Fingerprint Techniques Manual

Division of Health Improvement

Caregivers Criminal History Screening Program
PACT Project: Providing Assistance Communication Training
1

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 3
HISTORY................................................................................................... 4
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT .............................................................. 5
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS .............................. 6
FINGERPRINTING ................................................................................... 7
FINGERPRINT CLASSES ....................................................................... 8
ARCHES .............................................................................................. 9-10
PLAIN ARCHES ...................................................................................... 11
TENTED ARCHES .................................................................................. 11
LOOPS ............................................................................................... 12-13
PATTERN AREA ..................................................................................... 14
LOOPS .................................................................................................... 15
TYPE LINES ........................................................................................... 16
DELTAS ............................................................................................. 17-18
CORES .............................................................................................. 19-20
FOUR TYPES OF WHORLS .................................................................. 21
WHORLS ................................................................................................ 22
PLAIN WHORLS ............................................................................... 23-24
CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS .............................................. 25-26
DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS ................................................................ 27-28
ACCIDENTAL WHORLS ................................................................... 29-30
THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING ........................... 31-33
SCARRED PATTERNS .......................................................................... 34
FINGERPRINT CARD EXAMPLES .................................................. 35-57

HISTORY

Ancient History
1000 BC; archaeological evidence of ancient Chinese and Babylonian
civilizations using fingerprints to sign legal documents.

Beginnings
Early 1880s; William Herschel, Chief Administrative Officer of Bengal
used thumb impressions to identify workers.
1880; Dr. Henry Faulds, an English physician working in Tokyo,
published a letter in the journal nature suggesting the use of fingerprints
for identification purposes.
1892; after some years of research the English scientist Sir Francis
Galton published a book entitled Finger Prints in which was laid out a
classification method of fingerprints.
1897; Sir Edward Henry proposed a modified classification system
which was adopted by Scotland Yard in 1901 which is still the basis for
taking fingerprints in most English speaking countries.
1901; First official use of fingerprints in the USA by the New York City
Service Commission.
1930 national fingerprint file set up in America by the FBI.

The Present
Fingerprints are still the primary method for the identification of criminals.
Technology has improved tremendously with time, such as the storage, search,
retrieval and matching of prints using computers (automated fingerprint
identification systems; AFIS).

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

Magnifying Glass
Inking Plate (Metal or Glass) 6" wide x 14 long
Card Holder
Hardwood stand 2 length x 1 height and width
Cleaning Fluid or Cream
Paper Towels
Roller
Inking Plate Cleanser
Printer Ink/Stamp Pad Ink (heavy black paste),
Note: Printing Ink, Ordinary Ink or Other colored inks are not suitable for
use in fingerprinting work. They are too light, thin and do not dry quickly.
Retabs

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINTS

First Principle:
A fingerprint is an individual characteristic. No two fingers have identical ridge
characteristics.
Second Principle:
A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individuals lifetime.
Third Principle:
Fingerprints have general ridge patterns which make it possible to
systematically classify.

Cross section of human skin

6

FINGERPRINTING

Always Start Printing with the Right Hand

RIGHT HAND

FINGERPRINT CLASSES
All fingerprints are divided into three classes on the basis of their general patterns.

Distribution of Classes

Accidental
Whorls
1%
Whorls
34%

Loops
60%
Arches
(Plain & Tented)

Loops
Arches (Plain & Tented)
Whorls
Accidental Whorls

60 to 65%
5%
30 to 35%
1%

ARCHES
Two Types of Arches

Plain Arch (A):

Tented Arch (T):

ARCHES
Arches are the least common of the three general patterns and are subdivided
into two distinct groups, Plain and Tented.

Arch Frequency
Tented
40%

Plain
60%

Plain Arch (A)

Tented Arch (T)

Important to Remember: Arches do not have Type Lines, Deltas or Cores

10

PLAIN ARCHES
The Plain Arch is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns and is formed by ridges
entering from one side of the print and exiting on the opposite side. These
ridges tend to rise in the center of the pattern, forming a wave-like pattern.

TENTED ARCHES
The Tented Arch is similar to the Plain Arch except that instead of rising smoothly
at the center, there is sharp upthrust or spike, or the ridges meet at an angle
less than 90 degrees.

11

LOOPS
Right Loop

La
ke

River
Delta
Delta

Left Loop

ke
a
L

River
Delta
Delta

12

LOOPS
The most common of the three general patterns are Loops. You will see both
Right Loops and Left Loops.

Loop Frequency
Radial
6%

Ulnar
94%

Ridges flow in the

direction of the thumb

Ridges flow in the direction

of the little finger

Radial Loop

Ulnar Loop

Left Hand

Right Hand

13

PATTERN AREA

The most important characteristics to capture from any pattern are Loops and
Whorls. Why? Because, we must capture the Cores, Deltas and Ridges which
are used in the classification process.

PATTERN
AREA

CORE
DELTA

Pattern Area includes Core, Delta

and Ridges which are used in the
Classification of a Loop.
RIDGES

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LOOPS
A Loop is a type of pattern in which one or more ridges enter either side,
recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line between Delta and Core, and tend to
exit the same side as the ridge entry.
Right Loops

Important to Remember, Loops have two focal points:

Delta and Core

Left Loops

15

TYPE LINES
Type Lines are the two innermost ridges. Type Lines start parallel or run parallel
to each other then, diverge and tend to surround the Pattern Area.
T

Core

PATTERN
AREA

Type Line
Delta
Type Line

T
T
T

T
D

T
T
T

T
T

D
T

D
T

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DELTAS
The Delta is the first point on the first characteristic. Deltas can also be any
point upon a ridge nearest the center. They are located between two diverging
Type Lines and are located on or directly in front of their point of divergence.

