ARE FINGERPRINTS A UNIQUE WAY TO IDENTIFY PERSON?

Are fingerprints a unique way to identify person?

Are fingerprints a unique way to identify person?

A fingerprinting pad is one of the core tools used in law enforcement. Fingerprinting is also finding itself useful to other industries. Fingerprints have long been used as a way to identify people. Every person's fingerprints are unique. No one, not even identical twins, shares the same fingerprints. Additionally, fingerprints do not change. Even if an injury occurs to the fingertips, new skin will grow in with the exact same fingerprint pattern as before. (Reid, Donald L. 2003, 62-89)

Fingerprinting in Business

The use of a fingerprinting pad in the business world is now one of the main forms of protection offered to consumers and the businesses themselves. Businesses often use fingerprint identification as a method of authenticating checks or even in signing documents of a sensitive nature. By using a fingerprint as an identifier, the business is assured that should any criminal or devious activity occur with the transaction that the person responsible may be found. For example, in the case of a bad check, the business that has a fingerprint ID can turn it over to the police so they can begin the process of attempting to track down who wrote the check. The application of a fingerprinting system is just another way for businesses to ensure they are dealing with honest people doing honest business. It helps reduce loss to both consumers and businesses plus deters criminal activity which is great for everyone. (Reid, Donald L. 2003, 62-89)

How Fingerprinting is Done

Fingerprinting involves capturing the fingerprint from one or all ten fingers. It starts with clean fingers being rolled in ink and then rolled onto a heavy card record. The whole process must be precise because fingerprints that are smudged or incomplete will not work in identification. There are many options in ink pads. Originally it was an ink pad with dark, usually blue or black, ink. New options include inkless systems. Pads that have a clear ink that only shows up on special paper. (Reid, Donald L. 2003, 62-89)

How Fingerprinting Works to Identify

As mentioned, (Reid, Donald L. 2003, 62-89) everyone has their own unique fingerprints. That is why fingerprints are a perfect identifier. Matching a person to their fingerprints is conclusive. Usually in the case of crime, fingerprints are taken from the crime scene and then matched with the criminal. It is a clear piece of evidence that is very useful in prosecuting criminals. Fingerprints are identified using a special system. The Henry Classification System is used to distinguish fingerprints from one another. Upon a simple visual inspection of a fingerprint it is difficult to tell one from another. The variations in fingerprints are quite subtle so it requires a complex identification system to properly ID a fingerprint. The Henry Classification System uses 3 basic fingerprint patterns with various sub-patterns. The 3 basic patterns are arch, loop and whorl. The identification using this system is now mostly done using ...