FingerprintsGrade 6 Science – Crime and

Investigation

Why is fingerprinting so important in crime

investigations?

Study of Fingerprints

• The study of fingerprints is known as Dactyloscopy. Crime investigators use various methods to collect Dactylograms (or fingerprints).

• A fingerprint is a characteristic hat is unique to each and every person. No two people have the same set of fingerprints, not even twins.

Types of Fingerprints

• There are four main fingerprint types which are categorized by their physical appearance.

–Arch–Tented Arch– Loop–Whorl

Arch• The basic Arch fingerprint is formed by ridges

that enter on one side of the print and exit on the other side.

Arch FingerprintEnters on one side and exits on the other side

Tented Arch

• This fingerprint belongs to the Arch family. It is similar to the basic Arch but it has a spike in the center. Spike or “tent”

Tented Arch FingerprintSimilar to the basic Arch but

with a spike in the center.

Loop

• A loop fingerprint has one or more ridges that enter and leave on the same side.

Loop FingerprintOne or more ridges that enter and leave

on the same side.

Whorl• The whorl fingerprint has at least one ridge

that makes a complete circuit.

Whorl FingerprintHas at least one ridge that makes a

complete circuit.

Review of Fingerprints

Arch Whorl

Tented Arch Loop

The Police Need Your Help• You are a detective. You have received a set of fingerprints

(red paper) from a recent crime scene. You first must label the type of each fingerprint taken from the crime scene (red paper).

• You have two suspects in custody right now. You have taken each of their fingerprints (black paper). You are now trying to find which suspect’s fingerprints match with the ones found at the crime scene. Record your answer by writing the suspects name on the red piece of paper.

• This information will help to bring you closer to making a final decision about who committed the murder (which will be done during a class later this week).

• You will have five minutes to complete this activity and then we will discuss our answers as a class. I will put the timer on the screen. If you are finished early, flip your detective name to the DONE side.

Meridith Stephens

Who’s fingerprints are they??? Why???

Jack Frost