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This blog is about Forensic studies mainly focused on fingerprinting. Come back for more information about forensics including handwriting and hair! Enjoy!

History of Fingerprinting, Handwriting, Hair, and Fiber Analysis

Fingerprinting Analysis

Fingerprinting has been used all over the world including its original founding country Nova Scotia. The observation that no two finger print was alike was observed in 14th century Persia on a stack of government documents. Two professors named Marcello Malphigi and John Evangelist Perkinji both made good observations in fingerprinting like noticing “ridges, spirals, and loops” and also John noticed 9 different fingerprint patterns. July 1858 is when the English first started using fingerprints because of Sir William Herschel. This Chief Magistrate of the Hooghly district in Jungipoor, India was the first to use fingerprints on native contracts. This caught on! The discovery of using fingerprints for identification and the methods of classification all came in 1880. Dr. Henry Faulds, a British Surgeon-Superintendant of Tsukiji Hospital in Tokyo took up a study of “skin furrows”. Sir Charles Darwin was forwarded a message from Henry about his classification system and a sample of forms for inked impressions. This was of no assistance though. Not only did he tell it to Darwin, but had a published article in the Scientific Journal called “Nature”. Two years later, fingerprints were used on a document to prevent forgery by Gilbert Thompson which is the first known use of fingerprinting. A year after this incident, Mark Twain published a book called “Life on the Mississippi”. This book had a murderer who was identified by fingerprinting thus giving us the idea. The 1880’s brought many discoveries in forensics and even more came with Sir Frances Galton in 1888. Frances is a cousin of Darwin and a British anthropologist who decided to observe fingerprints used for identification. His book “Fingerprints” used “the first classification system for fingerprints”. His main interest was determining hereditary background by using fingerprints in which he identified the characteristics. That’s why we call these identifications as “Galton’s Details”. Based on his pattern types, an Argentine Police Official named Juan Vucetich started fingerprint files at the station in 1891. He also made the first fingerprint identification for a criminal a year later. The Henry Classification System was named this because of Sir Edward Richard Henry who revised Galton’s observations which introduced fingerprinting to England and Wales in 1901. Dr. Henry P. DeForrest was the person in 1902 to pioneer the systematic use of fingerprints in New York and then New York State Prison started using fingerprints for criminals in 1903. Years passed with uses of fingerprints spreading from different prisons and even to the U.S. Army. To this day fingerprints have played an important role in identifying people all over the world!

Citation:

"Fingerprinting History." Aladdin USA. Aladdin USA Corporation, 1997. Web. 24 Aug.2009. .

Handwriting Analysis

Aristotle noticed two thousand years ago the equivalence between handwriting and personlaty along with Chinese making observations on the link between "characters" and writing. A published book in 1622 by an Italian physician is what finally analyzed charcter through handwriting studies. The name for this analysis is called graphology which was named by the headmaster of a Paris school named Abbe Michon who "respected intellectual" and wrote several novels on this. His inheritor, Crepieux Jamin, categorized graphology into a inclusive system. At the same time, the "scope" of graphology was extended because of Dr. Ludwig Klages, another philosopher, advanced theories of rhythm and "form level" with the gestalt theory in Germany. A Swiss Professor further expanded the horizons of graphology with his lectures at the University of Zurich and used psychoanalysis to understand graphology. Ania Telliard followed up on his work and applied the typological theories from working with C.J. Jung for 20 years to graphology. Alfred Binet, the inventor of I.Q. Testing, is a substantial believer in handwriting analysis. He ratified that character traits can be reflected through handwriting. Clinical and emprical procedures have proven handwriting analysis as an efective tool for people world-wide.

Cite:

"A brief history and background of handwriting analysis or graphology." Handwriting Analysis. Learn to analyze handwriting at Graphic Insight. Web. 07 Sept. 2009. .

