DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARINAS

COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
• Comes from the Greek word “Anthros” meaning
man and “Metre” meaning to measure
CRIMINALISTIC
• Science of obtaining systematic measurements
• is defined as the application of scientific of the human body.
methods to recognition, collection and • First developed in the 19th century as a method
comparison of physical evidence generated by employed by physical anthropologists for the
criminal or illegal civil activity. study of human variation and evolution in both
• the study of physical evidence through living and extinct populations; have been used
laboratory work. historically as a means to associate racial,
• the application of scientific techniques in cultural, and psychological attributes,
collecting and analyzing physical evidence in specifically, anthropomorphic measurements
criminal cases. involve the size ( e.g., height, weight, surface
• The term criminalistics came from the German area, and volume ), structure ( e.g., sitting vs.
word KRIMINALISTIK, invented by Austrian standing height, shoulder and hip width,
criminalist Hans Gross; the real recognition of arm/leg length, and neck circumference ), and
criminalistics as a science can be attributed to composition (e.g., percentage of body fat, water
Hans Gross who published his book, “ hand content, and lean body mass ) of humans.
buch fur Untersuchungrichter als System der
Kriminalistik” in 1889. CARTOGRAPHIC SKETCH

• Fingerprint analysis ( Scottish scientist Dr.

Henry Faulds, English Scientist Francis Galton, • The unofficial term currently and commonly

and English Commissioner Sir Edward Richard being used by our field offices to refer to the

Henry ) – contribution to the reinforcement of image is CARTOGRAPHIC SKETCH; Image

criminalistics based on actual description of a witness.

THE HUMAN SKELETON PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

• The internal framework of the human body;

composed of around 270 bones at birth --- One of the most important phases of homicide

decreases to around 206 boned by investigation is the identification of dead bodies. Apart

adulthood from identifying the victim’s name, the investigator is

• Bone mass in the skeleton’s maximum also called to find out the dead person’s address. This

density – age 21 is particularly true when the victim is a stranger to a

certain community and no means of identification can
• Axial Skeleton - formed by the vertebral
be found in his possession. In this case, it is necessary
column, the rib cage, the skull, and other
for an investigation to be equipped with the proper
associated bones.
means of identifying dead bodies.
• Appendicular Skeleton – formed by the
shoulder girdle, the pelvic girdle, and the
bones of the upper and lower limbs.
➢ The following are some of the processes of
identification being applied by most police
ANTHROPOMETRY
departments worldwide:
1) Bertillon Anthropometric System

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PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
2) Photographs or Portrait Parle • Pertains to the proper collection, interpretation,
3) Forensic Odontology evaluation as well as presentation in court of
4) Forensic Serology dental evidence during the conduct of criminal
5) Dactyloscopy and civil proceedings.
6) DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic Acid )

BERTILLON ANTHROPOMETRIC SYSTEM FORENSIC SEROLOGY

• Uses the physical measurements of body parts, • Refers to the scientific analysis of blood and
primarily that of the head and face in order to other bodily fluids as evidence during the
produce a detailed description of an individual; conduct of a criminal investigation.
invented in 1879 by Alphonse Bertillon, and
was dubbed as the BERTILLON SYSTEM, OR OBJECTIVES:
‘BERTILLONAGE’.
1. Identify and describe the components
of human blood
PHOTOGRAPHS OR ‘PORTRAIT PARLE’ 2. List the a-b-o antigens and antibodies
found in the blood for each of the four
• Two French words, means “speaking blood types: a, b, ab, and o.
likeness” 3. Explain why agglutination occurs.
• Another feature of the Bertillon System, 4. Explain how whole blood is typed.
wherein the subject was ‘photographed full 5. Describe test used to characterized a
face’ together with different shots of his full stain as blood.
profile; made to hold his registry number; 6. Explain the significance of the precipitin
precursor of the modern day mugshot and it test to forensic serology.
is still widely used today. 7. Explain the differences between
• A rigorous system for verbal description of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
physical characteristics of the subject. 8. Define chromosome and gene.
• Distinctive description of every feature of the 9. How is the pun net square used to
face and head are especially valuable for determine the genotypes and
investigation, especially when a set of the phenotypes of offspring?
suspect’s fingerprints is not available in his file. 10. List the laboratory test necessary to
characterize seminal stains.
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY 11. Explain how suspect stains are to be
properly preserved for laboratory
• Forensic came from the word forum means examination.
“ court of law “ 12. Describe the collection of physical
• Study of the teeth evidence related to a rape case
• Branch of forensic sciences which deals with investigation.
collecting, preserving, recording, and
interpretation of dental evidence at the interest DACTYLOSCOPY

of court of law to offer law enforcement.

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
• The study of fingerprints or the science of ● Fingerprint as a science – it is the
fingerprint identification. identification of a person by means of the ridges
• Dactyloscopy relies on the analysis and appearing on the fingers, on the palms and on
classification of patterns observed in individual the soles of the feet.
prints. Fingerprints are made of series of ridges ● Palm print – the impression or reproduction left
on any material by the friction skin of the palms.
and furrows on the surface of a finger; the ● Footprint/ toe print – the impression or
loops, whorls, and arches formed by those reproduction left on any material by the friction
ridges and furrows generally follow a number of skin of the foot/feet or toe/toes.
distinct patterns. Fingerprints also contain ● Friction skin – the skin on inner hands and
individual characteristics called “minutiae,” fingers, and on the bottom of the feet and toes,
such as the number of ridges and their which is characterized by alternating strips
groupings, that are not perceptible to the naked raised ridges and furrows arranged in a variety
eye. The fingerprints left by people on objects of patterns.
that they have touched can be either visible or ● Furrow – that portion of the skin lower and
latent. Visible prints may be left behind by between the ridges.
substances that stick to the fingers such as dirt ● Friction ridge – the raised portion of the skin
or blood-or they may take the form of an that leaves the impression or reproduction.
impression made in a soft substance, such as ● Dactyloscopy – the identification of a person
clay. through the examination and comparison of
• pertains to the “detection, comparison, and fingerprints; classification of fingerprints; Greek
identification of finger impressions” term to translate as “to view the fingers”
● Dactylography – it is the process of analyzing
DNA ( DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID ) fingerprints; Greek term that translate as
“finger writing”
• This was first reported by the English ● Dermatoglyphics – A Latin term that translates
geneticist, Alec Jeffreys, who noted that as “skin carving”
certain DNA sequences were repeated over ● Forensic Science – includes relating to or
and over again next to each other in certain dealing with the application of scientific
DNA regions. He also discovered that the knowledge to legal problems.
number of repeated sections could differ from ● Identification – In forensic science is simply
one individual to another. These DNA repeat answering the question “what is it?” while
regions were called “variable number of tandem Individualization is the uniqueness of an
repeats or vents” dr. Jeffreys was able to object to the execution of all other objects like
develop a technique to examine the vents itself.
known as restriction fragment length ● Exemplars – objects that are commonly
polymorphism or RFLP. encountered in investigations or the possible
real object that created the evidence.
● Criminalistics – application of forensic science

