NCJ Number
14382
Date Published
1973
Length
203 pages
Annotation
TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN THE ACQUISITION, CLASSIFICATION, AND STORAGE OF FINGERPRINTS AND LATENT IMPRESSIONS.
Abstract
THIS BOOKLET CONCERNING THE STUDY OF FINGERPRINTS HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOR THE USE OF INTERESTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH MAY BE CONTEMPLATING THE INAUGURATION OF FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION FILES. THE SCIENCE OF FINGERPRINTS BEGINS BY DELINEATING THE TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION, INCLUDING QUESTIONABLE PATTERNS REQUIRING CAREFUL SCRUTINY. THE CLASSIFICATION OF FINGERPRINTS IS THEN EXPLAINED ALONG WITH METHODS FOR EXTENDING THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ACCOMODATE LARGE GROUPS OF FINGERPRINTS THAT HAVE BECOME CUMBERSOME AND UNWIELDY. THE PROPER FILING, SEARCHING, AND REFERENCING OF FINGERPRINT FILES ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. THE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN TAKING INKED FINGERPRINTS ARE DESCRIBED WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS AND PRACTICES IN FINGERPRINTING THE DEAD. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE INDICATING THE PRINCIPAL MATERIALS NECESSARY TO EQUIP A LOCAL FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION BUREAU. THE POWDERING, LIFTING, CHEMICAL DEVELOPING AND PHOTOGRAPHING OF LATENT IMPRESSIONS ARE ALSO COVERED. CONCLUDING CHAPTERS PROVIDE BRIEF EXPLANATIONS OF THE PREPARATION OF FINGERPRINT CHARTS FOR COURT TESTIMONY AND THE USE OF A UNIDENTIFIED LATENT FINGERPRINT FILE. (SNI ABSTRACT)