Fingerprinting in Forensic Science

Fingerprints collected from a crime scene, or from items of evidence from a crime, can be used in forensic science to identify suspects, victims and other persons who touched the surface in question. Fingerprint identification emerged as an important system within various police agencies in the late 19th century. This system replaced anthropometric measurements as a more reliable method for identifying persons having a prior record, often under an alias name, in a criminal record repository. The science of fingerprint identification stands out among all other forensic sciences for many reasons because of its superiority and reliability.

Worldwide, fingerprinting has served all governments during the past 100 years to provide accurate identification of criminals. No two fingerprints have ever been found alike in the billions of human and automated computer comparisons. Fingerprints have become the very basis for criminal history foundation at almost every police agency.

The first forensic professional organization, the International Association for Identification (IAI), was established in 1915. It established the first professional certification program for forensic scientists, the IAI's Certified Latent Print Examiner program in 1977, issuing certification to those meeting stringent criteria and revoking certification for serious errors such as erroneous identifications.

Fingerprints remain the most commonly used forensic evidence the world over. In most jurisdictions, fingerprint examination cases outnumber all other forensic examination casework combined. It continues to expand as the premier method for identifying persons, with tens of thousands of persons added to fingerprint repositories daily in America alone - far outdistancing similar databases in growth. Fingerprinting has outperformed DNA and all other human identification systems to identify more murderers, rapists and other serious offenders (fingerprints solve ten times more unknown suspect cases than DNA in most jurisdictions).

Although some reporters and authors claim that fingerprints have long enjoyed a mystique of infallibility, the opposite is true. Fingerprint identification was the first forensic discipline in 1977 to formally institute a professional certification program for individual experts, including a procedure for decertifying those making any investigative errors. Other forensic disciplines later followed suit in establishing certification programs whereby certifications could be revoked for any error found.

Fingerprint identifications lead to far more positive identifications of persons worldwide daily than any other human identification procedure. The American federal government alone effects positive identification of over 70,000 persons. A large percentage of the identifications, approximately 92% of US Visit identifications, are affected in lights-out, no human involved computer identification process with 100% accuracy based on only two fingerprints.

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How are Fingerprints Obtained From a Crime Scene?

A fingerprint is comprised of a collection of different swirling lines, each one completely unique based on the way the lines are formed and patterned. There are only seven different line types that make up different finger prints, but because the lines can start, split or stop at any point within the fingerprint, there are an endless number of patterns that can be created. The billions of different fingerprints that exist are comprised of many different angles, lengths, formations, widths and heights of these seven different line types.

Fingerprints left at crime scenes can be uncovered using several different methods. One of the most popular methods uses various adhering powders that are attracted to the oils present in fresh fingerprints. The fingerprint is made visible because the powder sticks to the oil imprint of the lines and ridges, forming the fingerprint. Another method for discovering fingerprints involves using either superglue, or Cyano-Acrylate, that vaporize when heated and the smoke attaches to the fingerprint in order to leave a visible white print. There are other methods that can be utilized in order to discover latent finger prints, but these typically involve specialized laboratory equipment that is not always available to crime scene technicians.

Fingerprint dusting methods work best with fresh fingerprints because they rely on our skin oils that are naturally secreted from the eccrine glands in our fingertips and are left behind on surfaces that we touch. Only the raised portions of our fingerprints actually touch the surface, which leaves a nice clear fingerprint behind. Fingerprinting dust clings to these skin oils, which is what allows the print to become visible.

Most fingerprints are initially run through state criminal fingerprint databases first. Not all state crime labs have access to the IAFIS database, even though the database is essentially free to use and is available for any crime lab to obtain. Typically, if a crime lab has no luck with a fingerprint search on a local level, they can turn to IAFIS in an attempt to find an out-of-state fingerprint match.

Originally fingerprints only had a great deal of purpose when it came to solving crimes that had already occurred, though fingerprinting is gaining popularity in other crime-fighting methods. Biometrics allow people to keep track of the public coming and going in some circumstances, such as entering a court house by first giving your fingerprint. Many states require you to give your fingerprint when you apply for your driver's license, or have a check cashed in order to prevent fraud. Children are being fingerprinted early so that if they ever go lost, it will be easier to find them because they are in the system. And some high profile buildings like banks have locks which rely on fingerprints in order to open them. So there is a lot more that a fingerprint can do than simply put a bad guy away. They can also keep people safe, and help keep track of people by storing them in the fingerprint database.

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Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting

Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting is a more precise cholesterol test that allows doctors to identify health risks that traditional screens miss. Doctors now have a precise reading not only of a patient's cholesterol levels but other independent risk factors known to be associated with heart disease.

The process separates lipids in the blood to create a detailed cholesterol profile that helps doctors identify patients at risk for heart disease. The detailed graph allows a doctor to precisely analyze a patient's overall risk profile and monitor the effectiveness of a diet or treatment regimen.

This advanced analytical techniques that can help doctors diagnose early warning signs for coronary heart disease, which kills more than 2,600 Americans a day, according to the American Heart Association. High LDL cholesterol is a major cause of coronary heart disease, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Aiming to identify early risk factors, the National Cholesterol Education Program issued guidelines calling for more comprehensive cholesterol screens as well as other risk factors not included in the cholesterol screen.

