Faux Blood Fingermark on Pistol: Latent Fingerprint Developed by Whole Blood

We present a case of a faux blood fingermark, wherein a natural latent fingerprint on the pistol at the crime scene was enhanced by the whole blood of the victim. A male was shot to death. The crime scene investigator did not find any blood fingermark during the collection of evidence, but a blood fingerprint was noticed in the firearms examination. We identified that the fingerprint was of the victim; a series of experiments on the nonporous substrate were then conducted; the death in this case was classified as a suicide. The phenomenon is interesting, and thus, calls for attention of the forensic community.     

Ridge Width Correlations between Inked Prints and Powdered Latent Fingerprints

A methodology to estimate the time of latent fingerprint deposition would be of great value to law enforcement and courts. It has been observed that ridge topography changes as latent prints age, including the widths of ridges that could be measured as a function of time. Crime suspects are commonly identified using fingerprint databases that contain reference inked tenprints (flat and rolled impressions). These can be of interest in aging studies as they provide baseline information relating to the original (nonaged) ridges’ widths. In practice, the age of latent fingerprints could be estimated following a comparison process between the evidentiary aged print and the corresponding reference inked print. The present article explores possible correlations between inked and fresh latent fingerprints deposited on different substrates and visualized with TiO₂. The results indicate that the ridge width of flat inked prints is most similar to fresh latent fingerprints_, and these should be used as the comparison standard for future aging studies.     

关于指纹汗孔的初步研究

指纹作为法庭科学中非常重要的一种证据,它的价值已毋庸置疑。乳突纹线上的汗孔在现场纹线特别少的情况下,也可以进行人身识别。汗孔的间距、形态、数量以及单条乳突纹线上汗孔的排列等都是可以利用的特征。     

指纹自动识别技术的司法内外价值之评析

指纹自动识别技术在司法领域内的应用早已存在,无论在历史还是在现实的司法实践中都颇受欢迎,但是该技术在司法领域外的应用却是小荷才露尖尖角。由于指纹自身所具有的唯一性、随身性和不可伪造性等特征,使得它能够用来作为人身自动识别的一种有效手段,应用于社会经济生活和公共事务管理等各领域之中。