The Science of Fingerprints Part 15

1 to 4, inclusive 1 5 to 8, inclusive 2 9 to 12, inclusive 3 13 to 16, inclusive 4 17 to 20, inclusive 5 21 to 24, inclusive 6 25 and over 7

The resulting values in this extension are brought up into the cla.s.sification formula directly above the subsecondary in their respective positions, the right hand being the numerator, the left hand being the denominator.

In addition to the extensions already mentioned, fingerprint groups may be divided into male and female, and by age (either by year or by arbitrarily setting an age limit, beyond which a print bearing such an age would be filed separately in a "Reference" or a "Presumptive Dead"

file).

In the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, all prints bearing an age of 55 through 74 are filed in the "Reference" group and all prints bearing an age of 75 years or more are filed in the "Presumptive Dead" file. Persons 75 years of age or older, in regard to crime, may be considered as generally inactive and thus are filed as "Presumptive Dead." Such a group provides for removing from the other files the cards concerning those of whom no notice is ever received as to death.

A separate file should be maintained for deceased persons, for possible future reference.

A separate file should be maintained for all prints bearing amputations and which have an unequivocal statement or marking from the contributor to that effect.

Permanent scars also may be utilized for this purpose, giving three more groupings: those prints having permanent scars in the right hand, those having a scar in the left, and those in which scars appear in both hands. A separate file may be maintained for mutilated prints whether or not the permanent-scar division is used. This is usually composed of prints so badly mutilated, or so mutilated about the cores and deltas, that intentional mutilation is suspected.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 354]

+--------------+ +--------------+ +--------------+ +--------------+ | WHORL | |CENTRAL POCKET| | DUAL LOOP | | ACCIDENTAL | | -W- | | LOOP | | -D- | | -X- | | | | | | | | | |[Ill.u.s.tration]| |[Ill.u.s.tration]| |[Ill.u.s.tration]| |[Ill.u.s.tration]| +--------------+ +--------------+ +--------------+ +--------------+ PATTERN HAVING PATTERN HAVING TWO SEPARATE TWO OR MORE ONE CORE. LINE ONE CORE. LINE AND DISTINCT DIFFERENT TYPES DRAWN FROM DRAWN FROM LOOPS IN ONE PATTERN.

DELTA TO DELTA DELTA TO DELTA ANY UNUSUAL CUTS ONE OR CUTS NO PATTERN NOT MORE RECURVES RECURVES DEFINED IN OTHER CLa.s.sIFICATIONS

CHAPTER V

_Cla.s.sification of Scarred Patterns--Amputations--Missing at Birth_

_Cla.s.sification of scarred patterns_

Emphasis should be placed upon the necessity for fully referencing all scarred patterns. In connection with their proper cla.s.sification, the following rules should be observed:

- When an impression is so scarred that neither the general type of pattern nor the ridge tracing or count can be determined with reasonable accuracy, the impression should be given both the general type value and the subcla.s.sification value of the corresponding finger of the other hand.

- When an impression is partially scarred, i.e., large scars about the core so that the _general type_ cannot be determined with _reasonable accuracy_, but the ridges allow reasonably accurate subcla.s.sifications by ridge tracings or counting, the impression should be given the primary value of the pattern of the corresponding finger and the subcla.s.sification value as indicated by the ridges of partially scarred impressions.

- When an impression is partially scarred and the general type of pattern can be determined with reasonable accuracy, but the ridges cannot be traced or counted so as to fall within the proper subsecondary cla.s.sification, the impression should be given the ridge count or tracing value of the corresponding finger of the other hand, if the corresponding finger is of the same general type. If the corresponding finger is not of the same general type, the scarred impression should be given the probable value and referenced to all other possibilities.

- When an impression is so scarred that neither the general type of pattern nor the ridge tracing or count can be determined with reasonable accuracy, and it so happens that the corresponding finger of the other hand is similarly scarred, both patterns are given the arbitrary value of whorls with meeting tracings.

In figure 355, the pattern is entirely obliterated. It could have been a small whorl, a small ulnar or radial loop, an arch, or a tented arch. If the opposite finger were an arch or tented arch or whorl, this impression would be cla.s.sified as arch, tented arch, or whorl (with the same tracing). If the opposite finger were a small-count loop, this would be cla.s.sified as a loop of the same count. If the opposite finger were a large-count loop, this impression would be given the count of the opposite finger even though it could never have had that count. If the opposite finger were scarred in the same fashion or were amputated or missing, both impressions would be cla.s.sified as whorls with meeting tracings.

In figure 356, the general type of the pattern could have been loop (ulnar if in the right hand) or whorl. If the opposite finger were a whorl this would be cla.s.sified as a whorl, and with the same tracing.

