Fingerprint Basics
This raised skin structure creates fingerprint patterns.
What are friction ridges?
Fingerprints left in blood, paint, or ink.
What are patent fingerprints?
The amendment protect privacy when collecting fingerprints.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
The chemical used to develop prints on paper.
What is ninhydrin?
The first step in collecting a parent fingerprint in blood.
What is photograph it immediately?
The three major fingerprint pattern types.
What are loops, whorls, and arches?
Fingerprints not visible without enhancement.
What are latent fingerprints?
A record documenting all individuals who handle evidence.
What is the chain of custody?
The national fingerprint database launched by the FBI.
What is IAFIS?
Best method to reveal a latent print on smooth surfaces like glass.
What is dusting with powder and lifting with tape?
This fingerprint layer forms during fetal development.
What is the basal layer?
Fingerprints left as an impression in soft material like clay.
What are plastic fingerprints?
The card stores all 10 fingerprints from an individual.
What is a ten print card?
The replaced manual, paper-based fingerprint comparisons.
What are computer algorithms/IAFIS and NGI?
What is the Fourth Amendment or ethical standards?
Another term for fine, unique details in fingerprints.
What is minutiae?
The rarest fingerprint pattern.
What is an arch?
A warrant is NOT needed in this situation because the person agrees voluntarily.
What is employment fingerprinting?
Technology that measures physical traits like fingerprints or irises.
What is biometrics?
The 2004 case where a misidentified fingerprint led to a wrongful accusation.
Who is Brandon Mayfield?
What are environmental factors during gestation?
The purpose of dermal ridges on fingers.
What is to help grip objects?
The main reason fingerprint analysis isn't always 100% reliable.
What is human error/subjectivity?
High-resolution fingerprint scanning helps reduce this issue in analysis.
What is subjectivity?
A new scientific method that analyzes chemicals in fingerprints.
What is mass spectrophotometry or infrared spectromicroscopy?