LATENT PRINTS

Latent Print evidence can typically be divided into

two categories: Porous and Non-porous.
Porous evidence such as paper, unfinished wood, cardboard, etc., is
normally conducive to the preservation of prints because latent print
residue can soak into the surface.
Non-porous evidence such as plastic, glass, metal, foil, etc., is much
more fragile because the latent print residue may just be lying on the
surface. Even the slightest handling can "wipe away" a latent print on
non-porous surfaces.
Latent
Although the word latent means hidden or invisible, in modern usage for forensic science the term latent
prints means any chance or accidental impression left by friction ridge skin on a surface, regardless of
whether it is visible or invisible at the time of deposition.
Electronic, chemical and physical processing techniques permit visualization of invisible latent print
residues whether they are from natural sweat on the skin or from a contaminant such as motor oil, blood,
ink, paint or some other form of dirt. The different types of fingerprint patterns, such as arch, loop and
whorl, will be described below.
Latent prints may exhibit only a small portion of the surface of a finger and this may be smudged,
distorted, overlapped by other prints from the same or from different individuals, or any or all of these in
combination. For this reason, latent prints usually present an inevitable source of error in making
comparisons, as they generally contain less clarity, less content, and less undistorted information than a
fingerprint taken under controlled conditions, and much, much less detail compared to the actual patterns
of ridges and grooves of a finger.

Latent Prints
Latent prints are probably the most common type of print to find
These prints are invisible to the human eye without a black light or dusting
Fingerprints leave behind residue (sweat, oils) which is only found with these tools





V. Crime Scene Processing Requirements

1. Photographs of the Crime Scene

a. General View
b. Distance shot and close-up shot of latent print
c. Photographs of every object bearing latent prints
d. Photographs of every latent print before lifting

2. Sketch of the Crime Scene

a. Sketch of locality it gives a picture of the scene of the crime and its environment
such as neighboring buildings and road
b. Sketch of grounds pictures the nearest physical surroundings like floor plan of
the house
c. Sketch of details describe the immediate scene only

3. Things that may not be done in the crime scene

a. Do not lift without taking photographs
b. Do not lift on small movable object
c. Do not remove object without taking photograph
d. Do not place powder to the entire crime scene
e. Do not develop visible latent print

Techniques
Photographing
Take pictures of the fingerprints and scan them into a computer as well as chemically
developing fingerprints, put them on a contrasting background
Dusting
Involves brushing areas at a crime scene with chemicals so that fingerprints will show up
Picked up with clear tape and put on background so they will contrast and are able to work with print
VI. Various Methods of Developing Latent prints

1. Powder/solid/ or Mechanical Method reagents which must adhere or stocked to
the sweat must be used. Suitable surfaces for this technique are glass, porcelain, ceramic,
pottery, metallic item, plastic and bamboo. Prints are collected by:

a. Use of lifting material (gelatin paper, lifter, cellophane tape,
transparent vinyl tape and adhesive tapes); and
b. Photographs

A suitable powder (e.g. black powder, aluminum powder, lycopodium, SP
black powder) is selected and used according to the conditions of impressions and object.
Sometimes, two or more kinds of powder are used in mixture. This is called mixture powder.
The mixing proportion varies according to the climate, humidity, degree of dryness/wetness of
an object. The most commonly used mixture is that of aluminum powder (grey) and lycopodium,
which is effective for suppressing adhesiveness.

Techniques of Powder method
a) Brushing Method the brush tip is dipped into a small quantity of powder
and lightly brush on the surface of where latent prints maybe found; thereafter lightly
sweep excess powder to clean it; applied to dry, slippery and sticky surfaces.

b) Use of spray gun when prints are found on large object, large space, wide
area. Ex. Leather, synthetic, etc.
c) Rolling (rocking) method place appropriate quantity of powder on an
object to be examined, lightly bend and tilt, spreading out powder all over the object in
order that the powder shall adhere to the fingerprints, the fingerprint is developed by
flipping the back side of the object to remove excess powder. Applied to high quality
dried paper.

d) Light-striking method or Patting Method after having the powder adhere
to a fingerprint, lightly strike the object to be examined with a brush tip to which the
powder has been applied, the fingerprint is developed with another brush to which no
powder is applied or by air blowing with a blower-brush or a spray to remove excess
powder.

e) Sprinkling Method white powder applied on rubber, leather, greasy
fingerprint.


Small colored particles - dusting...

Cyanoacrylate fuming detection...

Anti-stokes fingerprint powders...

Silver nitrate is probably the oldest known chemical technique for fingerprint detection on porous surfaces
such as paper...

The value of ninhydrin for the development of latent fingerprints was not realised until 1954 when Odn
and von Hofsten suggested its use in criminal investigations. Ninhydrin is now the most widely used
method for developing latent fingermarks on paper surfaces.

University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a novel
method for detecting fingerprints based on the chemical elements present in fingerprint residue. Known
as micro-X-ray fluorescence, or MXRF, the technique has the potential to help expand the use of
fingerprinting as a forensic investigation...