Types of Fingerprint Card

There are two types of fingerprint card: the criminal and the civilian fingerprint cards. The criminal
fingerprint card is used to record fingerprints of suspects and criminals and other identities of the person being
fingerprinted.
The second type is the civilian fingerprint card which is also used in recording fingerprints of a civilian for
various purposes such as requirement for employment, clearance, etc.. In this card, there is a place to list the
names and addresses of several relatives who could be notified in case of emergency. There is also a space for the
purpose of fingerprinting.
Whether any particular card is a criminal or at civilian record, all the requested data that are known
should be recorded on the corresponding spaces. There is also a space for the subject's photograph. This should be
included in a criminal record. For civilian identification purposes the photograph is not required, but it is a good
idea to furnish it if one is available.
Some identification agencies fill out their fingerprint cards, with the exception of the classification,
reference, and the operator's and subject's signatures using a typewriter. This is a good idea because it insures
uniformly neat cards. However, when filling out the back of the card with a typewriter, do not type too heavily. In
doing so, some of the characters will punch through the card, making the fingerprints difficult to interpret. When
no typewriter is available, fill out the fingerprint cards with pen and ink, not with pencil, using block writing.

Fingerprint Impressions
In fingerprint work, what are recorded are known as rolled impression and plain impression on the
standard fingerprint cards.
A plain impression is one made by pressing an inked finger directly down upon a fingerprint card without
any rolling motion done. It records only the center portion of the friction ridge pattern. These are the usual prints
found in the crime scene, which are usually blurred, cut and not clear. In a fingerprint card, a plain impression is
made to record the two thumbs below. the ten boxes intended for the fingers of right and left hands.
A rolled impression is one made by rolling an inked finger from one side of the finger nail to the other. It
will record the entire ridge pattern of the nail joint of the finger. Both of the prints shown are of the same finger.
This impression gives a much greater area of the pattern for study and for classifying. Furthermore, it provides a
larger number of points for comparison when examining two fingerprints to determine whether or not they were
hade by the same finger. In order to make a good rolled Impression, the tip of each finger should be impressed
from tip of the fingernail to the other side making a 180 degree turn.
There are two types of impressions involved in taking fingerprints. The upper taken individually: thumb,
ten index, impressions middle, ring, little fingers of each hand. These are referred to as the "rolled" impressions
because the fingers are rolled from one side of the fingernail to the other, to obtain all available ridge detail. in
order
The impressions at the bottom of the card are taken simultaneously without rolling, printing all of the
fingers of each hand at a forty-five degree angle and then the thumbs. These are referred to as "plain," "slapped,"
or "flat" impressions. The plain impressions are used to verify the sequence and accuracy of the rolled
impressions.
TWO TYPES OF IMPRESSION FOUND IN FINGERPRINT CARD
ROLLED IMPRESSION- an impression made or place in the fingerprint card which is taken individually by rolling the
ten fingers of the subject 180 degrees from tip to the second joints.
PLAIN IMPRESSION- an impression made simultaneously that serves as a reference impression.
PURPOSES OF THE PLAIN IMPRESSION
 To serve as a guide in checking the rolled impression whether or not the rolled impression were
properly place on their respective boxes
 To check on the ridge characteristics of the plain impression if the rolled impression is somewhat
faint, or indistinct due to bad condition of the friction skin either temporary or permanently
deteriorated or in case of a doubtful or questionable prints.
 To check the minute details of the ridge characteristics for purposes of classification and
identification.

“Filling Out” Fingerprint Card

In fingerprint terminology, “filling out” means the entering on a fingerprint record card of all known
essential data about the subject, except the fingerprints themselves. Some of the essential data include complete
name of suspect/person fingerprinted (first, middle and surname), nickname/s, sex, citizenship, complexion, race,
height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, body built, address, occupation age, place of birth, date of birth,
scars/marks of amputations, date the fingerprints were taken. At the back of the fingerprint card are found the
civil status, business or provincial address, educational attainment, language or dialects spoken, person to be
notified in case of emergency, and purpose of Fingerprinting. The information to be written should be printed and
signed by the person fingerprinted. The operator’s name and signature is also required in the fingerprint card
(Montojo, 2006 Lessons 4.1-11)
In some agency the subject’s surname is entered first, followed by his given name and then by his middle
name, separated by the smaller letter “y”. The “surname” always means the last or family name of the subject. The
“given” name is that given the subject at birth. In some agencies the name is written out just like how a signature
is written, that is, given or first name, middle name or initial, and the surname. It should be noted that any
information deliberately written in the fingerprint card which are not true may be punishable under Article 171
and 172 (Falsification) of Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.
Recording is the method of placing the prints in their proper spaces on the fingerprint card. When
recording fingerprints, the first and second five boxes should be properly rolled over the fingerprint card. Then, the
thumbs shall be plainly recorded with the four other fingers to be recorded simultaneously.
The word "classification" printed in the upper right hand corner of the card is a very important part of the
fingerprint card. On this line is entered the classification for the set of prints on the card. Is by this classification
that the fingerprint card is It filed. The classification also enables the technician to make a search in the file to
determine whether or not a certain subject already has a set of prints on file.