IMPORTANT TERMS to criminal matters.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF DACTYLOSCOPY

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
individual’s true identity despite personal
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION denial, assumed names, or changes in
personal appearance resulting from age,
1. Civil identification of the newly born disease, plastic surgery, or accident. The
a. Serves to give evidence practice of utilizing fingerprints as a means of
b. Serves in the establishment of rules as applied identification, referred to as dactyloscopy, is an
to penitentiary system. indispensable aid to modern law enforcement.
• Each ridge of the epidermis (outer skin) is
2. Anthropology – deals with the comparative dotted with sweat pores for its entire length and
study of human and animal prints. is anchored to the dermis (inner skin) by a
a. prints of quadro – pedal animals double row of peg like protuberances, or
b. prints of two legged animals papillae. Injuries such as superficial burns,
abrasions, or cuts do not affect the ridge
3. Clinical Dactyloscopy – deals with the effect structure or alter the dermal papillae, and the
if any on the appearance of fingerprints original pattern is duplicated in any new skin
especially those with illness that disturbed as to that grows. An injury that destroys the dermal
appearance by their component characteristic papillae, however, will permanently obliterate
remain. the ridges.
• Any ridged area of the hand or foot may be used

ANATOMY OF FINGERPRINT as identification. However, finger impressions

are preferred to those from other parts of the
body because they can be taken with a
• Fingerprints can be regarded as a special minimum of time and effort, and the ridges in
category of mark evidence. The skin is the such impressions form patterns (distinctive
largest organ of the body. It provides our first outlines or shapes) that can be readily sorted
line of defense to infection and the mechanism into groups for ease in filing.
for our sense of touch. • Early anatomists described the ridges of the
• Friction skin provides grip to the hands and feet. fingers, but interest in modern fingerprint
In fact, the same friction skin ridges that allow identification dates from 1880, when the British
you to hold on an object (say, the lid of a cookie scientific journal Nature published letters by the
jar) may tell a criminalist that you touched it. Englishmen Henry Faulds and William James
• “You do not always leave fingerprints.” Herschel describing the uniqueness and
People with very dry skin is may not make permanence of fingerprints. Their observations
fingerprints when they pick up an object. The were experimentally verified by the English
same is true for someone who recently washed scientist Sir Francis Galton, who suggested the
or dried his or her hands. first elementary system for classifying
• Fingerprint, impression made by the papillary fingerprints based on grouping the patterns into
ridges on the ends of the fingers and thumbs.. arches, loops, and whorls.
Fingerprints afford an infallible means of • Galton’s system served as the basis for the
personal identification, because the ridge fingerprint classification systems developed by
arrangement on every finger of every human Sir Edward R. Henry, who later became chief
being is unique and does not alter with growth
or age. Fingerprints serve to reveal an

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
commissioner of the London metropolitan side opposite the fingernail is a rounded area
police, and by Juan Vucetich of Argentina. The called bulb that a number of friction ridge
Galton-Henry system of fingerprint patterns appear.
classification, published in June 1900, was
officially introduced at Scotland Yard in 1901 WHAT IS A FINGER?
and quickly became the basis for its criminal-
identification records.
• The system was adopted immediately by law- • A finger is a limb of the human body and a type
enforcement agencies in the English-speaking of digit; an organ of manipulation and sensation
countries of the world and is now the most found in the hands of humans and other
widely used method of fingerprint classification. primates.
Juan Vucetich, an employee of the police of the • The function of human fingers is to grip any
province of Buenos Aires in 1888, devised an object, such as food or tools, that we find
original system of fingerprint classification necessary.
published in book form under the title
Dactiloscopia comparada (1904; “Comparative PARTS OF A FINGER
Fingerprinting”). His system is still used in most
Spanish-speaking countries. • Distal Phalanges – are flat on their palmar
surface, small, and with a roughened, elevated
surface of horseshoe form on the palmar

WHAT IS THE DUTY OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR? surface, supporting the finger pulp. It is also the
bones at the tips of the fingers or toes.
• Middle Phalanges – also known as
• It is the main task of an criminal investigator to Intermediate phalanges, are bones located in
establish the identity of a suspect. Many times, the fingers. Each intermediate phalanx
cases referred to the investigator are the connects to a proximal and distal phalanx. It
unknown- suspect category where the suspects has two joints, and allows the finger to bend in
actions are known, but personal identification two places.
has not been made. • Proximal phalanges ( foot ) – the largest
• A witness can identified a suspect by describing bones in the toe. They form the base of the toe
his physical appearance, height complexion, and are a separate bone from the middle
body built, age and other distinguishing visible phalanges ( the center bones in the toes ) and
marks. This means of identification is termed as the distal phalanges ( the bones at the tip of
Positive Identification. the toes ).
• However, such is not an accurate means to
identify a person. Tracing information is
another means of identification and this refers WHAT IS A PALM?
to all information indicative of personal identity
of an individual.
• Fingerprints have traditionally been considered • Comprises the underside of the human hand;
the single most positive indicator of a also known as the broad palm or metacarpus,
personal identification and has been proven consists of the area between the five phalanges
infallible. At the end joint of each finger, on the ( finger bones ) and the carpus ( wrist joint ).

