PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

Criminalistics can be defined as the application of scientific methods to recognition, collection and
comparison of physical evidence generated by criminal or illegal civil activity.

- It is the study of physical evidence through laboratory work.

- The application of scientific techniques in collecting and analyzing physical evidence in

criminal cases.

ORIGIN OF CRIMINALISTICS

1. The term criminalistics come from the German word Kriminalistik, invented by Austrian criminalist
Hans Gross. The real recognition of criminalistics as a science can be attributed to Hans Gross who
published his book “Handbuch fur Untersuchungrichter als System der
Kriminalistik” in 1889.

2. The development of anthropometry (the study of human physical dimensions) by French

Anthropologist Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914).

3. Fingerprint analysis by Scottish scientist Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930), English scientist Francis
Galton (1812-1911) and English Commissioner Sir Edward Richard Henry (1850-
1931) also contributed to the reinforcement of criminalistics.

4. The progress made in forensic photography by Swiss criminalist Rodolphe-Archibald Reiss (1875-
1929) was also a major contribution to the world of criminalistics.

5. The beginning of the era of modern criminalistics is attributed to Edmond Locard (1877- 1966). He
formulated the basic principle of forensic science: “Every contact leaves a trace”. This became known
as Locard’s exchange principle.

CRIMINALISTICS encompasses the broadest variety of disciplines such as:

1. Dactyloscopy (fingerprint identification) – Identification of persons through examination and

comparison of fingerprints.

2. Forensic Photography – It is the art of producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene

or an accident scene using photography for the benefit pf a court or to aid in an investigation.

3. Forensic Ballistics – A branch of ballistics that involves in the investigation and identification
of firearms by means of the ammunitions fired through them.

4. Questioned Document Examination – A branch of instrumentation that deals with the study of
documents that are questionable or disputable.
 5. Polygraphy (Lie Detection) – The system or practice of determining whether or not somebody
is telling the truth during questioning. A polygraph, popularly referred to as a lie detector test, is a
device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood
pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked and answers a series of
questions.
6. Legal Medicine – A branch of medicine which deals with the application of medical
knowledge to the purposes of law and in the administration of justice.

7. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology – Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry to

criminal investigation; focuses on the chemical analysis of substances connected to a crime. Forensic
Toxicology deals with the medical and legal aspects of the harmful effects of chemicals on human
beings. Toxicology is the study of the symptoms, mechanism and treatments and detection of
poisoning.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES INCLUDES:

1. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY - is the examination of human skeletal remains for law enforcement
agencies to help with the recovery of human remains, determine the identity of unidentified human
remains, interpret trauma, and estimate time since death.
- Forensic anthropology uses the techniques of physical anthropology to analyze skeletal, badly
decomposed, or otherwise unidentified human remains to solve crimes.
- Forensic anthropologists can assess the age, sex, and unique features of a decedent and are
invaluable on documenting in trauma to the body and estimating how long a corpse has been
decomposing. Forensic anthropologists work closely with individuals in law enforcement and medical
science and are often expert witnesses in murder trials.

2. FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY - is the application of dental science to legal investigations, primarily

involving the identification of the offender by comparing dental records to a bite mark left on the victim
or at the scene, or identification of human remains based on
dental records.

3. DNA PROFILING - (also called DNA fingerprinting) is the process of determining an individual's
DNA characteristics, which are as unique as fingerprints. DNA analysis intended to identify a species,
rather than an individual, is called DNA barcoding.
- DNA profiling is a forensic technique in criminal investigations, comparing criminal suspects'
profiles to DNA evidence so as to assess the likelihood of their involvement in the crime. It is also used
in parentage testing, to establish immigration eligibility, and in genealogical and medical research.

4. FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY) - Identification of persons through

examination and comparison of fingerprints

Basic Principles of Fingerprint Identification

- Fingerprint Identification is the cornerstone of personal identification. The system is based

on the undisputed facts after so many studies and research that, “No two persons have exactly the
same fingerprints patterns in their individual characteristics”. Hence, fingerprint is the positive proof
wherein law enforcement agencies look upon this science as the best evidence of positive personal
identification.

Why Fingerprint Identification?

1. Fingerprints offer an infallible means of personal identification.

2. Fingerprints are permanent throughout life.
3. The science of fingerprint identification stands out among all other forensic sciences:
➢ Has served all the governments worldwide in providing accurate identification of
criminals.
➢ Established the first forensic professional organization, the International Association
of Identification (IAI), in 1915.
➢ Established the first professional certification program for forensic scientists, IAI’s
Certified Latent Print Examiner Program, in 1977.
➢ Remains the most commonly used forensic evidence worldwide.
➢ Continues to expand as the premier method of identifying persons.
➢ Outperforms DNA and all other human identification systems to identify more
murderers, rapists and other serious offenders.

Three Dogmatic/Basic/Principle of Fingerprint

1. Principle of Permanency- The papillary ridges are immutable, perennial and individual
from the third month of the embryonic of a person until decomposition set in after death. Some
attempts of destroying ridges and disguised:
 John Dillinger – US notorious public enemy No. 1, who tried to remove hid fingerprints
with acid but failed. Post-mortem fingerprints was taken when he was shot by FBI
agents proved that he was John Dillinger.
 Robert James Pitts – gained fame as the man without fingerprints knowing from an
inmate of a possible destruction of fingerprints.
 Locard and Witkowsji of Lyons – who performed experiments on themselves by
burning with boiling water, hot oil and hot metal, had shown that after healing of the
epidermis, the original patterns of fingerprints reappeared.

