-CONTAINED FINGERPRINT CAMERA IS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE IT HAS ITS OWN LIGHT SOURCE, A FIXED FOCUS, PREDETERMINED APERTURE, AND A MECHANISM FOR MEASURING EXPOSURE TIME. THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR LIFTING A FINGERPRINT INCLUDES TWO BRUSHES, TWO POWDERS, PLASTIC TAPE, RAZOR BLADES, BLACK AND WHITE BACKINGS, AND A PENCIL. A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE FOR USE OF THESE TOOLS IS DEMONSTRATED. SPECIAL TIPS FOR BRUSHING THE DISCOVERED PRINT ARE POINTED OUT. (MRK)