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
reported to have taken place during in Qin
PARTS OF THE PALM AND THE CREASES Dynasty ( 300 B. C. ). During a thief trial
handprint were entered as evidence.
• Interdigital – the interdigital palm region JAPAN – A Japanese Historian, Kamagasu
represents about 30% of the palm area and is Minakata further commented about blood
inherently acquired during palm print imaging, stamping. Apparently, contracts were
nevertheless it has not yet attracted any accompanied by a written oath confirmed with
noticeable attention in biometrics research. a blood stamp. The blood stamp was a print of
• Thenar – refers to the group of muscles on the ring finger in blood drawn from that digit.
the palm of the human hand at the base of the FRANCE – The most famous ancient stone
thumb. carvings is found in the L’lle de Gavrinis of the
• Hypothenar – are a group of three muscles of coast of France. Here a burial chamber, or
the palm that control the motion of the little dolman, was discovered dating back to
finger. Neolithis times. Its inner walls are covered with
incised designs systems of horse shoe form,
more or less circular concentric figures, spiral,
arching lines sinuous and straight lines and
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF FINGERPRINTING
other markings occurring in various
combinations. Many anthropologists interpret
these lines as representing finger or palmprint
PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE patterns.
NOVA SCOTIA – An outline of a hand was
EGYPT – The earliest evidence of ridge detail scratched into slate rock beside Kejiomkujil lake
on the hands and feet of humans was seen in by an original Indian. The carving is an outline
the 4 000 year old mummies of ancient Egypt. of a hand and fingers. Within the outline the
The hands and feet of mummies have been flexion creases of the palm and fingers are
examined on numerous occasions and they depicted. This carving has considerable
confirmed the presence of ridge detail on the historical significance. Although it does not
mummies digits. demonstrate knowledge of the individuality of
CHINA – It was a common practice for the friction ridges or palmar flexion creases, it
Chinese to use inked fingerprints on official clearly illustrates an early awareness of the
documents, land scales, contracts, loans and presence of those formations.
acknowledgements of debt. Finger seals for BABYLONIA – References by ancient
sealing documents to prove its authenticity. historians have been found describing how
- With the advent of silk and paper “hand prints” finger seals were used on legal contracts from
became the most common method of ensuring 1855 - 1913 B.C. This practice identified the
the genuineness of a contract. The right hand author and protected against forgery.
was simply traced or stamped onto a document. References dating from the rule of Hammurabi
The anthropometric values of hand size and ( 1792 - 1750 B.C.) indicate that law officers
shape, along with a signature, were often were authorized to secure the fingerprints of
enough to ensure authenticity. arrested persons.
- During 1975 in Yuen Ming Country in China,
bamboo strips were found describing a trial

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
FINGERPRINTING IN CANADA ( 1904 – 1920
PALESTINE – William Frederick Bade, Director ) – In, 1904 St Louis, was the site of world’s
of the Palestine Institute of Archeology, Fair. A chance meeting took place that was to
conducted excavations at various sites in bring fingerprinting to Canada and eventually
Palestine and at one place found finger imprints spell the end of the Bertillon Signaletic System.
on many pieces of broken pottery. These “ Detective John Ferrier of the Scotland Yard was
identifications” permitted the confused debris to at the fair to guard a display of British crown
date accurately to the forth century A.D. jewels Ferrier and New York State both had
Commenting on this case, Fingerprint displays illustrating fingerprint identification.
magazine 1973 stated that “these impressions During the fair, the International Association of
were obviously intentional and no doubt, Chiefs of Police also had a convention and
represented the workman’s individual trade invited Ferrier to present a paper on
mark”. fingerprints.
HOLLAND AND ANCIENT CHINA –
Identification of individuals was by means of
branding, tattooing, mutilation and also EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF FRICTION RIDGE
manifested by wearing of clothes of different INDIVIDUALITY
designs In earlier civilization, branding an even
maiming were used to mark the criminal for
what he was. The thief was deprived of the - Early pioneers of this friction ridge identification
hand which committed the thievery. The science were government workers, police officers, or
Romans employed the tattoo needle to identify people who dabbled in friction ridge identification
and prevent desertion of mercenary soldiers. while employed in related scientific fields. They
CONSTANTINOPLE – In treaty ratification, the advanced our knowledge of friction ridges applied
Sultan soaked his hand in a sheep’s blood and the friction ridge identification system to various uses,
impressed it on the document as his seal. and devised a coherent classification system.
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE – It is the
school established in Chicago, Illinois in 1916
and a correspondence school specializing in all THOMAS BEWICK ( 1753 – 1828 )

aspects of identification work originally known

as “Evan’s University,” after Captain William K - A British author, naturalist and engraver
Evans. It was taken over by Sirchie in 1975. became England’s finest engraver who made fingerprint
This school was instrumental part of training Stamps. He made wooden engravings of fingerprints
experts in the identification field. and published their images in his books where he used
NEW YORK STATE ( 1903 ) – In the New York an engraving of his fingerprints as a signature. The
City Civil Service Commission was using engraving demonstrate familiarity with construction of
fingerprints to prevent impersonations. During skin ridge. In two of the books he added “Thomas
the same year, fingerprinting was introduced Bewick, his mark” under the impressions.
into the New York Prison System and at
Leavenworth Penitentiary. By 1906, there were
six police departments in the U.S. that were SIR WILLIAM J. HERSCHEL

known to be the taking fingerprints for

Identification purposes. -

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PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
- Faulds also mentioned apprehending criminals
- The English first began using fingerprints in July by locating fingerprint at crime scenes.
1858 when Sir William James Herschel, Chief
Magistrate of the Hooghly District in Jungipoor, India, - Both Herschel and Faulds published letters in
first used fingerprints on native contracts. On a “Nature Herschel claimed he had used fingerprints for
whim, and without thought toward personal years in India and offered the “Hoogly Letter” as
identification, Herschel had Rajyadhar Konai, a local documented proof Faulds claimed careful study in
businessman, impress his hand print on a contract. He Japan and to be the first person to publish notice on
is credited as being the First European to recognize the subject in English literature.
the value of friction ridge points and to actually use
them for identification purposes.
THOMAS TAYLOR ( 1877 )

DR. J.C.A MAYER ( 1788 ) GERMANY - A microscopist of the Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC who also suggested that
- (Johann Christoph Andreas Mayer) wrote the fingerprints could be used to solve crime. “Hand Marks
book Anatomical Copper plates with Appropriate under the Microscope - exhibited on a screen view of
Explanations containing drawings of friction ridge skin the markings of the palms of the hands, and the tips of
patterns. He published the following statements in his the fingers, and called attention to the possibility of
anatomical atlas;; “Although the arrangement of skin identifying criminals, especially murderers, by
ridges is never duplicated in two persons, comparing the marks of the hands left upon any object
nevertheless the similarities are closer among with impressions in wax taken from the hands of the
some individuals. In others the differences are marked suspected persons In the case of murderers, the marks
yet in spite of their peculiarities of arrangement all have of bloody hands would present a very favorable
a certain likeness” opportunity. This is a new system of palmistry.
This deduction was published 100 years before the
Konai contract Mayer was the first to declare that friction
ridge skin is unique. ALPHONSE BERTILLON ( 1853 – 1914 )

