1

Fingerprint Techniques Manual

Division of Health ImprovementCaregivers Criminal History Screening Program

PACT Project: Providing Assistance Communication Training

2

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 3

HISTORY................................................................................................... 4

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT .............................................................. 5

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS .............................. 6

FINGERPRINTING ................................................................................... 7

FINGERPRINT CLASSES ....................................................................... 8

ARCHES .............................................................................................. 9-10

PLAIN ARCHES ......................................................................................11

TENTED ARCHES ..................................................................................11

LOOPS............................................................................................... 12-13

PATTERN AREA..................................................................................... 14

LOOPS.................................................................................................... 15

TYPE LINES ........................................................................................... 16

DELTAS ............................................................................................. 17-18

CORES .............................................................................................. 19-20

FOUR TYPES OF WHORLS .................................................................. 21

WHORLS ................................................................................................ 22

PLAIN WHORLS ............................................................................... 23-24

CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS.............................................. 25-26

DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS ................................................................ 27-28

ACCIDENTAL WHORLS ................................................................... 29-30

THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING ........................... 31-33

SCARRED PATTERNS .......................................................................... 34

FINGERPRINT CARD EXAMPLES .................................................. 35-57

4

HISTORY

Ancient History

1000 BC; archaeological evidence of ancient Chinese and Babyloniancivilizations using fingerprints to sign legal documents.

Beginnings

• Early 1880’s; William Herschel, Chief Administrative Officer of Bengalused thumb impressions to identify workers.

• 1880; Dr. Henry Faulds, an English physician working in Tokyo,published a letter in the journal nature suggesting the use of fingerprintsfor identification purposes.

• 1892; after some years of research the English scientist Sir FrancisGalton published a book entitled Finger Prints in which was laid out aclassification method of fingerprints.

• 1897; Sir Edward Henry proposed a modified classification systemwhich was adopted by Scotland Yard in 1901 which is still the basis fortaking fingerprints in most English speaking countries.

• 1901; First official use of fingerprints in the USA by the New York CityService Commission.

• 1930 national fingerprint file set up in America by the FBI.

The Present

Fingerprints are still the primary method for the identification of criminals.Technology has improved tremendously with time, such as the storage, search,retrieval and matching of prints using computers (automated fingerprintidentification systems; AFIS).

5

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

• Magnifying Glass

• Inking Plate (Metal or ¼” Glass) 6" wide x 14” long

• Card Holder

• Hardwood stand 2’ length x 1’ height and width

• Cleaning Fluid or Cream

• Paper Towels

• Roller

• Inking Plate Cleanser

• Printer Ink/Stamp Pad Ink (heavy black paste),

Note: Printing Ink, Ordinary Ink or Other colored inks are not suitable for

use in fingerprinting work. They are too light, thin and do not dry quickly.

• Retabs

6

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS

First Principle:A fingerprint is an individual characteristic. No two fingers have identical ridgecharacteristics.

Second Principle:A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s lifetime.

Third Principle:Fingerprints have general ridge patterns which make it possible tosystematically classify.

Cross section of human skin

7

FINGERPRINTING

RIGHT HAND

Always Start Printing with the Right Hand

8

Loops60%

Whorls34%

Accidental Whorls

1%

Arches (Plain & Tented)

Loops 60 to 65%Arches (Plain & Tented) 5%Whorls 30 to 35%Accidental Whorls 1%

All fingerprints are divided into three classes on the basis of their general patterns.

Distribution of Classes

FINGERPRINT CLASSES

9

ARCHES

Two Types of Arches

Tented Arch (T):

Plain Arch (A):

10

ARCHES

Arches are the least common of the three general patterns and are subdividedinto two distinct groups, Plain and Tented.

Plain Arch (A) Tented Arch (T)

Tented40%

Plain60%

Arch Frequency

Important to Remember: Arches do not have Type Lines, Deltas or Cores

11

PLAIN ARCHES

The Plain Arch is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns and is formed by ridgesentering from one side of the print and exiting on the opposite side. Theseridges tend to rise in the center of the pattern, forming a wave-like pattern.

TENTED ARCHES

The Tented Arch is similar to the Plain Arch except that instead of rising smoothlyat the center, there is sharp upthrust or spike, or the ridges meet at an angleless than 90 degrees.

12

LOOPS

LakeRiver

Lake River

Right Loop

Left Loop

Delta

Delta

Delta

Delta

13

LOOPS

The most common of the three general patterns are Loops. You will see bothRight Loops and Left Loops.

Radial6%

Ulnar94%

Loop Frequency

Ridges flow in thedirection of the thumb

Radial Loop

Left Hand

Ridges flow in the directionof the little finger

Ulnar Loop

Right Hand

14

PATTERN AREA

The most important characteristics to capture from any pattern are Loops andWhorls. Why? Because, we must capture the Cores, Deltas and Ridges whichare used in the classification process.

PATTERNAREA

CORE

DELTA

Pattern Area includes Core, Deltaand Ridges which are used in theClassification of a Loop.

RIDGES

15

LOOPS

A Loop is a type of pattern in which one or more ridges enter either side,recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line between Delta and Core, and tend toexit the same side as the ridge entry.

Right Loops

Important to Remember, Loops have two focal points:Delta and Core

Left Loops

16

TYPE LINES

Type Lines are the two innermost ridges. Type Lines start parallel or run parallelto each other then, diverge and tend to surround the Pattern Area.

PATTERNAREA

Type LineDelta

Type Line

T

T

Core

T

T

TT

D T T

TT

D

T

TT

DT

TT

DT

T

17

DELTAS

The Delta is the first point on the first characteristic. Deltas can also be anypoint upon a ridge nearest the center. They are located between two divergingType Lines and are located on or directly in front of their point of divergence.