FINGERPRINT LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

1. Ink Roller-refers to an instrument used for spreading the ink into the ink slab or inking plate.
2. Ink Slab/ Inking Plate refers to a piece of metal or a plane glass with as much as ¼ thick and 6 or more
inches long where the fingerprint ink is distributed for fingerprinting,
3. Card Holder-refers to a gadget used for clipping the fingerprint card to avoid movement of the card
during printing.
 4. Fingerprint ink-refers to a especially manufactured ink for purposes of taking fingerprint.
5. Magnifying glass refers to an instrument used for examination of developed prints.
6. Fingerprint powders refers to the powder used in developing latent prints found in the scene of crime.
They are normally found in two; the black and the white or gray, which is applied depending upon the
contrasting background.
7. Fingerprint brushes refers to an instrument used for powdering latent prints. There are three variations
of brushes used the fiber glass. Magnetic and feather type.
8. Fingerprint Lifting-tape refers to a tapes used for lifting developed latent prints which is quite harder than
an ordinary tapes.
9. Latent Prints Transfer Cards – refers to card used in preserving lifted latent prints which is either white or
black in background.
10. Fingerprint Cards – refers to a piece of card used for recording the ten fingerprints for comparison. The
usual size is 8x8.
11. Scissors refers to a simple instrument for cutting latent print tapes and for other purposes.
12. Rubber Gloves-to protect the technician’s fingers from leaving his own prints on the object or on the
scene.
13. Pos-mortem Fingerprint Equipment refers to a set of equipment consisting of hypodermis syringe, spoon,
tissue builder solvent, tissue cleaner, etc. used for taking prints of dead person.
14. Fingerprint Table – a table intended for taking fingerprints
15. Fingerprint Pointers – use for pointing the ridges in the conduct of ridge counting.
16. Fingerprint cameras-use in photographing the developed latent prints
17. Forensic Optical Comparator – use to compare two fingerprints at the same time.
18. Fingerprint Table – table intended for fingerprinting

TAKING/RECORDING INKED FINGERPRINT IMPRESSION

1. Prepare the set-up for printing.
2. Clean the inking plate/slab thoroughly before spreading the ink
3. Place a small amount of fingerprint ink on each side of the slab and the center, then start spreading the
ink using the roller back and forth until the ink is evenly distributed.
4. To check whether or not the ink was spread properly or whether enough or not. Try to print one of your
finger or put the slab near the light and if brownish reflection is observe it means you have a good ink for
used.
5. Place the fingerprint card on the card holder properly to ensure that proper entry will be easy.
6. Check the hands of the subject. Make sure that it is clean and dry. If it is perspiring freely, wipe them off
with a soft, clean cloth dampened with alcohol.
7. The technician should stand at the left of the subject in taking the night hand impression and take the
right side in taking the left hand impression of the subject.
8. Subject should be instructed to stand straight but relax and not to assist the technician in rolling his finger.
9. In taking the rolled impression, technician should place first the right thumb to be rolled towards the body
of the subject while the other fingers not in use is either folded or closed. Then inked the remaining
fingers and rolled it away from the body of the subject. Make sure to roll the finger from the tip down to
the beginning of the next joint, and from one side of the nail to the other (180 degrees).
10. Same should be done in the left hand only that the technician will turn to the right of the subject.
11. Apply only moderate amount of pressure in printing subjects fingers to avoid blurred prints but hold the
subjects hand firmly so as to prevent pulling that may caused smeared impression.
 12. To obtain the plain impression, all the fingers of the right hand should be pressed lightly upon the inking
plate, then press simultaneously upon the lower right hand of the card and do the same to the left hand.

REASONS FOR POOR IMPRESSION

1. Poor ink- resulting in the ridges being too light to count or trace.
2. Dirty Finger or equipment- presence of foreign materials which result from failure to clean thoroughly the
inking equipment or the fingers. May of may cause false markings, distorted ridges or disappearance
characteristics.
3. Improper rolling- failure to roll the fingers fully from one side to the other resulting in incomplete prints
which may cannot be fully identified.
4. Rolling more than once.
5. Too much pressure.
6. Slippage – this happens when the fingers are allowed slip or twist resulting in smears, blurs and false
patterns.
7. Over inking- using of too much ink resulting obliteration of the thin layer with the roller.
8. Incomplete Inking- failure to ink the entire bulb of the finger, from joint t tip from side to side of mails,
resulting in the possible omission of deltas and core.