DR. HENRY FAULDS ( 1843 – 1930 ) - He devised the first truly scientific method of
criminal identification in Paris, France called
- In 1875, Faulds had opened a missionary ANTHROPOMETRY or BERTILLIONAGE. He
hospital and a year later started a medical school in conceived the idea of using anatomical measurements
Japan where he may have been exposed to fingerprints. to distinguish one criminal from another. He decided to
He wrote a letter to Charles Darwin telling him of his use various body measurements such as head length,
studies and requesting assistance. He mentioned that head breadth, length of left middle finger, length of the
fingerprints can be classified easily and that ridge detail left cubit ( length of left foot, body height, face breadth,
is unique. He pointed out the value of fingerprinting as face height and other descriptions including features
being in “medico legal studies” and commented that such as scars and hair and eye color to distinguish
photographs of people change over the years but rugae criminals.
(friction ridges) never change.

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

WILL WEST AND WILLIAM WEST CASE - MARY K. HOLLAND

In 1903 Will and William West's fingerprints were

compared at Leavenworth Penitentiary after they - She was the first American Instructor in
were found to have very similar Anthropometric Dactyloscopy.
measurements. In this case, there was a
coincidence of the similarity of names and body
measurements according to Bertillon System and HARRY MAYERS II

similar photo features. It was the Fingerprints only

that proved that WEST in prison and suspect WEST - In 192, he installed the first official foot and
were different individuals. The importance of fingerprint system for infants at the Jewish Maternity
fingerprints came to light from this notable case of Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the first
WESTS who were Twin Brothers. system in the state.

DR. HENRY P. DE FOREST

JUAN ( IVAN ) VUCETICH ( 1855 – 1925 )

- He utilized the first official municipal use of

fingerprints for non - criminal registration on December - Juan Vucetich, an Argentine Police Official,
19 1902 in the Municipal Civil Service Commission in began the first fingerprint files based on Galton pattern
the City of New York. He required civil service types. At first, Vucetich included the Bertillon System
applicants to be fingerprinted to prevent them from with the files. The fast pace of the advancement of
having better qualified persons take tests for them and fingerprinting in England was due to the ingenuity of
put the system into practice. Juan Vucetich, who was employed as a statistician with
the Central Police Department at La Plata, Argentina. In
July 1891, the Chief of Police assigned Vucetich to set
up a bureau of Anthropometric Identification. He started
CAPT. JAMES I. PARKE experimenting with fingerprints and set up his own
equipment for taking criminal’s prints.
- He advocated the first state and penal use of
fingerprint which was officially adopted in Sing - Sing
Prison on June 5 1903 and later at Auburn, Napanoch ROJAS MURDERS – June 19, 1892, two
and Clinton Penitentiaries. children were murdered on the outskirts of the
town of Necochea on the coast of Argentina.
The victims were illegitimate children of a 26
MAJ. R. MCCLOUGHRY year old woman named Francisca Rojas. Rojas
blamed Velasquez, an older man who worked
- Mccloughry was the Warden of the Federal at nearby ranch. However, Velasquez claimed
Penitentiary of Leavenworth when the office of the Atty. his innocence. On July 8, 1892, the report
General of the US granted permission to establish a reached La Plata Police. Inspector Alvarez of
fingerprint bureau thereon on November 2, 1904. It was the Central Police was sent to assist the local
the first official National Government use of fingerprints. police with the investigation. Alvarez examined

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

the scene and he noticed a brown stain on the EDWARD FOSTER ( 1863 – 1956 )

bedroom door. Careful examination revealed

- Edward Foster, policeman, fingerprint pioneer
that it was a fingerprint. Alvarez had received Foster joined the DOMINION POLICE as a constable in
basic training in fingerprint identification from 1890. While at the St Louis World's Fair in 1904, his
Vucetich. Remembering what he had been interest was awakened in the controversial science of
taught, he cut out the piece of the door with fingerprint identification. On returning to Canada, Foster
fingerprint on it. He returned to Necochea and advocated the advantages of fingerprinting over the
requested that Rojas be fingerprinted. This Bertillon system (based upon body measurements),
case was reported as the first murder solved and pressed for a central repository of fingerprints.
by fingerprints.
- Promoted to inspector in 1910, his
perseverance resulted in the opening of a national
SIR EDWARD HENRY ( 1850 – 1931 ) fingerprint bureau in Ottawa the following year. Foster
continued to head the bureau after it was absorbed by
- He was the head of the Scotland Yard in the RCMP until his retirement in 1932.
London at the turn of the 20th century and developed a
classification system for cataloging fingerprints based - The first conviction in Canada based on
on common patterns that are present on each finger. fingerprint evidence took place in 1914 Peter Caracatch
This became known as the “Henry Classification and Gregory Parachique broke into the CPR Station in
System” which he developed in India at the same time Petawawa, Ontario. They left fingerprints on glass at the
that Vucetich was experimenting with fingerprinting in point of entry Edward Foster gave expert evidence at
America. Today, this Henry system has been replaced their trial.
by the computerized worldwide database of the AFIS
(Automated Fingerprint Identification System).
NEHEMIAH GREW ( 1641 – 1712 )

- In 1891, he was appointed Inspector General of

Police for Bengal Province. Upon taking his new post, - He is an English botanist, physician and
Henry found the anthropometric system was being used microscopist. In 1864 he published a paper in the
to identify criminals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of
- In India, his course of action was to instruct that London describing his observations of the “Innumerable
all ten fingers of each prisoner be printed and added to little ridges of equal big ness on the ends of the first
the anthropometric cards He assigned two Bengali joints of the fingers”. He described sweat pores,
police officers to study classification problem. epidermal ridges, and their various arrangements.
- In 1899, Henry was invited by the British Included in his paper was a drawing of the
Association for the advancement of science to present configurations of the hand displaying the ridge flow on
a paper entitled, “Fingerprints and the Detection of the fingers and palms.
Crime in India”.
- In 1918, The Henry Classification System
started what is considered the modern era of fingerprint
identification which is the basis for most of the
classification presently used.