Hair Analysis

The late 1800s is when hair analysis was used as trace evidence in criminal investigations recognizing it as an improtant aspect of a mystery! An example of hairs found at a crime scene is in 1847 in paris with the murder of Duchesse de Praeslin. A chapter for using hair in criminal investigations was used in a novel by Alfred Swaine Taylor and Thomas Stevenson called "The Principle and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence" in 1883 which is knows as a "classic text" on forensic science. There are magnified human hair drawings included in the book! It also identifies human hair parts. England using hair as evidence is also another thing included in the great book. French forensic scientists Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert published a novel called "Le Poil de l'Homme et des Animaux" ("The Hair of Man and Animals") which is a comprehensive study of hair in 1910. Most animals were included in the text about "numerous microscopic studies". Dr. Sydney Smith, in 1934, used the comparison microscope to perform an analysis side-by-side with hairs from a suspect at a crime scene. An 8-year-old girls murder was solved because of this technique! Chemical methods is what further advances in hair analysis has created through the 20th century to compare hairs. As of today, hair analysis has branched with neutron activation analysis, DNA fingerprinting, and trace eveidence anaylsis of course as a standard tool.

Cite:

"Forensic Science: Fundamentals and ... -." Google Books. Web. 07 Sept. 2009. .


The Wayne Williams Case
With Fiber Analysis History

In 1979 to 1980, the murder of 12 African American males was investigated involving fiber evidence; this was a very popular case. The Williams case involves many controversial matters for forensic science still in the 21st century. This court case was called Williams v. State, and in this, the defented was charged with 2/12 murders. The centrality of fiber analysis through literature in this investigation meant "a detailed recitation" of the facts in proving this person as guilty in which they did.

Dye content from fibers, carpet fibers, and everything has been used in investigations. The ones used in the case for Williams were from: a station wagon, throw rug, and blue rayon fibers.

Cite:

"Criminal investigation -." Google Books. Web. 07 Sept. 2009. .

Types of Fingerprints and Blood

Types of Blood



Cite:

Image from: http://www.softchalk.com/lessonchallenge/lesson/ImmuneSystems/Blood_009006.jpg

Types of Fingerprints

When a bloody, dirty, inky, or greasy finger comes in contact with a smooth surface, it leaves a visible impression called a visible or patent print. Fingerprints that have formed sweat from sebaceous glands on the body, water, salt, amino acids, or oils from the sweat can not be seen unless the are developed or photographed. The way you make these visible is with dusting, fuming, or chemical reagents. These prints are called latent fingerprints. Impressed prints (also known as plastic prints) are left in surfaces that are soft. Examples are: clay, wax and paint. They are visible and don’t have to be developed like Latent Fingerprints.

Citation:

"Types of Fingerprints." Online Digital Education Connection. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. .

Techniques used for fingerprints, handwriting, hair, and fiber analysis

Fingerprints

Ways to Lift and Reveal Fingerprints is also included in this passage:

