Fingerprints as Evidence

Everyone has a unique set of fingerprints and for the past century this has been the way that criminals have been identified. No two fingerprints have ever been found alike in many billions of human and automated computer comparisons. Fingerprints are the very basis for criminal history foundation at every police agency. Fingerprints are an infallible way of establishing a person’s identity and it remains the most commonly used forensic evidence worldwide. In most jurisdictions, it is fingerprints cases that surpass all other forensic examination casework combined. Believe it or not, fingerprints outperform even DNA in identifying more murderers, rapists and other serious offenders.

Identifying Fingerprints

There is a humongous database just filled with millions of fingerprints and you can bet that yours are there too if you have ever been arrested, fingerprinted in school as part of a preventative measure conducted by the police department for the purpose of identifying missing children, or if you have ever had certain occupations. The strength behind fingerprints is based on the fact that the "friction ridge patterns" on the fingertips never change and no two people have matching ridges. Because this is already a proven concept, it is rarely ever disputed in a court of law. Other visible human characteristics change - fingerprints do not.

History of Fingerprints

Back in the 1800's criminals were identified and convicted by what the police officer could remember about the suspect by sight and today much more advanced and scientific methods are used that make those times look at the least barbaric. Personal appearances change, DNA and fingerprints do not. There are ridges on the finger, the palm, and the sole of the foot that distinguish each person from another person as no two are alike. These ridges develop in the fourth month of the fetal stage and never ever change until perhaps the person would die and eventually decompose. In other words, they are permanent. All other dimensions of the body can be altered with growth or desire but not the distinct fingerprints.

Why Fingerprints are Used

Fingerprints are used for the investigation of crime for three reasons, they are the best means to identify a criminal, they are the cheapest way, and they are also the fastest way. Most of the crime cases, like murder and theft cases, do not have an eye witness or other evidence. Even the testimony of an eye witness can be strongly challenged in a court of law. But one can never deny his presence at a crime scene if his fingerprints are collected there. A fingerprint itself is conclusive evidence.

Fingerprints are also used for other means such as to prevent impersonation, to identify a dead body, and more and more they are being used for security systems such as door security systems, finger impression locking systems, door access control systems, automatic safe boxes, fingerprint attendance systems, fingerprint security systems, etc.

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