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PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

GOVARD BIDLOO ( 1685 ) H. KLAATSCH ( 1888 )

- He is an anatomist in Amsterdam, Holland who - From Germany who examined the walking pads
published a book on Human anatomy illustrating friction and eminences of several pentadactylous of five
ridges and pore structure on the underside of the fingered mammals. He was credited being the first
fingers. His comments were morphological in nature researcher to examine the walking surfaces of other
and he did not refer to or mention the individuality of mammals. He also referred to the arrangement of the
friction ridges. fundamental limits of the friction ridges as the reason
why all ridge formations are different.

MARCELLO MALPHIGI ( 1628 – 1694 ) DAVID HEPBURN ( 1895 )

- He was known as the “Grandfather of - He is connected with he University of

Dactyloscopy” according to Dr. Edmond Locard, the Edinburgh, Scotland, published a paper on the similarity
“Father of Poroscopy”. He originated the terms “loops in appearance of the eminences or walking surfaces
and spirals”. of primates ,entitled, “The Papillary Ridges on the
Hands and Feet of Monkeys and Men”. He was the first
- A professor in 1685 at the University of to recognize that ridges assist gripping by creating
Bologna, Italy, published the results of his examination friction and that they had a function other than
of the friction skin with the newly invented microscope. increasing tactile stimulus.

JOHANNES ( JEAN ) EVANGELISTA PURKINJE ( 1787 – INEZ WHIPPLE ( 1871 – 1929 )

1869 )

- In 1904, he published a paper, “The Vential

- A professor at the University of Breslau, Surface of the Mammalian Chridium With Special
Germany, published a thesis that contained his studies Reference to the Conditions Found in Man”. His survey
on the eye, fingerprints and other skin features entitled, into mammalian palm and sole configurations has
“Commentatio de Examine Phisiologico Organi Visus et formed an important part of the modern scientific
Systematis”. He classified nine principal configuration knowledge on the subject and is considered a landmark
groups of fingerprints and assigned each a name he in the fields of genetics and ridgeology.
was known as the “Father of Dactyloscopy”.

HARRIS HAWTHORNE WILDER ( 1864 – 1928 )

ARTHUR KOLLMAN ( 1883 )

- A professor of zoology at Smith College,

- The first researcher to address the formation of Massachusetts that in 1896 while he was studying
friction ridges in embryos and the topographical monkeys, he was struck by the resemblance of their
physical stressors that may have been part of their volar friction ridges to man’s.
growth. He identified the presence and locations of the - In 1918, he published a book “Personal
volar pads on the human hand and foot. Identification where the quantitative and qualitative
analysis of friction ridges can be found”.

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
- The Bureau of Prisons, in the year 1918,
- In this passage, Wilder describes the records shows that fingerprints already existed in the
anatomical formation of the friction ridges He further “carpetas”.
describes how ridge units are subjected to differential
growth and, as a result, all areas of friction ridge are
unique. He was considered the leading American L. ASA N. DARBY

fingerprint expert of the day.

- Under his management during the re -
occupation of the Philippines by the American Forces,
HAROLD CUMMINS ( 1893 – 1976 ) a modern and complete Fingerprint File has been
established in the Philippine Commonwealth.
- A Ph. D professor of Anatomy and Assistant
Dean of the school of Medicine at Tulane University,
Louisiana who spent a great deal of his life studying MR. GENEROSO REYES

dermatoglyphics. In 1943, he co co-authored a book,“

Palms and Soles An Introduction to Dermatoglyphics” - He was the first Filipino Fingerprint Technician
with Charles Vidloo. employed by the Philippine Constabulary.
- In 1929, he published a paper, “The
Topographic History of the Volar Pads in the Human
Embryo”. He described the formation and development ISABELA BERNALES

of volar pads on the human fetus. He concluded that the

physical aspects of the volar pads such as location, - She was the first Filipina Fingerprint
growth differential, and configuration variances affected Technician.
friction ridge development and overall pattern
configuration.
CAPT. THOMAS DUGAN
ALFRED HALE ( 1952 )
- He is from New York City Police Department
- A Ph. D from Tulane University, an associate of and Mr. Flaviano G. Guerrero of the Federal Bureau of
Cummins, published a thesis in 1952 entitled, Investigation, Washington, gave the first examinations
“Morphogenesis of the Volar Skin in the Human Fetus”. for Fingerprint in 1937.
Hale’s paper not only describes the formation of friction
ridges of the human fetus but also describes the
development of friction ridge identification. People of the Philippines vs. Medina, 59 Phil.
330 of December 23, 1933 was the first
conviction based on fingerprint and led to

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: PHILIPPINE SETTING

the judicial decision in the Philippine
jurisprudence.
PLARIDEL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
ALFRED HALE ( 1952 ) (PEI) – Now the Philippine College of
Criminology ( PCCr ), Manila is the first
- He was the first to teach fingerprints in the governmental recognized school to teach the
Philippine Constabulary sometime in the year 1900.

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PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES
the fingertip in influx (a flow), and is always slightly
science of fingerprints and other police different from hand to hand and finger to finger. More
sciences. generally, the environment in the uterus affects the
phenotypic development of all parts of twin fetuses.

LOCARD’S EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE Thus despite, an identical DNA structure of the two
fetuses, a very careful examination of other physical
characteristics will show that twins are systematically
- The principle underlying the value of testing different. ( By, Edward P. Richards, J.D M.P.H.,
associative evidence is that every time someone enters Professor of Law, UMKC, School of Law )
an environment, something is added to and removed
from it.
II. PRINCIPLE OF PERMANENCY

- Named after Dr. Edmond Locard who called

physical evidence the “silent witness” and it can provide - It means that, “the configuration and details
valuable information as to the circumstances of a crime. of individual ridges remain constant and
unchanging”. It will remain unchanged.
- Edmond Locard in the early 1900 ’s founded the
first forensic science laboratory in Lyon, France, and his
work became one of the foundations of modern day Epidermal Layer ( Epidermis ) - It is the
criminalistics. outermost of the three layers that make up the
skin, the inner layers being the dermis and
- He believed that every time two objects come hypodermis. The epidermis layer provides a
into contact, there is and equal and consistent barrier to infection from environmental
exchange that takes place between the two objects. pathogens
a. Stratum Corneum - It consists of 25 30
layers of stratified ( layered ) squamus (
flattened) dead keratinocytes (skin cells)

PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN THE STUDY OF

that are constantly shed.

