Forensic Science Part I: Fingerprints

Procedure for collecting/lifting prints

These procedures can help forensic scientist know about the different methods of collecting fingerprints.                                                       

                                                                              This image below is about dusting for fingerprints.

• In a Crime scene forensic scientist use specific methods such as dusting, the electric pen, and chemical bonding agents to collect fingerprints at a crime. At a crime scene it is very important that forensic scientist do not mess up on collecting fingerprints because the fingerprints can reveal who was there during the crime.The first method to collect fingerprints at a crime scene is dusting. Dusting is very common technique in collecting fingerprints. There are specific steps in dusting in order to collect the fingerprints. The first step is when forensic scientist hunt for fingerprints and in order to collect those fingerprints they hunted for they use black ,magnetic, and silver powders. These powders are used to collect fingerprints off wood, ziplock bags,metal and glass. This particular method  of collecting fingerprints works because it can stick to the oil in the fingerprint.Step two in the method of dusting is picking up a piece of tape to lift the print off the surface. The sticky tape collects the oil and dust within the impression. The last step is putting the fingerprint evidence card that was collected in a envelope.Forensic scientist students need to know that dusting for fingerprints can be important in identifying who the suspect of a crime is.

• The second method of collecting fingerprints is the use of the electric pen with a metallic filing brush. This sounds very weird but is quite relevant to collecting fingerprints.There are not that many steps in using the electric pen. The metal filing brush that is used to collect fingerprints does not affect the print in any way. This is a electromagnet that gets iron filings that make the brush. The brush in the electric pen breaks off and the filings adhere to the oils.Then the fingerprint is lifted with an adhesive.

• The third method for collecting fingerprints are using chemical bonding agents. However there are specific procedures to collecting fingerprints in this method.The first step is to place the object that contains the fingerprints in a heated area.Then the chemical bonding agent superglue fumes is used to warm the surroundings. The result is a white substance that is formed from the print and then it is taken for comparison.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This image below is a livescan.
• The fourth method for collecting fingerprints is using the  livescan and biometric gadgets .The livescan is part of laser technology that is used to collect fingerprints. The are three specific steps to collect fingerprint using  livescan. The first step is using a glass pad to clear prints. The second step is sending the results of the collected fingerprints to a databse to find a match to someone. The biometric gadget takes fingerprints automatically and match them to a database system. This method is much quicker because it does not take that the much time to see if the fingerprints match to anyone.

These collection methods of fingerprinting has taught me abundant of things.First of all I thought there was only one method for collecting prints including dusting. These gadgets that have been created helps the world in a lot of ways. The only gadget that interest me is the biometric gadget. The biometric gadget is so quick and fast that there is no reason to commit a crime. After all once they swipe the gadget over the fingerpriints they are going to take you probably immediately to prison not jail.The biometric gadget looks very cool to use. This method also makes it harder for criminals to get away.

Citations

"Popular Methods of Collecting Fingerprints." Look For Articles - Articles Directory Submission Service Since 2005. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. http://www.look4articles.com/Art/209347/39/Popular-Methods-of-Collecting-Fingerprints.html.

This website above gets the credibility forall the research and details about each common method of collecting fingerprints.

Citations for pictures

"Livescan Fingerprinting." Guard Card - California Guard Card Training. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. http://www.firearms-training.info/livescanfingerprinting.html.

This website above gets the credibility for the visual image of the livescan.

"Stock Photo: Dusting for Fingerprints." Stock Photography: Download Free Stock Photos & Royalty Free Images. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-dusting-for-fingerprints-image4586740.
This website above gets the credbility of the visual image of dusting for fingerprints.

 Links:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290215,00.html