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Handbook of Missing Persons pp 389–413Cite as

The Identification of Missing Persons Using Fingerprints

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Abstract

The use of friction ridge skin detail for human identification purposes is a widely established technique that is used throughout the world. Given its identifying nature, marks made by friction ridge skin (referred to as fingermarks or fingerprints) are fundamental to missing person investigations. This chapter begins with a brief historical overview of fingerprints with respect to identification, and explains the principles of their identifying ability; uniqueness; and persistence. It then explores the process of missing person identification with respect to friction ridge skin, and explains how fingerprints and fingermarks are recovered for the investigation from people who are found alive and dead. The process of identification is described, which includes how technology can help, and has helped to solve cases involving missing persons.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    the number of ridges encountered between the outer terminus (the delta) to the inner terminus (the core).

  2. 2.

    A fingerprint expert is required to have extensive training, beyond basic fingerprint examination, which qualifies them to give evidence in court

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DF, UK

    Sarah Fieldhouse Ph.D.

  2. Forensic Focus Limited, The Corner House, 2 Albert Road, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3FZ, UK

    Karen Stow B.Sc., M.Sc., M.B.A., F.F.S.

Authors
  1. Sarah Fieldhouse Ph.D.
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  2. Karen Stow B.Sc., M.Sc., M.B.A., F.F.S.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah Fieldhouse Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, California, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz

  2. Forensic Archaeology and Genocide, Investigation, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

    Caroline Sturdy Colls

Glossary

AFIS

 Automatic Fingerprint Identification System—a database containing ten-print sets and unknown fingermarks which helps an examiner to identify unknown marks by providing examiners with potential comparator marks.

Ante-mortem 

Data, information or documentation collected for a person during their life that could assist in identifying them after their death or if found alive

ACE-V

 Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, Verification—a process used by fingerprint examiners to identify unknown friction ridge skin marks.

CSI 

Crime Scene Investigator

DNA 

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Elimination prints 

Ten-prints taken from an individual who has not been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a recordable offence.

Fingerprint 

A known impression made by the friction ridge skin of a finger.

Palm Print 

A record made of the pattern of friction ridge skin on the palms of the hands

Fingermark 

An unknown mark made by the friction ridge skin of a finger.

Non-porous surface 

A surface which does not absorb the latent fingermark

Palm Mark 

The mark made by the palm print on a substrate (surface) when a palm touches that substrate

Ten Print 

Known fingerprints taken from the palmar surfaces of individuals for identification purposes

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Fieldhouse, S., Stow, K. (2016). The Identification of Missing Persons Using Fingerprints. In: Morewitz, S., Sturdy Colls, C. (eds) Handbook of Missing Persons. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40199-7_26

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