There are nmany powders used to reveal fingerprints and lift fingerprints in an array of colors and different chemicals. Experienced crime scene workers say that the "black or grey" powder works best for latent type fingerprints. Black powder is usually made of charcoal or black carboned which is dusted onto white or light surfaces to reveal prints. Gray powder is usually mae up of alluminum dust and dusted onto dark surfaces or mirrors and metal surfaces because the surfaces will then photograph black. Powders have to be applied to a non-absorbent surface with a brush made of fiber glass or camels hair. The way these powders stick is to the oil and sweat left from the fingerprint(s). There is another powder called magna-sensitive powder that is brushed on a magnetic surface with a "magna brush" that doesn't have bristles that touch the surface. (magneitc powders are also black or gray). Latent prints can also be developed with fluorescent powders which reveals the print under ultraviolet light. These powders aren't the only thinga that reveal prints because chemicals can also do the job! The oldest technique is called "iodine fuming" which is based on "iodine has the property to sublime". Iodine is a "solid crystal" that, when heated, transforms into a vapor with out being a liquid first. The material with the fingerprint is put into a chamber with iodine crytals and when heated, it combines with the prints to make them visible. The negative aspect of this technique is the fact that once the product is released from the chamber, the prints start to fade. A solution to this problem is having the print photographed or sprayed with a 1% solution of starch and water. This will turn the fingerprint(s) blue and make the print last for weeks and maybe even months. Another chemical used other than iodine is silver nitrate. After this chemical is applied, it can be reveald with ultraviolet light (like the fluorescent powders). The science behind this reaction is sodium chloride (from the salt from perspiration) and silver nitrate combined forming silver chloride which is a colorless chemical. AFter this combination, a 3% solution is brushed onto the print and put under ultraviolet light to expose a print of a reddish-brown or black color. Ninhydrin (another chemical solution) depends on the chemical reaction with perspiration to form a purple/blue color with the amino acids from the print. An aerosol can filled with a .6% solution of ninhydrin powder and acetone or even ethyl alcohol is sprayed onto the surface where the fingerprints lie. Prints show up after an hour or two unless it is heated in an oven at 80 or 100 degrees C. Another unique chemical treatment that produces a white latent print is super-glue fuming which is exactely done as it sounds. The chemical from the glue that actually interacts and reveals the print is called cyanoacrylate ester which makes up 98% or 99% of super glue. These fumes are created when the super glue is placed on "absorbent cotten" with sodium hyroxide or heating the glue works also. The fumes and the material is put in a chamber (like ninhydrin) for up to 6 hours.

Cite:

Chow, Lawrence. "Lifting Fingerprints with Powders and Chemicals." The Bronx High School of Science. Web. 24 Aug. 2009. .

Handwriting

Slant:

Right Slant- "response to communication" (meaning they may wish to be friendly or manipulative)

Upright- Independance

Left Slant- emotion and reserve

Size: there are three "zones" classified as middle, upper, and lower for this specific area of handwriting analysis.

Large Size- "extravert and outgoing"

Small Size- (opposite of Large) shy and to themself

Small and Delicate Size- bad communicator

Pressure:

Heavy Pressure- committed and takes things seriously

Light Pressure- sensitive and empathetic

Upper Zone/Case:

Tall Upper Strokes- reaching towards goals and ambitions

Upper Zone Loops- likes to "think things through" and use imagination

Upper Up-Stroke Returning on top of itsself- "squeezing out imagination" and just getting down the task at hand

Lower Zone: (Lower Loops tend to vary)

Straight Stroke- "gets the job done"

"Cradle" Lower Stroke- avoidance of aggression and confrontation

Full Loop with Heavy Pressure- energy, makes god money, sensual

Full Loop with Low Pressure- need or wish for security

Word Spacing:

Wide Spaces- (literal) "give me space"

Narrow Spaces- wishes to be with others

Middle Zone: egotistical


Citation:

"Graphology, handwriting analysis - how graphologists and handwriting experts analyse handwriting - free graphology techniques and theory training." Businessballs free online learning for careers, work, management, business training and education: find materials, articles, ideas, people and providers for teaching, career training, self-help, ethical business education and leadership; for personal, career and organizational development. A fun free online college of ethical life and work education, for self help, teaching, careeer development, distance learning, organizational development, with team building games and exercises, free self-help and training ideas, free management theories, free diagrams, templates, samples, examples, materials and tools, free child development activities and adults development exercises ideas. Web. 31 Aug. 2009. .

Hair

To prepare for a hair analysis (for medical use), hair should be washed and stripped of hair care products. Then a sample is taken to a lab for testing:

Hair is usually taken where it is grown close to the skin like pubic hair or neck hair because it shows what is more recent and what has been recentely occuring in the body. Special chemicals wash the hair before tested. The hair must be plucked for there to be DNA which is at the end of the hair.

Cite:

"Hair Analysis." WebMD - Better information. Better health. Web. 07 Sept. 2009. .