PROBLEMS IN RECORDING INKED FINGERPRINT

TEMPORARY DEFORMITIES- Occupational problems such as acid workers, plasters. Cement mixers, assembly
workers in electrical appliance plant. Such case the ridges are not exactly destroyed but they weakened the prints.
PERMANENT DISABILITIES- One permanent disability is a case of amputated finger. In such case, proper notation
of the exact blocks where the amputated fingers is to be recorded should be made. In case of a person without
fingers, at birth, it should be noted “missing fingers at birth” or “born without fingers”. If fingers are extremely
crippled, broken or disabled proper notation should be made and in some case, the recorder should make use of
some inking device such as spatula, the roller and a curve card strip holder to take the prints which is usually apply
in taking post-mortem fingerprint.
DEFORMITIES- In this situation, an infrequent problem of a person with an extra finger. In which case, the extra
fingers should be recorded at the back of the card with the necessary notation. In case of two thumbs, the inner
should be used r purposes of classification. In webbed finger, there is no problem on it. The recorder just simply
record the finger together.

POST-MORTEM FINGERPRINTING
1. Fingerprinting the newly dead.
When the fingers are flexible it is often possible to serve inked fingerprint impressions of a deceased
person through the regular inking process in standard fingerprint card.
In all cases where inked impressions are to be made, care should exercised to see that the fingers are
clean and dry before inking. If necessary wash the digits with soap and water and dry thoroughly. In the event
difficulty is encountered in trying to procure fingerprints by the regular method it may prove more convenient to
cut the 10 squares numbered for the rolled impressions from a fingerprint card. After the finger is inked, the
square is rolled around the finger without letting it slip. Extreme caution should be exercised to see that each
square bears the correct fingerprint impressions. After all the inked impressions are properly taken, the ten
squares bearing the impressions are pasted or stapled to a standard Fingerprint card in their proper positions.
Whenever possible the plain impressions should also be taken.
 In some cases it will be found necessary to obtain or improvise a tool similar to a broad-bladed putty knife
or spatula to be used as an inking instrument. The inked is rolled evenly and thinly on the knife or spatula and
applied to the finger by passing the inked knife or spatula around it.
2. Fingerprinting the Dead, Where stiffening of the fingers and/or Early Decomposition are Present
This second group consists of cases in which the hands of the deceased are clenched, or the finger tips are
wrinkled, or decomposition has begun and/or where there are combinations of these three conditions. Cases of
this case may necessitate cutting off the skin. Legal authority is necessary before cutting the corpse. Such authority
may be granted by state law or by an official having authority to grant such a right.
In cases where rigor mortis (stiffening of the muscles) has set in and the fingers are tightly clenched, the
fingers maybe forcible straightened by breaking the rigor. This is done by holding the land of the deceased person
firmly with “one grasping the finger to be straightened with the four fingers of the other hand and placing the
thumb, which is used as a lever, on the knuckle of the finger and forcing it straight. The inking tool and squares as
previously explained, are then use to secure the fingerprint.
In the event the rigor cannot be overcome. It will be most helpful to provide or secure a spoon-shaped
tool for holding the cut square or cut strips while printing the fingers.
Another problem encountered in this second group includes cases in which the tips of the fingers are
fairly pliable and intact, yet due to the presence wrinkles in the skin, complete impressions cannot be obtained.
This condition can be corrected by the injection of a tissue builder procurable from a dealer in undertaker supplies.
If this is not available, glycerin or water may be used.
The method of simple, injection of the tissue builder, glycerin, or water is accomplished by the use of a
hypodermic syringe. The hypodermic needle is injected at the joint of the finger up to the tip of the finger, care
being used to eep the needle below the skin surface. The solution is injected until the finger bulbs are rounded out,
after which they are inked and printed.
3. Fingerprinting the Dead in Difficult Cases
In cases involving badly decomposed bodies the first thing to do is to amine the fingers to see if all are
present. If they are not. An effort should be made to determine whether the missing finger or fingers or even a
hand was amputated during the person’s lifetime, or whether the loss was due to other uses such as destruction
by animal or marine life.

MACERATED FINGERS
Partially rotten and saponified to the extent that the end joints have hardened and wrinkled after
excessive submersion in water.
This can be restored for identification by being softened in a solution of ur parts of concentrated
ammonium hydroxide and one part of glycerin. The amputated fingers should remain in the solution for from
thirty-six to forty eight hours. When the desired degree of softness is obtained, the fingers should washed in warm
water and then dried by being dipped in acetone.
MUMMIFIED FINGERS
Usually hard and shrunken mummified fingers can be restored and the in made pliable by being soaked in
a 1-3% solution of potassium hydroxide.

TISSUE BUILDER
Use to take the fingerprints of wrinkled fingers (ex. With a mummified body or one that has been
immersed in water for sometime).
This can be used to expand the finger to the normal volume. It is injected under the skin above the first
joint of the fingers to be printed. Tissue builder solvent is used as cleaning solvent and as diluents.
POST MORTEM FINGER STRAIGHTENERS
Made to fit a variety of finger sizes, these steel tools are specifically designed to straighten the clenched
fingers of the deceased.