17

DELTAS

Left Loop
4 Counts

Right Loop
2 Counts

Right Loop
4 Counts

Right Loop
17 Counts

D
D

18

CORES
Cores, as the name implies, are located in the approximate center of the pattern.

C
D

Cores are located where the innermost recurve begins and curve to exit the
same way they came in.
C

19

CORES
C
D

20

FOUR TYPES OF WHORLS

Plain Whorl

Double Whorl

Central Pocket

Accidental Whorl
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WHORLS
The second most common of the three general patterns are Whorls.
Whorls are subdivided into 4 distinct groups: Accidental, Double Loop, Central
Pocket Loop and Plain.

Whorl Frequency

Accidental
3%

Double Loop
13%
Central Pocket Loop
13%

Plain
71%

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PLAIN WHORLS
A Plain Whorl pattern must have Type Lines and a minimum of two Deltas.
A Plain Whorl has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. This ridge
may be in the form of a spiral, oval, circle or variant of a circle.

For a pattern to be a true Whorl, it must be composed of two Deltas with a

recurve in front of each.

To help discern whether a pattern has two Deltas and might therefore be a Plain
Whorl draw an imaginary line between the two Deltas along any one of the spiral
ridges inside the Delta nearest the core.

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PLAIN WHORLS
Plain Whorls are the most common and simplest of the Whorl subtypes. It is
important to remember that Plain Whorls have two Deltas and at least one
recurving ridge in front of each. In a Whorl pattern, the ridges are usually circular.

Whorls take the form of a Spiral, Shell, Circle, Target or Eye.

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CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS

A Central Pocket pattern must have type lines, a minimum of two Deltas and at
least one ridge. The pattern tends to make a complete circle.
An imaginary line can be drawn between the two Deltas and does not cross or
touch a ridge inside the type lines. One Delta appears to be substantially closer
to the center of the pattern than the other Delta.

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CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORLS

All Whorls, Deltas and areas between them must be captured when taking
fingerprints.

A Loop Whorl with an eye is also known as a Peacocks Eye.

26

DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS

A Double Loop pattern, as the name implies, is made up of two Loops combined
into one fingerprint.

A Double Loop pattern consists of two separate Loop formations with two
separate and distinct sets of Shoulders and two Deltas.

The two recurves of the Double Loop Whorl may be connected if they re formed
by separate ridges and if neither is spoiled by an abutting ridge.

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DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS

Double Loop Whorls and Central Pocket Loop Whorls occur with an equal
frequency of thirteen percent. Plain Whorls occur seventy percent of the time
and Accidental Whorls occur 3 percent of the time.

The S type Loop Whorls are not considered Double Loop Whorls

The Interlocking Loops are not considered Double Loop Whorls

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ACCIDENTAL WHORLS
Accidental Whorls consist of a combination of two different types of patterns
(with the exception of Plain Arches).

Accidental Whorls have two or more Deltas and fall into their own category.

Accidental Whorls may occur in some of the combinations listed below:

Loop and a Whorl

Loop and a Tented Arch

Loop and Central Pocket Loop

Double Loop and Central Pocket Loop

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ACCIDENTAL WHORLS
Accidental Whorls are very rare and unique and occur with a frequency of only
one to three percent.

The fingerprint (bottom left) is an example of an Accidental Whorl because it

does not conform to any other definition, pattern or category type.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

The examples below show what can happen when fingers are not fully rolled.

Whorls may appear as Loops if not fully rolled.

Can you tell whether or

not the two examples to
the right (same finger)
have been fully rolled
from nail to nail?

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

It is extremely important to remember to always roll each finger from fingernail
to fingernail to capture all required characteristics.

Ridge Ending

Enclosure

Bifurcation

Island

This print has a ridge count of 10

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL FINGER ROLLING

Remember every fingerprint is extremely important. Make sure every fingerprint
is fully rolled, clear and legible.

Ending Ridge

Bifurcation
Arch (A)

Tented Arch (T)

Island Ridge or
Short Ridge
Dot
Bridge

Spur

Loop (U or R)

Eye (Island)

Double Bifurcation
Delta

Trifurcation

33

Whorl (W)

SCARRED PATTERNS

34

FINGERPRINT CARD EXAMPLES

35

Review Each Fingerprint Card

To Ensure that Each Card Contains the Following
Printed Last Name
Printed First Name
Printed Full Middle Name
If Applicant does not have a middle name NMN
If Applicant middle name is initial only __
Signature of person fingerprinted
Alias (AKA) Maiden Name of previous married names
ORI (Originating Request Identification Number)
NM920160Z
NM Department of Health
Santa Fe, NM
Date of Birth
Residence of person fingerprinted
Street Address
P.O. Box
City, State, Zip Code
Citizenship
Sex
Race
Height & Weight
Color of Eyes
Color of Hair
Place of Birth (City and State)
Date fingerprint taken
Signature of official taking fingerprints
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Review Each Fingerprint Card

To Ensure that Each Card Contains the Following

Eye Color Block (3 Characters)

List Data in Block As:
BLK
BLU
BRO
GRY
GRN
HAZ
UNK

If Description is:
BLACK
BLUE
BROWN
GRAY
GREEN
HAZEL
UNKNOWN

Hair Color Block (3 Characters)

If Description is:
BALD
BLACK
BLONDE (OR STRAWBERRY)
BROWN
GRAY (OR PARTIALLY GRAY)
RED (OR AUBURN)
SANDY
WHITE
UNKNOWN

Race
A
B
I
W
U

ASIAN
BLACK
AMERICAN INDIAN
WHITE
UNKNOWN

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List Data in Block As:

BAL
BLK
BLN
BRO
GRY
RED
SDY
WHI
UNK