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FCSI: Fingerprinting The Crime Scene Investigation: 2004 Project Summary

This project compared different fingerprinting methods on various surfaces to determine which works best overall. The student tested bi-chromic powder, white powder, magnetic powder, fluorescent powder, super glue, dye stain, and Ninhydrin solution on surfaces like wood, metal, plastic and glass. Bi-chromic powder worked well on most surfaces except unfinished wood. The powders generally produced clear prints while the other methods worked best on specific materials. Based on the results, no single method was reliable for all surfaces so fingerprint examiners must choose techniques based on the evidence being analyzed.

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108 views

FCSI: Fingerprinting The Crime Scene Investigation: 2004 Project Summary

This project compared different fingerprinting methods on various surfaces to determine which works best overall. The student tested bi-chromic powder, white powder, magnetic powder, fluorescent powder, super glue, dye stain, and Ninhydrin solution on surfaces like wood, metal, plastic and glass. Bi-chromic powder worked well on most surfaces except unfinished wood. The powders generally produced clear prints while the other methods worked best on specific materials. Based on the results, no single method was reliable for all surfaces so fingerprint examiners must choose techniques based on the evidence being analyzed.

Uploaded by

uhfste
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR

2004 PROJECT SUMMARY

Name(s) Project Number


Claire A. Totten
S0528
Project Title
FCSI: Fingerprinting the Crime Scene Investigation

Abstract
Objectives/Goals
This experiment involves the various ways of fingerprinting, and how they measure up to the most
common method of fingerprinting- bi-chromatic powder. The goal in this experiment is to determine if the
bi-chromatic powder will usually work well on all surfaces.
Methods/Materials
The fingerprinting scale is the control in this experiment. The surfaces that will be tested are a piece of
painted wood, a soda can, unfinished wood, computer paper, a piece of plastic, and a glass bottle. These
surfaces will be tested with your traditional bi-chromatic powder, white powder, magnetic powder,
fluorescent powder, super glue with glue fuming process, a dye stain process, and a Ninhydrin solution.
The various methods of fingerprinting will be performed on the various surfaces, and then the resulting
fingerprints will be examined and matched to the fingerprinting scale.
Results
The results of experiment very closely proved the hypothesis. The bi-chromatic powder proved to actually
obtain a 5 or above on all the surfaces except the unfinished wood. The 4 powders tested faired quite well
in the experiment, usually producing a 3 or above on the scale. All of the other methods of fingerprinting
proved to work best on specific surfaces;the super glue with glue fuming, dye stain process, and the
Ninhydrin solution.
Conclusions/Discussion
In this experiment; the hypothesis was very closely proved through the analysis of data. Yet, these
answers happened for a reason. All the powders worked fairly well, because they are attracted to the
moisture within the print. The bi-chromatic black is basic, therefore working well on most materials. The
white powder will work best on a dark surface or on a clear surface. The Fluorescent powder is best to use
on electronic items or things that we do not want to be ruined, such as expensive items- it is only visable
with an alternate light source. Finally, the magnetic powder, also works well on almost any surface. The
Super Glue and Dye Stain work the best with the painted wood, the soda can, and the plastic because it
allows for them to have something to adhere to; yet one has to be willing to destroy the item in order to
obtain the print. Finally the Ninhydrin works the best on paper, and most often produces a perfect print; it
stains the amino acids that were set onto the paper with the application of the fingerprint.

Summary Statement
This project is about all the different types of methods tested on assorted materials; to conclude which
method is most reliable.

Help Received
Sheriff Bob Brooks aided me in contacting the Ventura County Crime Lab; Renee Artmen, head of the
crime lab, gave my family and I a tour of the Crime Lab; Debbie Pearson, a skilled fingerprint examiner
taught me about fingerprints; And a big thanks to Officer Erik Knepper for spending weeks with me

Ap2/04

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