Fingerprints have helped in the identification process for over one-hundred years. Investigators used fingerprints as one of the most valuable resources at a crime seen. Since everyone has a distinct fingerprint, fringerprinting became the basis of forensic science in 1915.
Fingerprinting
In class, we analyzed fingerprints in a fingerprinting lab. We placed our fingerprints on a light and dark colored surface in order to get a visible fingerprint and analyze what the characteristics of the print. This will take a lot of practice but after about ten times you should get the hang of it.
Here’s how it was done:
1. We rubbed our thumb on the sides our noses in order to get natural oils from our skin onto our finger.
2. Then we placed our fingers on a colored surface to leave an impression of the print.
3. Afterwards we gently placed powder in the area of the print and swiped it away until it covered the whole print.
a. On dark surfaces use corn starch and on light surfaces use graphite powder.
4. Lift the prints with clear tape and you are done.
It was hard to get the powders onto the print without wiping the print off but after multiple attempts, I eventually got the hang of it and was able to lift a successful print off the table.
