NCJ Number
132190
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (May/June 1991) Pages: 190-194
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, lip prints, which are similar to fingerprints, palm prints, and footprints, can be used as a positive means of identification.
Abstract
Photographs, cigarette butts, drinking glasses, cups, letters, and windowpanes are among the items that can bear lip prints and should be examined and photographed before any other examination is made. White areas on the unknown lip print are matched with those on the known lip print. To record known lip prints for comparison purposes, one can photograph the suspect's lips or apply lipstick, lip rouge, or other suitable transfer mediums to the lips and ask the individual to press his or her lips to a piece of paper or similar surface. When the lips are photographed, proper lighting should be focused on the lips at an angle that accentuates the contrast between the white areas, i.e., the creases in the skin of the lips, and the dark areas, i.e., areas analogous to the furrows and ridges of friction-ridge skin. Several "sets" of lip prints should be taken when recording lip prints using lipstick or other transferring mediums. In the two cases in which the author has offered lip print identifications, the identification resulted in the conviction of the subject. 1 figure and 3 references