Title; The effect of varying the type of fingerprint revealing powder (black carbon powder, white baby powder) on the percentage of accuracy (%) when revealing latent fingerprints on a glass surface.
Introduction and purpose;
Humans make finger contact with a variety of surfaces and objects on a constant basis. These can range from a variety of different surfaces; light and dark, porous or non-porous, rough or smooth. Such factors contribute to the visibility of the fingerprint. “Fingerprint is a form of biometric and forensic science that uses physical characteristics for identification.” “The technique of fingerprinting is known as dactyloscopy.”
Detectives, crime scene investigators and forensic scientists often reveal fingerprints using different methods to detect criminals, since a fingerprint is often regarded as a unique form of identity and hence no two persons share the same fingerprint including twins, just as with DNA. This process involves finding, collecting and recording the fingerprints present at the crime scene. After that, they compare the fingerprints collected from the crime scene to original fingerprints of the suspects to find an exact match and therefore, it is highly useful for the police department to have records of fingerprints.
During this experiment, the research question aims to aid the understanding of the properties of different fingerprint revealing powders hence affecting their ability to reveal fingerprints which, relating to the key concepts, is an essential system or process for forensic scientists, crime scene investigators and detectives to detect criminals which goes towards improving the world and decreasing crime rates. This investigation could potentially prove which fingerprint revea...
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When committing the crime, the oils and sweat on the person’s fingers varied. The oils on the person’s fingers could have affected the moisture on the beaker, allowing the powder to absorb at different levels. Clean the suspect’s fingers with alcoholic hand wipes before carrying out the experiment.
Works Cited
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"Forensics Lab 8.0: Revealing Latent Fingerprints – Introduction." MAKE. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
"How Fingerprints Solve Crimes." Direct My Link. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
"How Fingerprints Solve Crimes." Enzine Articles. N.p., n.d. Web.
"How to Use Baby Powder to Reveal Latent Fingerprints." Science Experiments RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
Watson, Stephanie. "How Fingerprinting Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 24 Mar. 2008. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
A: According to the observations in the table above, I have concluded that icing sugar is the mystery powder. From the very beginning of the experiment it was narrowed down to two substances, icing sugar and cornstarch. It was concluded to be those two because the physical appearance and the texture only matched with icing sugar and cornstarch. The two main factors of finding the mystery powder was the reaction with water and vinegar.
Next we will discuss the processes used when dealing with latent prints. First I will discuss the analysis of a latent print. So first when a latent print is sent to the lab who conducts the analysis? The forensic analysis is he person that conducts the analysis, or a fingerprint technician or even a police officer. Bu...
From the early days, with little literary reference material, to the current day, with substantially more, but still insufficient formation, the science of fingerprint identification has managed to maintain its credibility and usefulness. Although, academic institutions have yet to recognize the field as an applied science and include it in the curricula, which would provide directed research and literary reference, in libraries. Without this academic recognition, progress in the field of fingerprint is destined to be sluggish. Description of fingerprint identification as a forensic science’ or an ~app1ied science’ in no way implies that is not a reliable science. Fingerprint identification, correctly understood and applied, is just as scientifically valid and reliable as any other science and, indeed, more accurate than many. The fingerprint expert applies knowledge gained through training and experience to reach a conclusion. The many uses of fingerprint identification range from criminal investigation to non-criminal matters such as deceased, missing persons and disaster victim identification. Fingerprint identification has been used in the court systems for many years. Yet there are those who that still try to challenge fingerprint science and the experts in the court of law by a Daubert Hearing. In this paper, Daubert Hearing is define and detail outing background of the cases, the Government preparation, the Testimony from both sides, the judge’s verdict and finally, Mitchell’s second trial on this case.
At the initial stage of the investigation all the visible evidence is to be observed from the latent impression perspective. At this stage only the physical evidence is taken into account. The objects can be divided into porous and non-porous surfaces from the imprint ability preservation perspective. It is advisable to send all the available evidence to the laboratory expertise, though the non-porous substances...
Contextual information also affects the human comparative part of fingerprint analysis, in ways that alter the matching of the same fingerprints, years apart; however, when contextual information is provided, it actually helps 20% of forensic technicians, but that still leaves 80% hindered by contextual information (Dror et al, 2006). Contextual information affects the psychological aspects of perception and problem-solving, in a way that can obscure information that does not support the context, and it can even affect how forensic technician’s view and handle forensic evidence (Bernstein et al, 2013). However, there are some advantages of contextual information, because it can give the forensic division a mental shortcut, saving time and money; however, these shortcuts lead to inaccurate and biased conclusions. This essay has shown that contextual information creates erroneous mistakes and prejudiced results in forensic investigations. A possible way to remove the negative effects of contextual information is to have the forensic technicians, not know the context of the crime so that they do not
Trace evidence was first discovered by Edmond Locard. Edmond Locard was born in 1877, and founded the Institute of Lyon’s Institute of Criminalistics. He is also known for advancing the science of fingerprints. In 1910 he was authorized to start a small forensic laboratory in the Palais de Justice which he directed until 1951.While there he worked on criminal identification methods including poroscopy- the microscopic examination of fingerprints; analyses of body fluids, hair and skin; and graphometry or handwriting analysis. He is the man responsible for coming up with the theory that when two objects come in contact with each other they leave some kind of material matter behind. This theory was later called Locard’s Exchange Principle. The idea is that the evidence can be used to associate objects, individuals or locations with one another." A person typically loses about 100 hairs a day. These hairs may be of evidentiary value to show contact between two people. With an adequate hair standard, a trace chemist will be able to microscopically compare a...
