Fingerprints

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the history of fingerprint identification. Additionally, it discusses why fingerprinting has become the number one identification tool in forensic science, and describes the basic patterns of fingerprints. The contributions of Henry Faulds, known as the Father of Fingerprinting, and other researchers in this area are also presented. In addition, the paper also examines certain cases of incorrect fingerprint identification that have thrown doubt on the long-recognized infallibility of fingerprints as an identification tool in criminology. The author concludes that the uniqueness and permanence of fingerprints have made it an indispensable identification tool that has been employed for crime fighting by the law enforcing agencies for more than 100 years

Outline:
History of Fingerprints' Use in Identification
Early History
The Earliest Use of Fingerprints in Crime Solving
Early Attempts at Explaining the Importance of Fingerprinting
The Unrecognized Father of Fingerprints
The Work of Herschel & Galton
The First Practical Application of Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting Method of Identification is Established
Why Fingerprinting Has Replaced Other Identification Tools In Forensic Science
Individuality of Fingerprints
Permanence
Previous Methods of Identification
How Does Fingerprinting Compare with DNA Fingerprinting
The Basic Patterns & Types of Fingerprints
Cases of Incorrect Fingerprint Identification
Conclusion
References

From the Paper:

"Evidence exists that fingerprints were used on clay tablets in business transactions in Ancient Babylon as long as 3000 years ago and thumbprints were used on clay seals to "sign" documents in China in the 3rd century B.C. This indicates that human beings realized the significance of such patterns, but perhaps did not fully understand, thousands of years before their potential was actually realized. (Meaney, 2006) Wall etchings found in Nova Scotia, Canada, also shows a hand with ridge patterns sketched on it dating from the first century AD and official government documents preserved from the Tang Dynasty in China (610-907 AD) and Persia (14th century AD) have fingerprint impressions on them. In the Persian documents from the same period, one government physician has noted that no two fingerprints were an exact match. (Ibid.) "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Champkin, J. "Print Of True Genius." (2004). The Daily Mail (London, England), (November 6, 2004). p. 40.
• Clegg, D. (2004). 9 Fingerprint Identification. In The Practice of Crime Scene Investigation (pp. 161-179). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
• "Every Contact Leaves a Trace- A History of Fingerprinting." (2006). South Wales Police. Retrieved on November 11, 2006 from http://www.south-wales.police.uk/fe/master.asp?n1=8&n2=253&n3=1028
• "Frequently Asked Question about Fingerprints." (2005). Fingerprints for Dummies. Retrieved on November 11, 2006 from http://onin.com/fp/lpfaq.html
• "The History of Fingerprints." (2006). Onin.com. Retrieved on November 11, 2006 from http://www.onin.com/fp/fphistory.html

More papers on Fingerprints:

• Essay # 29467 : "Fingerprints"
• Essay # 52972 : "Fingerprints as Identification"
• Essay # 2655 : "Origins and Detection of Latent Fingerprints"

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