18

Left Loop4 Counts

D

DELTAS

Right Loop2 Counts

Right Loop17 Counts

D

Right Loop4 Counts

D

D

D

19

CORES

Cores, as the name implies, are located in the approximate center of the pattern.

D

C

D

C

D

D

C

C

Cores are located where the innermost recurve begins and curve to exit thesame way they came in.

20

CORES

CD

21

FOUR TYPES OF WHORLS

Plain Whorl Double Whorl

Central Pocket Accidental Whorl

22

WHORLS

The second most common of the three general patterns are Whorls.Whorls are subdivided into 4 distinct groups: Accidental, Double Loop, CentralPocket Loop and Plain.

Accidental3%

Double Loop13%

Central Pocket Loop13%

Plain71%

Whorl Frequency

23

PLAIN WHORLS

A Plain Whorl pattern must have Type Lines and a minimum of two Deltas.A Plain Whorl has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. This ridgemay be in the form of a spiral, oval, circle or variant of a circle.

To help discern whether a pattern has two Deltas and might therefore be a PlainWhorl draw an imaginary line between the two Deltas along any one of the spiralridges inside the Delta nearest the core.

For a pattern to be a true Whorl, it must be composed of two Deltas with arecurve in front of each.

24

PLAIN WHORLS

Plain Whorls are the most common and simplest of the Whorl subtypes. It isimportant to remember that Plain Whorls have two Deltas and at least onerecurving ridge in front of each. In a Whorl pattern, the ridges are usually circular.

Whorls take the form of a Spiral, Shell, Circle, Target or Eye.

25

CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS

A Central Pocket pattern must have type lines, a minimum of two Deltas and atleast one ridge. The pattern tends to make a complete circle.

An imaginary line can be drawn between the two Deltas and does not cross ortouch a ridge inside the type lines. One Delta appears to be substantially closerto the center of the pattern than the other Delta.

26

CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS

A Loop Whorl with an eye is also known as a Peacock’s Eye.

All Whorls, Deltas and areas between them must be captured when takingfingerprints.

27

DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS

A Double Loop pattern, as the name implies, is made up of two Loops combinedinto one fingerprint.

A Double Loop pattern consists of two separate Loop formations with twoseparate and distinct sets of Shoulders and two Deltas.

The two recurves of the Double Loop Whorl may be connected if they re formedby separate ridges and if neither is spoiled by an abutting ridge.

28

DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS

Double Loop Whorls and Central Pocket Loop Whorls occur with an equalfrequency of thirteen percent. Plain Whorls occur seventy percent of the timeand Accidental Whorls occur 3 percent of the time.

The “S” type Loop Whorls are not considered Double Loop Whorls

The “Interlocking” Loops are not considered Double Loop Whorls

29

ACCIDENTAL WHORLS

Accidental Whorls consist of a combination of two different types of patterns(with the exception of Plain Arches).

Accidental Whorls have two or more Deltas and fall into their own category.

Accidental Whorls may occur in some of the combinations listed below:• Loop and a Whorl• Loop and a Tented Arch• Loop and Central Pocket Loop• Double Loop and Central Pocket Loop

30

ACCIDENTAL WHORLS

Accidental Whorls are very rare and unique and occur with a frequency of onlyone to three percent.

The fingerprint (bottom left) is an example of an Accidental Whorl because itdoes not conform to any other definition, pattern or category type.

31

THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

The examples below show what can happen when fingers are not fully rolled.

Can you tell whether ornot the two examples tothe right (same finger)have been fully rolledfrom nail to nail?

Whorls may appear as Loops if not fully rolled.

32

THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

It is extremely important to remember to always roll each finger from fingernailto fingernail to capture all required characteristics.

Ridge Ending

Enclosure

Bifurcation

Island

This print has a ridge count of 10

33

THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

Remember every fingerprint is extremely important. Make sure every fingerprintis fully rolled, clear and legible.

Arch (A) Tented Arch (T)

Loop (U or R) Whorl (W)

Ending Ridge

Bifurcation

Island Ridge or

Short Ridge

Dot

Bridge

Spur

Eye (Island)

Double Bifurcation

Delta

Trifurcation

34

SCARRED PATTERNS

35

FINGERPRINT CARD EXAMPLES

36

Printed Last Name

Printed First Name

Printed Full Middle NameIf Applicant does not have a middle name “NMN”If Applicant middle name is initial only “__”

Signature of person fingerprinted

Alias (AKA) Maiden Name of previous married names

ORI (Originating Request Identification Number)NM920160ZNM Department of HealthSanta Fe, NM

Date of Birth

Residence of person fingerprintedStreet AddressP.O. BoxCity, State, Zip Code

Citizenship

Sex

Race

Height & Weight

Color of Eyes

Color of Hair

Place of Birth (City and State)

Date fingerprint taken

Signature of official taking fingerprints

Review Each Fingerprint CardTo Ensure that Each Card Contains the Following

37

Review Each Fingerprint CardTo Ensure that Each Card Contains the Following

Eye Color Block (3 Characters)

If Description is:BLACKBLUEBROWNGRAYGREENHAZELUNKNOWN

Hair Color Block (3 Characters)

If Description is:BALDBLACKBLONDE (OR STRAWBERRY)BROWNGRAY (OR PARTIALLY GRAY)RED (OR AUBURN)SANDYWHITEUNKNOWN

Race

List Data in Block As:BLKBLUBROGRYGRNHAZUNK

List Data in Block As:BALBLKBLNBROGRYREDSDYWHIUNK

ASIANBLACKAMERICAN INDIANWHITEUNKNOWN

ABI

WU

-----