Deck 6: Fingerprints

Question 1

In the Primary Classification System,a finger is assigned numerical value if its pattern is a:

A) Loop.
B) Ulnar loop.
C) Arch.
D) Whorl.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Fingerprints are formed:

A) During fetal development.
B) By the time a child is two years old.
C) During first six months after birth.
D) At birth.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The most common ridge pattern is the:

A) Loop.
B) Whorl.
C) Accidental.
D) Arch.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The number of deltas found in an arch pattern is ________ the number of deltas found in a loop pattern.

A) Greater than
B) Less than
C) The same as

Question 5

The fingerprint classification system used in most English speaking countries was devised by:

A) Henry
B) Vucetich
C) Herschel
D) Faulds

Question 6

Sir Francis Galton,in writing his textbook on fingerprints,built on the groundbreaking work in this area by:

A) Henry
B) Bertillon
C) Vucetich
D) Faulds

Question 7

Will West was the man who:

A) Had a virtual "double" with a similar name.
B) Devised the fingerprint classification system used in Spanish-speaking countries.
C) Mutilated his fingerprints with acid.
D) Invented Superglue.

Question 8

In the Primary Classification scheme,the left index finger has a potential value of:

A) 16.
B) 8.
C) 4.
D) 2.

Question 9

The value of ridge patterns in determining the uniqueness of a fingerprint is ________ the value of type and position of ridge characteristics in determining the uniqueness of a fingerprint.

A) Greater than
B) The same as
C) Less than

Question 10

What is the minimum number of ridge characteristics necessary before two fingerprints can be identified as the same?

A) 10
B) 12
C) 16
D) No minimum exists.

Question 11

AFIS is a(n):

A) Computerized system for storing and retrieving fingerprint records
B) Method used to determine age of a latent print
C) Computer system programmed to analyze hair
D) Assay technique used to identify drugs

Question 12

Under which circumstances have two people been found to have identical fingerprints?

A) Identical twins
B) Siamese twins
C) Fraternal twins
D) None to date

Question 13

It is estimated that there are as many as ________ ridge characteristics in an average complete fingerprint.

A) 50
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200

Question 14

Which person listed below attempted to destroy his fingerprints with corrosive acid?

A) John Gotti
B) Carlo Gambino
C) William West
D) John Dillinger

Question 15

The pores of the sweat glands are located in the:

A) Skin ridges.
B) Friction grooves.
C) Dermis.
D) Dermal papillae.

Question 16

Prints that are not readily visible are commonly referred to as:

A) Latent.
B) Open.
C) Plastic.
D) Rolled.

Question 17

The most commonly encountered ridge characteristics (used by AFIS)are the:

A) Ridge ending and island.
B) Ridge crossing and short ridge.
C) Bifurcation and ridge ending.
D) Bifurcation and trifurcation.

Question 18

To permanently alter the fingerprint and produce scars,one must damage the:

A) Minutiae
B) Ridges
C) Epidermis
D) Dermal papillae

Question 19

What percentage of the population falls into the 1/1 Primary Classification category?

A) 30%
B) 20%
C) 25%
D) 10%

Question 20

The friction skin ridges:

A) Have no useful purpose other than identification.
B) Provide a firmer grip.
C) Resist slippage.
D) Both B and C

Question 21

Superglue fuming is NOT suitable for use on:

A) Cardboard.
B) Metal.
C) Leather.
D) Plastic bags.

Question 22

The AFIS ________ determines the degree of ________ between the location and relationship of the minutiae between the questioned fingerprint and those in the database.

A) Relative position, orientation
B) Search algorithm, correlation
C) Identification system, minutiae
D) Software configurations, difference

Question 23

Which chemical treatment produces a white-appearing latent print?

A) Ninhydrin
B) Iodine fuming
C) Superglue fuming
D) Physical developer

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT true about digital imaging?