Basic Shapes and Patterns of Fingerprints

Patterns and Shapes:

Loop=Shape= 60-70% of prints encountered. They have one or more "ridges" entering on either side of the print and comes out on the same side. One "core" and one "delta" is what makes this shape a loop. The patterns below contain loops!

Radial Loops=Pattern= This pattern along with another pattern called the Ulnar Loop is different only because of which hand the print lies on. (Ulnar Loops will be described later or below) If you observe your right hand, the pattern areas on ur fingers come in and go out towards your thumb. The radial bone happens to be on the thumb side thus giving us the name "Radial Loop". Radial Loops are not too common and if found, will be on the index fingers.

Ulnar Loops=Pattern= An Ulnar Loop is distinct from a Radial Loop also becasue of which hand it lies on. When a pattern goes in from the left and comes out from the left,referring to your left hand, it points towards your pinky finger. It also points to the ulnar bone in your arm thus giving it the name "Ulnar Loop".


Whorls=Shape= Only 25 to 30 percent of fingerprint patterns contain whorl shapes so they arent known as well as the common loop. Ridges take a turn through at least one "circuit" in this shape and will contain at least 2 deltas making it an automatic whorl shape.


NOTE: (assumption)
no delta: arch
1 delta: loop
2 or more: whorl


Plain Whorls=Pattern= This pattern has to contain one or more ridges which make or try to make a complete circuit with two deltas. The tricky part is drawing an imaginary line and one recurving ridge with in the inner parts is cut. The inner area of the pattern (to make this clear) tends to form a circle which is called the "inner pattern area" which is what makes the whorl. The imaginary line comes when you cut between the two deltas which intersects the line forming the circle.


Central Pocket Whorls= Pattern= contain at least one recurcing ridge with two deltas but when that imaginary line is drawn, no recurving ridge is cut. The actual lines forming the circle are very close to the center in which there aren't many. the imaginary line between the two deltas is what makes it a Central Pocket Whorl.


Double Loop Whorls= Pattern= This pattern contains two seperate loops with two seperate shoulders and of course two deltas. To be straight forward, for each "core", there must be two seperate shoulders.

Arches= Shapes=Arches are only found in 5% of fingerprint patterns making it even more rare than whorls! The ridges run from one side of the pattern to the other with no "backward turn". There usually isn't a delta, but if one is found, no ridge can cut between the core and delta points.

Plain Arch=Patern= These patterns have no delta or significant core and because there isn't a delta, it has to be a arch. The pattern area flows through the print with out interruption which makes it "plain".

Tented Arch=Pattern= Tented arche's dont flow as smooth as the plain arch, and does have significant change through out. There happens to be an "upthrust" in the middle of the print. Sometimes people tend to think there is a delta in the print but for it to be a delta, there has to be a significant recurving line which there isn't.


Composites: This appears when more than one pattern shows up in one fingerprint.

Citation:

"Fingerprint patterns." Unofficial NSW Police Site: The Thin Blue Line - Australia. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. .

Identifying Handwriting Analysis: Specifically identifying forgeries

Supposedly a "person's handwriting is as distinct as their fingerprints." Graphology is finding personality through handwriting yet doesn't tend to connect with forensics as much as forgery. The Lindbergh baby kidnapping is an example of how "forensic handwriting" has helped criminals get what they deserve. When Crime Scene Investigators find a document at a crime scene, a forgery expert or handwriting analyst determines if the handwriting is consistent with the person who's the "original writer".

Here are A few examples of common forgeries:

-- The Stamps of the Suez Canal Co. : Some of the most extensively forged stamps in the world. There are only about 21 orginal copies left! (pic 1)

-- This letter was obviously forged in 1912 woth an 1863 Parcel stamp. (pic.2)

-- Forged machine postmarks from Latvia's "scout camp" are also quite common. (or more common back then) There are supposedly six different points from the forgery to the original.

Cite:

"Search Articles." FFE Journal - Fakes Forgeries Experts. Web. 08 Sept. 2009. .