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Fingerprints
As an elementary principle of identification used by criminal investigators, a fingerprint
can be defined as a sense of chance impression found on the tips of the human finger by the
fraction ridges and tends to follow a pattern of definite design (O’Neil 929). Fingerprinting is a
fundamental tool in criminal law, particularly against crime. Every individual’s fingerprints
contain hundreds of tiny patterns and shapes that are unique. Every police department that
integrates fingerprint analysis technology usually has thousands if not hundreds of different
fingerprints on their file database. Consequently, to catch a criminal, these experts have to match
or run a single print from the scene of the crime with one of those in the database. Therefore,
without a computer, it can be a very tedious task if not an impossible one. In this light, this
paper will briefly discuss fingerprints; where they can be found, the three types of fingerprint
patterns, and how they are collected and analyzed.
Where Fingerprints can be found
As earlier mentioned, fingerprints come from the tips of the human finger, and they are
unique to every person. They can be found on any solid surface. According to Forensic Science
Simplified, fingerprints that are found on soft surfaces such as wet paint or soap can be termed as
plastic prints. On the other hand, those located on hard surfaces such as glass or paper are visible
prints. Additionally, latent prints can be found when sweat and the body’s natural oils are
deposited to another surface. Conversely, latent prints are not easily visible by forensic
investigators and they often use chemical reagents and fingerprint powders or light sources to
investigate. The less porous and smoother a surface is, the greater the potential that the latent
prints can be developed or found by the investigator.
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The Three Main Types of Fingerprint Patterns
O’Neill indicates that in the U.S, the Henry system of fingerprint classification is used
and all fingerprint patterns are divisible into four main types: loops, Arches, and whorls (929).
Loops patterns are those whereby the fraction ridges enter from the sides of the finger and re-
curves as it ends the same way as it entered. Loops patterns occur in about 70% of the
fingerprints. Arches are those whereby the fraction ridges run across the tips of the finger from
one side to another without re-curving. They are found in almost 5% of the fingerprints
encountered. Finally, the whorls patterns have been found in about 25% of the fingerprints
