The Importance Of Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting is an important factor in forensics. By using the technology and expertly trained forensic scientists at our disposal, the fingerprints found at a crime scene can be the most important piece of evidence for solving a crime (4). Fingerprints fully develop in humans while still in the womb. The three most common patterns are loops. They are found in 65% of the population, the next most common is whorls which are found in 35% of the population. Lastly are arches these are found in only 5% of the world (2). Fingerprints could be visible; this means you can see marks left on a surface by oily fingers (2). Other fingerprints are latent which means you can 't see them, but there are marks left by sweat, amino acids, and other organic residue (2). The earliest known fingerprints patterns were used by the Chinese in the 700s for identification and identity of documents on clay tablets (4). Sir Francis Galton’s published book, ‘Fingerprints ' in 1892 showed everyone the individuality and permanence of fingerprints (7). Galton 's first interest in fingerprints was supposed to help in

Fingerprints are used to identify an unknown victim, suspect or witness to confirm records, and most importantly, as relationships between a suspect and a crime (6). Even if you have no initial suspects, Fingerprints can create leads, and sometimes provide clues about the criminal 's occupation, sex, and size (6). Forensic scientists have been using fingerprints as identification for centuries. Fingerprint identification is one of the most important identification factors in criminal investigation because of one thing, their uniqueness (8). A person’s fingerprints could not change over time. Permanent scarring is the only way a fingerprint could change. Furthermore, fingerprints are different on every person; they could be used simply to log onto a phone or to reopen a cold