How can fingerprint evidence collected from various surfaces be classified?

Targets

At the end of this Unit you should be able to answer the following questions 

2. How can evidence be linked to its possible source?

2.1 How can impression evidence such as shoe prints and tire prints provide information?

2.2 How do handwriting and ink evidence help us make inferences?

2.3 How do fibre and soil evidence help us make inferences?

2.4 How can you classify fingerprint evidence collected from various surfaces?

targets

Fingerprints are unique to every individual.  No two people have the exact same set of fingerprints—not even identical twins. This makes fingerprinting a powerful tool for identifying people who may have been at crime scenes.

Fingerprints are a type of impression evidence.  The skin on your fingers produces an oil that is left behind whenever you touch something.  This oil leaves the imprint of your finger on a surface.  Some surfaces show fingerprints more obviously than others do – such as glass or mirrors.  Even when you cannot see them, your fingerprints are there.

Sometimes fingerprint identification is used in security systems instead of keys.


  Video

Watch this video clip that shows how these types of security systems can sometimes be fooled.