FINGERPRINT LAB INSTRUCTIONS

PART I - Balloon Prints

Materials: White balloons Fingerprint ink pad Marker Procedure: 1. Partially inflate a balloon. Do not tie it off. 2. Open fingerprinting pad and gently roll one fingertip. 3. Apply finger to balloon surface near the top center (where the balloon will expand the most), being careful not to smudge or twist while lifting the finger from the balloon surface. 4. Each group member should place one print on the balloon. Inflate the balloon and mark each print with your name, hand (right or left) and fingerprint pattern - ulnar loop, plain arch… 5. Circle and number 4 different minutiae on each print. 6. On your lab sheet, record the names of the 4 different types of minutiae that you found in each print.

PART II - Graphite Prints

Materials: Pencil Paper Transparent Tape Index card Procedure: 1. Hold the pencil at an angle on paper and fill a small area with graphite. 2. Roll the tip of one finger over the shiny graphite, making one or two passes. Good technique demands including the entire fingertip, edge to edge and down to the area of the first joint. Keeping the paper at the edge of the table will make this easier. 3. Have your partner pull 2 – 3 inches of tape, while only touching the ends and keeping the sticky side up. 4. Roll your graphite-covered fingertip onto the tape. 5. Carefully place your fingerprint on an index card. 6. Label each print with the type (plain whorl, radial loop..), hand (R or L) and name. 7. Repeat for each person in the group using the same card. (2 people on the front and 2 on the back. PART III - Inked Prints Materials: Ink Pad Scratch Paper Fingerprint Card (on the back of “Fingerprint challenge”) Procedure: 1. Read the good fingerprinting techniques explained on the “Lab Procedures” sheet at your lab station. On a sheet of scrap paper, practice rolling your lab partner’s prints. Remember the techniques Good technique demands including the entire fingertip, edge to edge and down to the area of the first joint. Keeping the paper at the edge of the table will make this easier 2. When rolling onto the paper, make one smooth, even motion. Look at the reference paper showing good and bad prints. 3. Have your teacher check your work. When you feel comfortable with your technique, roll a full set of prints on the fingerprint card located on the back of your fingerprint challenge worksheet. Roll one full set of prints for each person. 4. When the prints are dry, label each print pattern. 5. Determine your primary ID, showing your work on your lab sheet. Ex. 6. Circle and label 4 points of minutiae in each print on your paper. PART IV – Lifting Prints

Materials: Glass beaker Index cards Packing Tape Magnetic Powder Magnetic Powder Wand Procedure: 1. Lifting prints takes time and patience. We will use magnetic powder (contains iron) since it works well on nonporous surfaces like glass and is less messy than other powders. 2. Obtain a glass beaker, if needed wash and dry it well. Hold it by the edges only. 3. Rub a finger over the surface of your forehead or some other place where you will pick up skin oils. Make some prints on the beaker. 4. If you are not sure how to use the wand ask for help. Lightly brush a very small amount of powder over the print. Too much or too little powder can make it difficult to see the minutiae. 5. Take a piece of packing tape and roll the edges to help you control it. Do not touch the sticky side of the tape. Place the tape over the entire print and lightly rub your finger across the tape, forcing out all the air bubbles. Lift the piece of tape off the glass beaker and place it on your lab sheet. 6. Each person in the group should lift a fingerprint.

PART V – Cyanoacrylate fuming (Super glue) POISON, CAREFUL!

Materials: Super glue Plastic petri dish and lid Glass slide Penny 2 Plastic bottle caps Procedure: 1. Place several oiled fingerprints on the top of one plastic bottle cap then place it in the petri dish (prints facing up). 2. Place several oiled fingerprints on the top of the other bottle cap and set it aside. 3. Keeping the lid to one side of the dish. Place a penny near the center dish. 4. Without touching the other end of the slide, tape a small piece of paper with you and your partner’s names on one end of the slide. Be careful not to touch the end with the print. Put an un- oiled fingerprint on other end of a glass slide. 5. Place the slide into the petri dish, on top of the penny. 6. Add 2 drops of super glue to the bottom of one side of the dish (ask me for the super glue when you are ready) and 2 drops of water to the other side (do not inhale the fumes!!). Place the lid on the petri dish. The print on the cap should not touch the petri dish lid. 7. Carefully place the petri dish in the bin in the back of the classroom. 8. The dishes will be placed under a heat lamp in the fume hood for about 15 minutes and then returned to you after being opened in the hood to expel any dangerous fumes. 9. Observe the super glue prints. 10. Use the magnetic power to dust the prints and then lift them with a piece of tape and place the tape on your paper.

PART VI – Identify fingerprints

Materials: ¼ of an Index card a classmate’s index card Fingerprint cards from Part III Procedure: 1. Take a piece of index card. Have your partner help you carefully make an inked print of your right index finger on the blank side of the card. Write the number of the lab station you are working at on the back of the card. DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE CARD. 2. Bring your card to me and I will trade you for the card of one of your classmates. 3. Go to the lab station indicated on the back of the card and use the fingerprint cards (the ones on the back of their “Fingerprint Challenge” sheet) to determine who the print belongs to. Label the card with the name of its owner, the fingerprint pattern, and circle and label 4 types of minutiae that helped you identify this print. Tape the card to your lab worksheet.

PART VII - Identify a Suspect

Materials: Hand lens evidence envelope fingerprint powder and wand Tape Suspect fingerprints Background: There has been a break in at the home of Mr. John Wayne Platt. Several pieces of electronic equipment were stolen as well as some expensive jewelry. The crime scene investigators were able to find a fingerprint on the bookcase where the TV set was located. There was also a water billed that Mr. Platt claims to have never opened that is lying open on the table. Investigators dusted, photographed, and lifted the print on the bookcase. The water bill was collect as evidence but not processed at the scene. A page of fingerprints of has been collected for use in this case. The page contains the prints of the homeowner as well prints belonging to known criminals whose M.O.’s match that of the crime scene. Procedure: 1. Remove the evidence from the evidence envelope. Be careful not to touch the papers so you do not contaminate your evidence. (Use tweezers to remove items if needed). 2. Dust the water bill for prints using the magnetic fingerprint powder. 3. If any prints are found lift one print using tape and place it on your lab sheet. 4. Examine the lifted print taken off of the book shelf at the crime scene and any prints on the water bill. 5. Compare the prints to those of the homeowner and suspects to determine which person was responsible for the crime and answer the post lab questions found on your lab sheet.