“Advance in Forensics Provide Creative Tools for Solving Crimes.” www.ctcase.org. Np. n.d. Web. 17 March 2014.
The criminal justice system has changed a lot since the good old days of the Wild West when pretty much anything was legal. Criminals were dealt with in any fashion the law enforcement saw fit. The science of catching criminals has evolved since these days. We are better at catching criminals than ever and we owe this advancement to forensic science. The development of forensic science has given us the important techniques of fingerprinting and DNA analysis. We can use these techniques to catch criminals, prove people's innocence, and keep track of inmates after they have been paroled. There are many different ways of solving crimes using forensic evidence. One of these ways is using blood spatter analysis; this is where the distribution and pattern of bloodstains is studied to find the nature of the event that caused the blood spatter. Many things go into the determination of the cause including: the effects of various types of physical forces on blood, the interaction between blood and the surfaces on which it falls, the location of the person shedding the blood, the location and actions of the assailant, and the movement of them both during the incident. Another common type of forensic evidence is trace evidence. This is commonly recovered from any number of items at a crime scene. These items can include carpet fibers, clothing fibers, or hair found in or around the crime scene. Hairs recovered from crime scenes can be used as an important source of DNA. Examination of material recovered from a victim's or suspect's clothing can allow association to be made between the victim and other people, places, or things involved in the investigation. DNA analysis is the most important part of forensic science. DNA evidence can come in many forms at the crime scene. Some of these forms include hair; bodily fluids recovered at the crime scene or on the victim's body, skin under the victim's fingernails, blood, and many others. This DNA can be the basis of someone's guilt or innocence; it has decided many cases in the twentieth century. As the times continue to change and the criminals get smarter we will always need to find new ways to catch them. Forensic science is the most advanced method yet, but is only the beginning. As the field of science grows so will the abilities of the
The three different main types of fingerprints are Loops, Arches, and Whorls (Jackson 1). Henry Faulds is known as the Father of Fingerprints and developing fingerprints (Jackson 1). His discovery of fingerprints has made a huge impact not only in his time but, in Modern Crime Scene Investigation (Jackson 1). Without fingerprinting, it would be very difficult to convict criminals of crimes and very hard to try to process information. Crime Scene Investigators make a huge impact in Forensic Science. We need CSI workers, without them people could only imagine what crime would be like not only in our community, but in our
Law enforcement uses several methods to solve all types of crimes. Having a variety of ways to help solve an investigation gives officials an advantage. If one method fails or isn’t helpful, there are several others they can rely on. For instance, if there are no physical witnesses to a crime, the criminal may have left a fingerprint at the crime scene. An individual’s fingerprint is unique, “no two persons have exactly the same arrangement of ridge patterns” (“Fingerprint ID”). Fingerprints of criminals and of civilians are collected and stored. Also, “People who apply for government jobs, jobs that handle confidential information, banking jobs, teaching jobs, law enforcement jobs, and any job that involves security issues can be fingerprinted” (“The First ID”). Fingerprints are processed within hours and minutes through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint ID System. This system was developed in 1991, and made it easier for different law enforcement agencies to store and share fingerprints.
The easiest way to figure out who was at the crime scene is by taking fingerprints. Good impressions such as fingerprints can be the most valuable pieces of evidence in a forensic investigation. Impressions help link a person to a crime scene or crime as well can provide information on any weapon that could've been used at the scene. An educated technician would compare and search fingerprints manually and on AFIS computer system for classification, comparison and identification. "Analyzing evidence is not a quick or simple process.
== Refer to, Chemistry Lab #1 – What’s the substance? However, I changed some of procedures during my experiment, here is the changes I made in this experiment: * I only used the toothpick to place a small amount of each sample on a separate piece of paper, instead of the spatula.
Forensic science has been in practice for centuries; the first textbook on forensic science was printed in China during the 1200's; in the early 1800's, a technique was developed the first test to identify arsenic in the blood stream; the early 1900's lead to the development of using fingerprinting to identify victims and suspects. While these discoveries where important in criminal investigation, they were only the beginning. Only recently has forensic science significantly refined its techniques and accuracy. Today scientists can locate, identify and trace the tiniest of particles, and identify victims and suspects, beyond a reasonable doubt through DNA analysis. This evolution in forensic science is a prosecutor's dream; while a defense attorney's nightmare. Forensic science has made great strides.
Dip the brush into the liquid to get a little quantity, which is enough for one nail. Then dip this brush into the acrylic powder. A small moist ball would be formed at the brush end. Apply this to the nail.
In fact, 1 Nano gram or less can produce unexceptional information to find a suspect or a victim of a crime. By means of this technology an investigator can extend their criminal investigation beyond the realms of traditional semen or dried up blood. Crime scenes may consist of less valuable DNA, it subsequently depends on the environmental conditions where the DNA was found. For certain, a sequence of factors ramifies the capability to obtain a pleasing DNA profile. By any means, extended exposure to any type of biological evidence can degrade the DNA, and therefore renders it useless for further analysis.