2. Principle of Individuality (variation, uniqueness) – No two prints of different or the

neighboring fingers at the same person have ever been found to be identical or exactly in all aspect.

3. Principle of Infallibility – that fingerprint is “incapable of error”, cannot commit mistakes.

Principle of infallibility means that the fingerprint is reliable and admissible evidence in court.

Fingerprint is one of most infallible or reliable means of personal identification in view

of the following reasons:
1. Characteristics of fingerprint which are formed by collection of curved, straight, long, short,
and other various friction do not change naturally as the body ages.
2. Fingerprints are unique throughout the world and permanent throughout life.
3. Police agencies throughout the world accepted, adopted and utilized fingerprint system as a
means of absolute identification.
 4. No two individual persons have exactly the same fingerprint patterns in their individual
characteristics.
5. The court and other authorities since time immemorial take of its importance and
reliability as a means of identification.

USES OF FINGERPRINT
1. Identification of criminals whose fingerprints are found ate the scene of the crime.
2. Identification of fugitives through a comparison of fingerprints.
3. Exchanging of criminal identifying information with identification Bureaus of Foreign Countries
in case of mutual interest.
4. Means of personal identification.
5. Identification of unknown deceased.
6. Prevention of hospital mistake in the identification of infants.
7. Licensing procedure for automobiles, firearms, aircraft and other equipment.

Legal Bases of Fingerprint Evidence

1. People vs. Jennings – The United States leading case wherein, the first conviction based
on fingerprint was recognized by the Judicial Authorities.
2. State vs. Cerciello (New Jersey) – fingerprint evidence was permitted to be inroduced.
3. State vs. Conners – it was held competent to show by a photograph the fingerprints upon
balcony post of a house entered, without producing that post in court.
4. People vs. Coral (California) – it is completely settled law that fingerprints are the strongest
evidence of the identity of a person.
5. Bilangawa vs. Amador (Philippines) – a fingerprint expert and constabulary sergeant testified
and successfully defended fingerprint evidence based on eight identical ridge points.
6. People vs. Medina – First conviction based on fingerprint and the leading judicial
decision in the Philippine Jurisprudence.

Allied Science of Fingerprint Identification

1. Chiroscopy – The papillary ridges identification on the palms of the hand. The palms of the human
hands contain minute ridges and furrows that are found to be peculiar and these peculiarities can aid
investigators in establishing the identity of the suspect. Like fingerprints, palm prints can also be found
in the crime scene.

2. Podoscopy – The science of identification through friction ridge characteristics existing on the sole of
the human foot. Ridge characteristics on the fingers will be the same as the ridge characteristics found
on the sole of the human feet.

3. Poroscopy – Refers to the scientific examination or study of arrangement and shape of the pores of
the friction ridges through which the bodily fluids are secreted or discharged. The development of this
study was credited to Dr. Edmond Locard of Lyon, France who devoted much of his time in studying
minute opening of the friction ridges. Locard in 1912 asserted that due to its extensive quantity, same
distribution of the number of pores between two persons is theoretically impossible. Pores follow the
same principle of permanency as of the fingerprint making it as reliable and valid for personal
identification. Locard is known as the Father of Poroscopy
WAYS AND PROCEDURES IN TAKING FINGERPRINT IMPRESSION Fingerprinting
- It is the process of recording fingerprint through the use of fingerprint ink.

1. Two Types of Fingerprint Impression:

a. Rolled Impression – is an impression made or place in the fingerprint card which is
taken individually by rolling the ten fingers of the subject 180 degrees from tip to the second joints.
b. Plain Impression – is an impression made simultaneously that serves as a reference
impression.
Rolled Impression

Plain Impression

Scientific Way of Taking Fingerprints

1. Prepare a set-up for printing.

2. Clean the inking plate/slab thoroughly before spreading the ink.
3. Place a small amount of fingerprint ink on each side of the slab and in the center,
then start spreading the ink using the roller back and forth until the ink is evenly
distributed.
4. To check whether or not the ink was spread properly or whether it is enough or
not, try to print one of your fingers or put the slab near the light and if brownish
reflection is observed it means you have a good ink for used.
5. Place the fingerprint card on the card holder properly to ensure that proper entry
will be easy.
6. Check the hands of the subject. Make sure that it is clean and dry. If it is perspiring
freely, wipe them off with a soft, clean cloth dampened with alcohol.
7. The technician should stand at the left of the subject in taking the right-hand
impression and take the right side in taking the left-hand impression of the subject.
8. Subject should be instructed to stand straight but relax and not to assist the
technician rolling his finger.
9. In taking the rolled impression, technician should place first the right thumb to be
rolled towards the body of the subject while other fingers no in use is either folded
or closed. Then ink the remaining fingers and rolled it away from the body of the
subject. Make sure to roll the fingertip from tip down to the beginning of the next
joint, and from one side of nail to the other (180 degrees).
10. Same should be applied in the left hand only that the technician will turn to the
right of the subject.
11. Apply moderate amount of pressure in printing subject’s fingers to avoid blurred
prints but hold subject hand firmly so as to prevent pulling that may cause smeared
impression.
12. To obtain the plain impression, all the fingers of the right hand should be pressed
lightly upon the inking plate, the press simultaneously upon the lower right hand of
the card and do same to the left hand.