FINGERPRINTS ( 3 DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES ) b. Stratum Lucidum - It is present in thick

skin ( soles of feet, and palms of hands).
Little or no cell detail is visible.
c. Stratum Granulosum - It consist 3 - 4
I. PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUALITY layers of thick cell consisting of flattened
keratinocytes. At this level, the cells are
- It means that, “there are no two fingerprints dying
that are exactly alike”. We have our own individual d. Stratum Spinosum - These are several
characteristics. Example, TWINS. layers thick, consisting mostly of
- The fingertips are in contact with other parts of keratinocytes. Together with the stratum
the fetus and the uterus, and their position in relation to basale, it is sometimes referred to as the
uterus and the fetal body changes as the fetus moves Malpighian Layer (living layer).
on its own and in response to positional changes of the e. Stratum Basale - A single layer of cells in
mother. Thus, the environment of the growing cells on contact with the basement membrane
These cells are mitotically active they are

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alive and reproducing, the reason why it is * CAN FINGERPRINTS BE FORGED?

often referred to as the generating layer. - Various experiments were conducted by authorities
i. Keratinocytes ( 90% ) - and although they could almost make an accurate
responsible for waterproofing and reproduction, still there is no case on record known or
toughening of the skin. have been written that forgery of fingerprints has been
ii. Melanocytes ( 8% ) - synthesize a complete success.
the pigment melanin which Example:
absorbs and disperses ultraviolet The first recorded case is that of a man who
radiation. inadvertently sliced off a patch skin form the thenar
iii. Tactile Cells - very sparse and eminence Immediately, he restored this piece to the raw
function in touch reception. surface and applied bandage. The slip of the skin
iv. Nonpigmented granular engrafted itself and the ridges were preserved.
dendrocytes - cells that ingest
bacteria and foreign debris.
III. PRINCIPLE OF INFALLIBILITY

Dermis - The primary function is to sustain and

support the epidermis. It is made up of - It means that, “Fingerprint evidence is
connective tissue with fine elastic fibers It is the reliable. The reasons why fingerprint is one of the
layer of skin that lies beneath the epidermis and infallible means of personal identification”.
above the subcutaneous layer It is the thickest - Fingerprints are already formed about 3 to 4
layer of the skin, and is made up of fibrous and months of intra uterine life and remain unchanged
elastic tissue. throughout life until the final decomposition of the body
Dermal Papillae - the region between the after death.
dermis and the epidermis that is responsible for
the ridge patterns on the surface of the skin.
ADMISSIBILITY OF FINGERPRINT EXPERT TESTIMONY

* IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE TWO LAYERS

OF THE SKIN – Damage to the epidermis alone does - Expert testimony as to the identity of thumb
not result to permanent ridge destruction, while damage marks of fingerprints is admissible. The method of
to the dermis will result to permanent ridge destruction. identification of a person by correspondence of
fingerprints has been widely recognized as a relatively
accurate system of establishing identity and it is well
* CAN FINGERPRINTS BE EFFACED OR ERASED? settled that evidence of the correspondence of
- John Dillinger a notorious gangster and a police fingerprints, when testified by a qualified witness is
character attempted to erase his fingerprints by burning ADMISSIBLE to establish the identity of the accused in
them with acid, but as time went by, the ridge were criminal prosecution as the person committing the crime
again restored to their natural feature. The acid he charged.
applied temporarily destroyed the epidermis of the bulb
of the finger.
- As long as the dermis of the bulbs of the fingers are
not completely destroyed, the fingerprints will always
remain unchanged and indestructible.

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- Taken from the Greek words “Dactyl” means

USE OF FINGERPRINTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO finger and “ Skopien ” means to examine or study.
LAW ENFORCEMENT - The word Dactyloscopy was coined by Juan
Vucetich Kovacevich who is also know as the “
Father of Dactyloscopy”
1. Identification of criminals whose fingerprints are
found at the crime scene CHIROSCOPY
2. Identification of fugitives through comparison of
fingerprints - the study of the palm of the hand ( palm print
3. Assistance to prosecutors in defending their identification )
cases in the light of defendant’s previous - It came from the Greek word “Cheir ” means
records hand and “Skopien” means to study.
4. Furnishing identification data to probation or - William J. Herschel was called the Father of
parole officers and to parole boards for their Chiroscopy
enlightenment in decision making
5. Exchanging of criminal identifying information PODOSCOPY
with identification bureaus of foreign countries
in cases of mutual interests - the study of footprints ( footprint / foot wear
6. Means of personal identification. identification )
7. Identification of unknown deceased - Came from the Greek word “Podo” means
8. Prevention of hospital mistakes in the foot and “ Skopien ” means study
identification of infants (in some countries) - Edmond Locard was considered as the Father
9. Identification of persons from amnesia whose of Podoscopy and he is also known as the Sherlock
fingerprints are on file. Holmes of France.
10. Identification of missing persons.
11. Personal identification in disaster work.
12. Licensing procedures to automobiles, firearms, POROSCOPY
aircrafts and other equipment
- the study of arrangement of the sweat pores.
* PURPOSE – The ultimate purpose of fingerprints is to - Came from the Greek word “Poros” means
provide the most positive means of personal and pore and “ Skopien” means to study.
criminal identification. - Father of Poroscopy – Edmond Locard

DACTYLOGRAPHY

ALLIED SCIENCES OF FINGERPRINT

- the science which deals with the study of
fingerprint as a means of identification. It embraces four
DACTYLOSCOPY allied subjects within its scope namely: Dactyloscopy,
Poroscopy , Chiroscopy and Podoscopy
- It is the practical application of the science of
fingerprint identification of persons through examination
and comparison of fingerprint.

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DACTYLOMANCY BRANCHDACTYL

- the scientific study of fingerprint for purpose of - a term used to identify fingers and toes that are
personality interpretation through fingerprint pattern. shorter than normal.
- Came from Greek words “Derma” means skin - It is also known as “Short Digits”
and “Glype ” means carve. - It was caused by gene mutation that affects
bone growth.