Early detection, particularly in youth, is the key to slowing down the development of heart disease in later life. Advanced cholesterol screening is a valuable tool that is gaining acceptance among medical insurers.

Texas A&M University researchers created Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting as a more precise cholesterol test that allows doctors to identify health risks that traditional screens miss. LipidLabs further refined the Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting Process and made Advanced Lipoprotein Fingerprinting available for commercialization. LipidLabs' results translate to more accurate and specific data on which to make clinical judgments and guide patient therapy and prevention at reasonable costs.

Clinical Highlights:

1. Screen men over age 34 and women over age 44 every five years.

2. The decision to screen men age 20 to 34 years, women age 20 to 44 years and anyone over 75 years should be based on individual preferences of patient and provider.

3. Measure cholesterol fractionation and provide nutrition and exercise assessment every five years. If likelihood of follow-up is low and patient is not fasting, consider checking total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

General Awareness Activities:

Employer, School and Community Education Awareness Activities Many educational and medical individuals are playing very impressive and crucial role by putting their efforts in helping to increase the number of children and adults to present themselves for appropriate lipid screenings. Awareness initiative programming conducted includes:

? Posters for company bulletin boards ? General screening information "tents" for tables in reception areas, cafeterias, employee lounges, locker rooms, and other such places ? Incentives to increase compliance with and awareness of guideline screening recommendations Information on the importance of regular lipid screening can be included as part of a larger health promotion/disease prevention initiative which includes not only cholesterol and healthy lifestyles but aware people of heart diseases and appropriate health care utilization as well.

Health care providers should:

? Establish a process to identify those needing cholesterol screening ? Make educational brochures available at time of visit ? Select educational materials based on a nutrition and exercise assessment ? Utilize a system encouraging patients to attend classes if laboratory results suggest benefit from changing nutritional and/or exercise behaviors.

Doctors sometimes also make visits to offices and schools for conducting lipid screenings.

Total Cholesterol >200; LDL >130; HDL<40; or Triglycerides >200? Individuals with a total cholesterol less than or equal to 200 mg/dL (and HDL-cholesterol of 40 mg/dL or above or triglycerides less than or equal to 200) have a desirable cholesterol level are advised to repeat cholesterol fractionation in five years.

Dr. D.S. Merchant Resident Medicine
Gold Medalist (Anatomy & Histology)
Visit: http://www.lipidholdings.com : Health News

 

'FINGERPRINTS' Brings The San Antonio Ghost Children Back To Life

?FINGERPRINTS? is a new film built around the story of the San Antonio Ghost Children. Written by Brian Cleveland, Jason Cleveland and directed by Harry Basil, the story will revolve around the original tale of Texas Schoolchildren killed when their bus either stalled or stopped on railroad tracks in the late 1940s. After the tragic event, ghosts of a few of the children were allegedly seen in and around the area. However, it?s what the unseen ghost children do and have done since that time that has created a supernatural tourist attraction.

Each year thousands of people head out from San Antonio, Texas, to a rural railroad crossing located at the corners of Shane and Villamain Roads, just off of SE Loop 410. Many come just before Halloween, others on weekends or whenever they happen to be visiting San Antonio, Texas. On some occasions a number of cars can be seen lined up near the tracks. While some people wait patiently in their cars, others carefully sprinkle baby powder on the backs of their vehicles.

Although it?s happened thousands of times over the years, people are still in awe over the phenomenon that occurs when drivers turn off their engines, place their cars in neutral and allow unseen forces to take over. Without anyone touching them and against gravity, the vehicles move forward in a slow roll up the grade and over the tracks. As they come to a stop on the other side, anxious drivers and passengers get out checking their vehicles. With few exceptions, impressions in the baby powder that look like tiny fingerprints can be seen.

While the real story tugs at your heart, the new film by Harry Basil will probably be more like a hard slap in your face. According to Fangoria.com:

?Busy director Harry Basil, who already has the cult chiller SOUL?S MIDNIGHT and the zombie opus URBAN DECAY in postproduction, gave Fango some early pics and details on FINGERPRINTS, his supernatural opus currently undergoing additional photography to ?bloody it up,? according to Basil. ?I brought in Vincent Gaustini [who provided DECAY?s FX] to amp up the gore factor in eight scenes. Several studios have expressed interest in the film, but I felt it needed more blood!?

Fangoria.com contacted me about the Basil project. They have an interesting article and some high quality photos from the film, so stop by http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=2652 and take a look.

The film obviously will not be like Ghost unless you can visualize a remake where Sam comes back out of the light as a zombie, gets angry at Molly and puts her through a wood chipper. But then, most people mistakenly look at the ghost children mystery as an urban legend, rather than a real ghost story. Maybe they should take a trip to Shane and Villamain Roads, just off of SE Loop 410 outside of San Antonio, Texas, turn off their vehicle engine and put it in neutral.

Author: Bill Knell Author's Email: billknell@cox.net Author's Website: http://www.billknell.com Terms To Use Article: Permission is granted to use this article for free online or in print. Please add a link to or print my website address: http://www.billknell.com