Fingerprints are probably one of the most recognized forensic evidence that assist investigative bodies in associating the suspect with the crime scene. Fingerprints are special to every individual and as such considered one of the best forms of identification. But extracting usable fingerprints from the crime scene is not an easy task to accomplish. At times, the fingerprints are not clearly discernible, and all sorts of tactics have to be used to make the latent fingerprints appear for analysis.

Fingerprinting development therefore refers to the process of making invisible fingerprints discernible for purposes of comparison. On this blog, we look at what fingerprint development is, the methods that are used as well as its relevance in forensic sciences.

What Do You Understand About Fingerprint Development?

Fingerprint enhancement simply refers to the process in which latent fingerprints on the crime scene have to be made more conspicuous for identification. Fingerprints are generally not discernible to the human bare eye because they include features such as oils, sweat, and other deposits that come with the touch process left on an item’s surface.

These fingerprints are often concealed in places that are not easily accessible in ordinary circumstances but by applying physical and chemical methods fingerprint experts are able to take these latent prints and capture them in a manner suitable for comparison with known prints in a database of suspects or witnesses.

Importance of Fingerprint Development

That is why fingerprint development is so important for forensic investigations.

1. Unique Identification

Fingerprints are unique for each person making it easier to use them when it comes to identification. When fingerprints are left at the crime scene and its developments together with the analysis, the suspect can be connected to location, an object, or an event and this is a strong piece of evidence in the criminal investigation.

2. Connecting Suspects to Crimes

GSFs left in an environment can instantly associate a subject with the commission of a crime, and this may explain the revelation of latent fingerprints at a scene. For instance, a fingerprint on the handle of a weapon, a door latch or handle or any stolen article is very conclusive evidence that the fingerprint found belonged to the person who touched that object at the scene of the crime.

3. Excusing Bystanders

Fingerprint development does not only assist in determining suspects but also assists in ruling out innocence from suspicion. That way, the investigators may easily sort out such developed prints which do not match with the prints in their database of known prints thereby directing their efforts to the suitable suspects.

4. Supporting Legal Proceedings

Criminal fingerprints that are known as the developed fingerprints are likely to be produced in a court to prove criminal charges. The clear and identifiable prints can be offered to judges and juries to minimize chances that a suspect will deny linkages to the crime scene involved.

Techniques of Fingerprint Enhancement

1. Powder Dusting

Another usual method of fingerprint enhancement is powder dusting. Gentle powders that can be black or white powders are usually sprinkled on areas of surfaces that may contain latent prints. The anti-reflective layer is luminescent and attracts powder which is attracted to oils and residues of the fingerprint.

This technique works on non- porous surfaces such as glassy, metallic and plastic surfaces. The ink in the print is then allowed to develop before investigators can use lifting tape to transfer the print onto an improved surface.

2. Chemical Enhancement

Powder techniques are applied in developing prints on smooth surfaces such as paper, fabrics or wood. Some chemicals turn blue when they come in contact with residues in a fingerprint, thereby making the print visible.

Some common chemical methods include:

Ninhydrin: The reagent used in the perspiration activity reacts with amino acids in perspiration that redevelops the latent prints in a purple colour.

Silver Nitrate: Forms a black or brown colour when in contact with chloride in sweat on the print.

Cyanoacrylate Fuming (Superglue Fuming): On exposure to heat, the vapors of the superglue come in contact with the fingerprint residues and form a white solid mass.

3. Alternate Light Sources (ALS)

ALS is used when it is difficult to see fingerprints especially under casual lighting conditions. ALS devices produce certain wavelengths of light that affects the residues in latent prints to cause them to luminesce.

This technique is particularly significant in creating prints on surface elements such as skin, clothes or other substances which ordinarily it could be tricky to use other approaches to analyze.

4. Iodine Fuming

Fuming with iodine is another chemical method used to enhance hidden fingerprints. Iodine when heated sublimes and iodine vapours react with oils and fats in the fingerprint and the fingerprint turns yellow-brown for some time. Nevertheless, this print is erasable; however, before it is completely gone, the material can be photographed or peeled off.

Fuming with iodine is most successful on porous surfaces, and may be applied in combination with any other based fumings to exhibit better outcomes.

5. Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD)

Vacuum metal deposition is a sophisticated method that is typically applied when creating prints on hard-to-apply surfaces. Here, a substrate is subjected to metal-bombardment in a rare environment for example; gold and zinc. The metal sticks to the fingerprint residues and shows the print.

VMD is more useful on objects such as plastics, the glasses and metals which can prove cumbersome when undergoing standard treatment.

Difficulties in Fingerprinting

While fingerprint development is an invaluable forensic tool, it comes with its own set of challenges:

1. Surface Type

The nature of the surface on which a fingerprint is found has an impact on the sort of development that will be used. While some surfaces like glass and metals can be easily powder dusted others like fabrics and other porous materials may necessitate the use of a chemical compounding.

2. Time and Environmental Factors

This can be referred to as elements that are not bound with any type of predefined restriction concerning the manner in which an organization has to carry out its operations or the ways that particular business has to solve its challenges.

Prints deposited on the surface of an object lose their characteristics with time and can be affected by such features as temperature, humidity and the use of cleaning agents. The long period that a given print is exposed will make it difficult to develop it.

3. Differing Prints and Compound

Sometimes, depending on the crime, the crime scene may have many more opportunities for leaving latent prints and identifying which is the suspect’s print may be a challenge. At the same time, contamination of the sample from other sources, such as other people who may have touched this object, poses new challenges.

4. The Skill and Experience of the Forensic Expert

Criminal fingerprint is highly dependent on the forensic fingerprint examiner experience in the development process. Besides this one has to learn the technique of handling the developing system in the right manner along with correct selection of development methods for getting good prints.

The Role of Fingerprint Development in Criminal Justice

Biometric identification, specifically fingerprint development is one of the oldest and most important fields of forensic science and criminal justice. Investigators use it to find hidden leads, tie suspects to crime scenes and to confirm the various pieces of evidence. From burglaries to murder, identifying fingerprints could be the smoking gun in a case and gives the evidence needed to convict.

Besides, fingerprint development plays a role to make the justice system work right by safeguarding people and their liberties, and getting guilty people to be punished. In a period where people pay heed to digital analyses and DNA matching, it is still a big plus to have fingerprints in detecting a crime.

Conclusion

Fingerprint enhancement is one of the basic procedures in forensic science that provides valuable information that may not otherwise be seen. By means of employing a number of procedures including powder dusting, chemical development, and sophisticated methods including VMD, or vacuum metal deposition techniques, latent impressions connected to individuals and specific occurrences may be revealed by specific forensic specialists.

To comprehend the fingerprint development it is necessary to understand the science of fingerprint development to further realize how this type of forensic tool helps to solve crimes and gives justice to the innocent. In a constantly technologically changing environment, and criminal minds learning new techniques the use of fingerprint analysis is one of the most reliable ways to uncover the truth.