A) Once the image is produced, it can be manipulated and enlarged.
B) It produces an image composed of pixels.
C) It is a process in which a picture is converted into a digital file.
D) It does not allow for the simultaneous comparison of two prints.

Question 25

Which is NOT considered a porous surface?

A) Tile
B) Cloth
C) Paper
D) Cardboard

Question 26

Dusting to visualize a latent print on finished leather and rough plastic is best done with a:

A) Fiberglass brush.
B) Magna brush.
C) Camel's hair brush.
D) All of the above

Question 27

Ninhydrin is used on a latent print to detect:

A) Fatty acids.
B) Riboflavin.
C) Protein material.
D) Salt.

Question 28

Physical developer contains:

A) Iodine.
B) Silver nitrate.
C) Ninhydrin.
D) Acrylate.

Question 29

Sublimation occurs with the use of:

A) Iodine fuming.
B) Cyanoacrylate.
C) Laser-print detection.
D) Silver nitrate.

Question 30

Which of the following types of fingerprints are more likely to be found impressed in soft wax?

A) Visible
B) Plastic
C) Latent
D) Hidden

Question 31

In which order should chemical treatments to visualize latent prints be performed?
1)Ninhydrin
2)Iodine fuming
3)Physical developer

A) 1, 3, 2
B) 2, 1, 3
C) 3, 1, 2
D) 1, 2, 3

Question 32

Investigators can use ________ to detect latent fingerprints without use of chemicals or powder treatments.

A) RUVIS
B) AFIS
C) GRIM 3
D) GC/MS

Question 33

Currently,which of the following,in conjunction with chemically induced fluorescence,is most often used to visualize latent prints?

A) High-intensity light sources
B) IR light
C) UV light
D) Laser illumination

Question 34

A primary classification of 9/3 means that there are:

A) Whorls on the left index and right ring fingers.
B) Deltas on fingers #9 and #3.
C) Whorls on the left and right middle fingers.
D) Loops on the right thumb and left ring finger.

Question 35

Prints impressed in a bar of soap are referred to as:

A) Latent.
B) Hidden.
C) Plastic.
D) Dusted.

Question 36

The first systematic system of individual classification and identification was introduced by:

A) Francis Galton
B) Richard Henry
C) William Herschel
D) Alphonse Bertillon

Question 37

Livescan images of fingerprints:

A) Have eliminated the need for inked prints on paper cards.
B) Are sent to the AFIS database electronically.
C) Are captured when the subject's fingers and palms are placed onto a glass platen.
D) All of the above

Question 38

Which substance is a substitute for Ninhydrin?

A) DFO
B) RAY
C) MRM 10
D) RAM

Question 39

The FBI's IAFIS became fully operational in:

A) 1977.
B) 1989.
C) 1991.
D) 1999.

Question 40

After successfully visualizing a latent print on an object,an investigator should next:

A) Classify the print.
B) Lift the print with adhesive tape.
C) Compare it to the suspect's prints.
D) Take a 1:1 photograph of the print.

Question 41

The fingerprint pattern accounting for only 5% of all known patterns is the:

A) Arch.
B) Radial loop.
C) Ulnar loop.
D) Whorl.

Question 42

A fingerprint pattern having no delta is a(n):

A) Arch.
B) Loop.
C) Plain whorl.
D) Central pocket loop.

Question 43

A chemical method used for developing prints on nonporous surfaces is:

A) Physical developer.
B) Ninhydrin.
C) Applying the dye rhodamine 6G after fuming with cyanoacrylate.
D) DFO.

Question 44

It is possible to obscure one's fingerprints by scarring.

Question 45

If an imaginary line drawn between the two deltas of a whorl pattern touches any of the spiral ridges,the pattern is classified as a(n):

A) Central pocket whorl
B) Central pocket loop
C) Accidental
D) Plain whorl

Question 46

A point-by-point comparison of a fingerprint's ________ must be demonstrated in order to prove identity.