If a radial loop were opposite, this would be cla.s.sified as an ulnar loop (if in the right hand). The ridge count can be obtained with a fair degree of accuracy. If an arch or tented arch were opposite, this impression would be cla.s.sified as a loop because it looks as if it had been a loop.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 355]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 356]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 357]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 358]

In figure 357, the ridge count cannot be determined accurately but it would be cla.s.sified as a loop, no matter what the opposite finger might be. If the opposite finger were a loop with a count of from 6 to 17, this impression would be given that count. If the count of the opposite loop were less or more than 6 to 17, the count for this finger would be given I or O in the subsecondary cla.s.sification depending upon whether the opposite finger was I or O, but would not be given less than 6 nor more than 17 counts as its possibility is limited to those counts.

A pattern with a scar similar to either scar in figures 358 and 359 would always be given a loop as it could be seen readily that there was no possibility of its having been any other type of pattern.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 359]

_Cla.s.sification of amputations and fingers missing at birth_

When one or more amputations appear upon a fingerprint card, it may be filed separately from those having no amputations in order to facilitate searching. It is to be noted that before it may be filed in the amputation group, the card must contain a definite and unequivocal statement or marking by the contributor to the effect that a certain finger or fingers have been amputated or were missing at birth. This prevents the appearance on later cards of impressions of fingers thought to have been amputated but which in reality were merely injured and bandaged when previous prints were submitted.

If one finger is amputated, it is given a cla.s.sification identical with that of the opposite finger, including pattern and ridge count, or tracing, and referenced to every other possible cla.s.sification.

If two or more fingers are amputated, they are given cla.s.sifications identical with the fingers opposite, with no additional references.

If two amputated fingers are opposite each other, both are given the cla.s.sification of whorls with meeting tracings.

When a fingerprint card bearing a notation of fingers missing at birth is cla.s.sified, the missing fingers should be treated as amputations in that they are given the identical cla.s.sifications of the opposite fingers and are filed in the amputation group. As these fingers are missing from a prenatal cause, they would have always received the identical cla.s.sification of the opposite finger on any previous occasion.

If all 10 fingers are amputated or missing at birth, the cla.s.sification will be

M 32 W MMM.

----------- M 32 W MMM

If both hands are amputated or missing at birth, the footprints should be taken as they, too, bear friction ridges with definite patterns. A footprint file is maintained by the FBI for identification purposes in instances where the subject has all fingers amputated or missing at birth.

Partially amputated fingers often present very complex problems and careful consideration should be given to them. The question often arises as to the appropriate groups in which they should be filed, i.e., amputations or nonamputations. As no definite rule may be applied, it is a matter of experience and judgment as to their preferred cla.s.sification.

In those instances in which a partially amputated finger has half or more than half of the pattern area missing, it is given the cla.s.sification of the opposite finger. It will be filed in the amputation group under the cla.s.sification of the opposite finger and reference searches should be conducted in all possible cla.s.sifications in the nonamputation groups. If two or more of the fingers are amputated in this manner, they are given the cla.s.sification of the opposite fingers only and are governed by the rules concerning amputations.

Generally, a "tip amputation," or one which has less than half of the first joint amputated, will always be printed in the future.

Therefore, a partially amputated finger with less than half of the pattern area missing is cla.s.sified as it appears and is referenced to the opposite finger. It will be filed in the nonamputation group and reference searches should be conducted under the cla.s.sification of the opposite finger, and in the amputation group. It must be referenced this way even though it never could have originally had the cla.s.sification of the opposite finger.

_Cla.s.sification of bandaged or imprinted fingers_

As noted in the chapter pertaining to "Problems in the Taking of Inked Fingerprints," an indication to the effect "recently injured, bandaged" is not sufficient to file a fingerprint card. It is obvious that a fingerprint card bearing these notations cannot be properly cla.s.sified or filed. If the injury is temporary, and if possible, these prints should not be taken until after healing.

If fingers are injured to the extent that it is impossible to secure inked impressions by special inking devices, the unprinted fingers are given cla.s.sifications identical with the cla.s.sifications of the fingers opposite. If only one finger is lacking, reference searches should be conducted in every possible cla.s.sification. If more than one finger is lacking, they should be given the cla.s.sifications of the opposite fingers, but no reference searches should be conducted. If there are two lacking, opposite each other, they should be cla.s.sified as whorls with meeting tracings.

If, however, in the case of an injured finger, observation is made of the ridges of the finger itself and indicated on the print, this cla.s.sification should be, insofar as it is possible, utilized. For example, a missing impression labeled "ulnar loop of about 8 counts"

by the individual taking the prints, should be searched in the subsecondary as both I and O but should not be referenced as a pattern other than a loop. If the finger is used as the final, or key, it should be searched enough counts on each side of 8 to allow for possible error in the counting by the contributor using his naked eye.

CHAPTER VI