RIDGEDIOLOGY ECTRODACTYL

- the study of poroscopy , edgeoscopy , and ridge - Is a condition characterized by the absence or
characteristics for the purpose of the positive malformation of one or more of fingers or toes.
identification of fingerprints. - This is also known as split hand/foot
- Fingerprint is made of a series of ridges and malformation ( SHFM ).
valleys on the surface of the finger. The uniqueness of
a fingerprint can be determined by the pattern of ridges
and valleys as well as minutiae points, which are points MACRODACTYL

where the ridge structures changes.

- Is a condition in which a baby’s toes or fingers
are abnormally large due to overgrowth of underlying

DIFFERENT FINGER CONDITIONS

bone and soft tissues.

RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
POLYDACTYL/ ISM

- Is condition in which a baby is born with one or FRICTION RIDGES OR PAPILLARY RIDGES

more extra fingers.

- It is common condition that often runs in 1. Friction Ridge Breath - The width of the
families. friction ridges varies in different areas as well in
- The extra fingers are usually small and different people In general, they are narrower in
abnormally developed. females and wider in males.
- And also one of the most common congenital
(present to birth) hand abnormalities.

SYNDACTYL

- Is a condition in which children are born with

fused or webbed fingers.
MALE FEMALE

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2. Ridge Units and Pores - Pore ducts open

along the top of the friction ridges Each ridge
unit has one sweat gland and a pore opening
randomly somewhere on its surface. Eccrine
gland contains approximately 99% water and 5. Friction Ridge Imbrications - In some areas
1% solid. of the volar surfaces, the friction ridges all tend
to lean on the same direction. Imbrications
ridges vary among the individuals and even the
regions of volar areas where they are found.
Volar - of or relating to the palm of the
hand or the sole of the foot.
6. Overall friction ridge pattern - The friction
ridges form patterns on the volar surface. The
most common are concentric, looping, or
arching formations. Friction ridges patterns
also enhance the ability of volar skin to resist
3. Specific Ridge Path - The friction ridges have slippage. The pattern also enhances tactile
been compared to corduroy, but unlike sensitivity due to the increased friction.
corduroy they are not continuous in nature. The
path taken by the ridges may branch, start or
stop, turn, twist, or thicken and narrow
independently.

Identification of fingerprints relies on patterns

matching followed by the detection of certain
4. Incipient Friction Ridges - Narrow and often ridge characteristics, also known as Galton
fragmented ridges may appear between normal details, points of identity, or minutiae points
friction ridges. These are called incipient, with a reference print, usually an inked
rudimentary, or nascent ridges. They differ from impression of a suspects print.
the typical ridge by being thinner and Minutiae - refers to specific plot points on a
fragmented Incipient means in an initial stage fingerprint This includes characteristics such as
beginning to happen or develop ridge bifurcation or a ridge ending on a
fingerprint.

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FRANCIS GALTON

- The pioneer in fingerprint identification was Sir

Francis Galton, an anthropologist by training, who was
the first to show scientifically how fingerprints could be
used to identify individuals Beginning in the 1880s,
Galton (a cousin of Charles Darwin) studied fingerprints
to seek out hereditary traits.

• Spur is where the ridge path divides and one

BASIC AND COMPOSITE RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS

branch comes to an end (leg is shorter).

• Ridge Ending is one end of a long island. The

island is long enough that the ends are not
easily recognized as being from the same
island. Ridge ending is the terminal point of a
ridge.
• Bifurcation is where the ridge path divides
forming a Y shape with legs having the same
length.
• Ridge Dot, one ridge unit, is the shortest of all
island and the building block of the friction
• Incipient Ridge is an unusual type of ridge
ridge.
found in a small percentage of patterns. They
are short, narrow and badly formed ridges
found between two well formed and full bodied
ridges which is frequently interrupted.

• Lake ( Enclosure ) is a bifurcation which does

not remain open but which the legs of the
bifurcation after running alongside for a short
distance come together to form a single ridge
once more.

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• Short Ridge has two or more ridge units with

both ends easily recognized as being from the
same island.

• Opposed Bifurcation are bifurcations found

on both ends of a ridge.

Ridge Crossing is the point where two ridges

• Ridge Bridge ( Cross ) is a connecting ridge crosses each other forming an “X” formation
between two ridges.

Overlap is where two ridges ends meet and

overlap on a bias.

• Double Bifurcation is a bifurcation where one

of the ridge path bifurcates.

TYPE LINES AND PATTERN AREA

Type lines or skeleton of pattern are two

innermost ridges which start parallel, diverge,
and surround or tend to surround the pattern
area. They serve as basic boundaries of a
• Trifurcation is a when two bifurcations develop fingerprint pattern.
next to each other on the same ridge, a unique
formation.

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A delta or outer terminus is a point on the ridge

formation at or directly in front or near the
center or the divergence of the type lines.

Pattern Area is the part of a fingerprint pattern

in which the core, delta and ridges appear
enclosed by the type lines.

RULES IN CORE LOCATION

1. The core is placed upon or within the innermost

sufficient recurve. A sufficient recurve is the
part of the recurving ridge between the
shoulders of a loop that is free of any
appendage abutting upon the outside of the
recurve at right angles.

CORE AND DELTA LOCATION

The core and delta are the focal points of

fingerprint patterns except in arch pattern. The
core is a point on the ridge formation usually
located at the center or heart of the pattern The
core is also known as inner terminus.
2. When the innermost sufficient contains an
uneven number of rods rising as high as the
shoulders, the core is placed upon the end of
the center rod whether it touches the looping
ridge or not.

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3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains 3. When there is a series of bifurcations opening
an even number of rods rising as high as the towards the core at the point of divergence of
shoulder, the core is placed upon the two center the two type lines, the bifurcation nearest to the
rods being treated as though they were core is chosen as the delta.
connected by a recurving ridge.

RULES IN DELTA LOCATION 4. The delta may not be located in the middle of
the ridge running between the type lines
towards the core, but at the nearer end only.
1. The delta may not be located at a bifurcation
which does not open towards the core.

5. If the ridge enters the pattern area below the

2. When there is a choice between a bifurcation divergence of the type lines, the delta must be
and another type of delta equally close to the located at the end nearer to the core.
point of divergence, the bifurcation is selected.

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FORMS OF DELTA 4. Meeting two ridges - it is when the two ridges

meet.

1. Dot - the dot marked "delta” is considered as

the delta because it is the first ridge or part of a
ridge nearest the point of divergence of the two
type lines. If the dot were not present, point B
on ridge C, as shown in the figure, would be
considered as the delta.