A) Minutiae
B) Pattern
C) Protein composition
D) Classification

Question 47

A chemical method used for developing prints on nonporous surfaces is:

A) Physical developer.
B) Ninhydrin.
C) Fuming with cyanoacrylate.
D) DFO.

Question 48

Which step of the ACE-V process requires the examiner to identify any distortions associated with the friction ridges?

A) Analysis
B) Comparison
C) Evaluation
D) Verification

Question 49

Protein residues are best developed into fingerprint impressions with:

A) Iodine.
B) Ninhydrin.
C) Physical developer.
D) Dusting powder.

Question 50

The shape of the boundary formed from dermal papillae determines the fingerprint pattern.

Question 51

The image produced from a digital file is composed of numerous square electronic dots called:

A) Bytes
B) Cubic millimeters
C) Screen elements
D) Pixels

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a ridge characteristic of a fingerprint?

A) Enclosure
B) Bifurcation
C) Island
D) Core

Question 53

Which statement is true of a partial fingerprint?

A) It must show at least a little of all ten fingers.
B) Any print is sufficient for identification as long as there is enough to identify its basic pattern.
C) Any print can identify a criminal if it shows an adequate number of ridge characteristics.
D) At least 75% of the pattern must be present for identification.

Question 54

Ridge characteristics are ridge endings,bifurcations,enclosures,and other ridge details,which must match in two fingerprints to establish their common origin.

Question 55

Chemical methods for developing latent fingerprints must be used in the following sequence:

A) Iodine, physical developer, ninhydrin.
B) Iodine, ninhydrin, physical developer.
C) Ninhydrin, iodine, physical developer.
D) Ninhydrin, physical developer, iodine.

Question 56

The second fundamental principle of fingerprints is that a fingerprint is an individual characteristic.

Question 57

Computerized fingerprint search systems match prints by comparing the position of ________ and ________.

A) Loops; arches
B) Minutiae; ridge characteristics
C) Bifurcations; ridge endings
D) Ridges; furrows

Question 58

A latent fingerprint is a fingerprint made by the deposit of oils and/or perspiration that is visible to the naked eye.

Question 59

The second fundamental theory of fingerprints states that a fingerprint remains unchanged once the individual enters adulthood.

Question 60

The third fundamental principle of fingerprints is that fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified.

Question 61

The ACE-V process requires an independent examination by a second examiner.

Question 62

Loops include ridge patterns that are generally rounded or circular and have two deltas.

Question 63

A loop must have at least one delta.

Question 64

The three kinds of crime scene fingerprints are visible prints,invisible prints,and latent prints.

Question 65

Digital imaging is still effective in enhancing latent fingerprints even if details of the print do not exist on the original images.

Question 66

When using AFIS,the computer makes the final verification of the print's identity.

Question 67

After the latent print has been visualized,a photograph must be taken before any further attempts at preservation.

Question 68

The primary classification is the first step in classifying fingerprints under the FBI system.

Question 69

Digital imaging is a process through which a picture is converted into pixels.

Question 70

The ________ fundamental principle of fingerprints is that a fingerprint is an individual characteristic.

Question 71

Soft and porous surfaces are preferably developed by applying fingerprint powder or treating with Superglue.

Question 72

A final conclusion made using the ACE-V process is either the individualization or elimination of a print.

Question 73

A plain arch is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns.

Question 74

The comparison step of the ACE-V process requires the comparison of the known and unknown print at two different levels.

Question 75

The perspiration in fingerprints contains a variety of components that fluoresce when illuminated by laser light.

Question 76

Loops are the most common type of fingerprint patterns.

Question 77

Ridge characteristics are also known as ________.

Question 78

The identity,number,and relative location of ridge characteristics impart ________ to a fingerprint.

Question 79

RUVIS detects prints by using chemical treatments.

Question 80

Fingerprints are a reproduction of ________ skin ridges found on the palm side of the fingers and thumbs.