5. Point of the first recurving ridge

2. Bifurcation - Figure shows ridge A bifurcating 6. Opening of the bifurcation

from the lower type line inside the pattern area.
Bifurcations are also present within this pattern
at points B and C. The bifurcation at the point
marked "delta” is the only one which fulfills all
conditions necessary for its location.

RIDGE COUNTING AND RIDGE TRACING

RIDGE COUNTING

3. Ending Ridge - it is a point where ridge ends. - It refers to the process of counting the ridges
that touches or cross an imaginary line drawn between
the core and the delta.

THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Locate the exact points of the core and delta

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we rely on the imaginary line in the absence of
Count all ridges which touch or cross an a guide line shown on the henry reticle of the
imaginary line drawn between the core and lens. The classifier merely imagines a straight
delta (in actual use of a fingerprint card for line between the core and the delta of a loop.
classification, the lens is guided by a red line
shown on the disk). RIDGE TRACING

Never include the core and delta in the count.

Count only those ridges which intervene or - It is the process of tracing the ridge that
pass between the core and delta. emanates from the lower side of the left delta to the right
Incipient ridges are never counted, no matter delta to see where it flows in relation to the right delta.
where they appear.
The general rule is that in order to be counted, POINTERS IN RIDGE TRACING
the width of a ridge must be equal to the width
of the other ridges in the pattern under
consideration. “Inner” - If the delta ridge goes inside the right
delta ridge and there are “three or more
WHAT RIDGES ARE INCLUDED IN RIDGE COUNTING? intervening ridges,” the tracing is “inner” and
the symbol is capital letter “I”.
A ridge island or dot is given one ridge count “Meeting” - If the left delta ridge goes inside
A short ridge is given one ridge count the right delta ridge and there are “two or less”
A long ridge is given one ridge count intervening ridges, the tracing is “meeting” and
An abrupt ending ridge is give one ridge the symbol is capital letter “M”.
count If the left delta ridge meets the right delta
A bifurcating ridge - if a ridge bifurcates or ridge squarely the tracing is “Meeting” and
branches into two across the imaginary line, the symbol is capital letter “M”
then the count is given is two. Should the If the left delta ridge goes outside the right
imaginary line cross only the bifurcation delta ridge and there are “two or less”
directly at the point of forking, it is counted as intervening ridges the tracing is “Meeting” and
two. If the imaginary line does not cross the the symbol is capital letter “M”.
point of forking or falls short of touching it, it “Outer” - If the left delta ridge goes outside
crosses only one ridge and the count given is the right delta ridge and there are “three or
one. Ridge enclosures are counted as two more intervening ridges,” the tracing is
ridges. “Outer” and the symbol is capital letter “O”.
Crossing or meeting of two ridges is BASIC RULES FOR TRACING IN WHORLS
counted as two 1. Tracing always begins at the extreme left
In actual fingerprint classification work, you are delta and stops at the point directly in front
to apply ridge counting on the ridges which are of the right delta.
shown as black lines the white spaces between. 2. An uninterrupted ridge can be traced from
The black are the furrows and these are shown the left delta to the right delta.
on our fingers as small canals or depressions. 3. When tracing suddenly ends, the tracing is
White spaces ( furrows ) found between black continued on the ridge below it.
lines are not counted. In actual fingerprint
classification where ridge counting is involved,

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4. A ridge must definitely ends before the

tracing may be continued on the ridge
below it. B. WHORLS

5. When the ridge bifurcates, the tracing is

continued on the lower branch of the 1. Plain Whorl
bifurcation. - A fingerprint pattern in which there are two
6. When the delta is a dot, the tracing begins deltas and in which at least once ridge makes a
on the type line which is the ridge turn through one complete circuit. Imaginary
immediately below the delta.. line drawn between the two deltas must touch
or cross at least one of the circuiting whorl

PATTERN INTERPRETATION
ridges within the pattern area.

( EIGHT STANDARD FINGERPRINT PATTERNS )

A. LOOPS

1. Radial Loop
- A loop is radial when the opening end of
the loop ridge points in the direction of
the thumb side of either the left or right
hand.

2. Central Pocket Loop Whorl

- A fingerprint pattern which form the most part
of a loop, but which has a small whorl inside the
loop ridges, sometimes called a, “composite
pattern” which means that it is made up of two
patterns in one, a whorl inside a loop It has two
deltas, one which appears at the edge of the
pattern area as in loop and one which shows
Left Hand Right Hand
inside the pattern area just below the
counterpart ridges.
2. Ulnar Loop
- A loop is ulnar when the opening end of the
loop ridge points in the direction of the little
finger side of either the left or right hand.

Left Hand Right Hand

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3. Double Loop Whorl

- A fingerprint pattern consisting of two separate
and distinct loop formation. One of the loop
surrounds or overlaps the other, also called
“composite patterns” like the central pocket
loop whorl It arises from the fact that these
patterns are a composite or combination of two
patterns in one with two cores and two deltas.
The two loops in a double loop whorl need not
comply with all the requirements for a loop
pattern that no ridge count is necessary for both C. ARCHES

loops in the formation. The two loops do not

have the same length nor the same size All that 1. Plain Arch
is required is that there be two separate and - A fingerprint pattern in which the ridges enter
distinct loop formation, two sets of shoulders on one side of the pattern and flow towards the
and two deltas. other side, with a rise in the center with not
more than one of the four requisites for a loop
and with no recurving ridge, no angular
formation, and no upward trust.

4. Accidental Whorl
- A fingerprint pattern that is a combination of
two or more different types of pattern except in
plain arch. It can be a combination of a loop and 2. Tented Arch
a whorl, a loop and a central pocket loop whorl - A variety of arch family but their ridge
or any combination of two different loops and formation are not so simple as those of a plain
whorl patterns. Like the central pocket loop arch, also considered “transitional pattern”
whorl and the double loop whorl, some authors between a plain arch and a loop.
call accidental whorl “composites”. Unlike the
other whorl type patterns, an accidental whorl
can be having two, three or four deltas. An
accidental whorl pattern is one that looks like a
conglomeration of ridges.

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PERCENTAGE OF APPEARANCE PATTERNS

LOOPS – 60%
WHORLS – 35%
ARCHES – 5%

QUESTIONABLE PATTERNS

- These are the patterns that do not have definite

Identification. These patterns may seem to have
characteristics of two or more types of fingerprint
patterns.

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