Crime Scene Forensics, LLC
History of Fingerprints
History of Fingerprints
This formula involves
taking the measurements
of a persons body parts,
and recording these
measurements on a card.
This method of
classifying and identifying
people became known as
the Bertillion System.
taking the measurements
of a persons body parts,
and recording these
measurements on a card.
This method of
classifying and identifying
people became known as
the Bertillion System.
1858 - Sir William Herschel, British Administrator in District in India, requires fingerprint and
signatures on civil contracts
Fingerprints have been used as a means of positively identifying people for many years.
Here is a brief history of the science of fingerprints:
Here is a brief history of the science of fingerprints:
1880 - Dr. Henry Faulds, a Scottish doctor in Tokyo, Japan publishes article in “Nature”
1891 - Juan Vucetich, Argentine Police Official, Initiated the fingerprinting of criminals,
(First case used was the Rojas Homicide in 1892)
1891 - Juan Vucetich, Argentine Police Official, Initiated the fingerprinting of criminals,
(First case used was the Rojas Homicide in 1892)
1892 - Sir Francis Galton, a British Anthropologist and cousin to Charles Darwin,
publishes the first book on fingerprints. In his book, Galton identifies the
individuality and uniqueness of fingerprints. The unique characteristics of
fingerprints, as identified by Galton, will officially become known as minutiae,
however they are sometimes still referred to as Galton’s Details.
publishes the first book on fingerprints. In his book, Galton identifies the
individuality and uniqueness of fingerprints. The unique characteristics of
fingerprints, as identified by Galton, will officially become known as minutiae,
however they are sometimes still referred to as Galton’s Details.
1896 - International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Establish National Bureau of
Criminal Identification, for the exchange of arrest information
Criminal Identification, for the exchange of arrest information
1901 - Sir Edward Henry, an Inspector General of Police in Bengal, India, develops the
first system of classifying fingerprints. This system of classifying fingerprints was
first adopted as the official system in England, and eventually spread throughout
first system of classifying fingerprints. This system of classifying fingerprints was
first adopted as the official system in England, and eventually spread throughout
1903 – The William West – Will West Case at a Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas,
changed the way that people were classified and identified
changed the way that people were classified and identified
When a man named Will West entered the
Leavenworth Prison System, in 1903, he
was “booked” into the prison, as all other
inmates. His face was photographed, and
his Bertillion measurements were taken.
Upon completion of this process, it was
noted that another inmate, known as
William West, who was already
incarcerated at Leavenworth, had the
same name, Bertillion measurements, and
bore a striking resemblance to Will West.
Leavenworth Prison System, in 1903, he
was “booked” into the prison, as all other
inmates. His face was photographed, and
his Bertillion measurements were taken.
Upon completion of this process, it was
noted that another inmate, known as
William West, who was already
incarcerated at Leavenworth, had the
same name, Bertillion measurements, and
bore a striking resemblance to Will West.
The incident called the reliability of Bertillion measurements into question, and it was
decided that a more positive means of identification was necessary. As the Bertillion
System began to decline, the use of fingerprints in identifying and classifying individuals
began to rise. After 1903, many prison systems began to use fingerprints as the primary
means of identification.
decided that a more positive means of identification was necessary. As the Bertillion
System began to decline, the use of fingerprints in identifying and classifying individuals
began to rise. After 1903, many prison systems began to use fingerprints as the primary
means of identification.
1905 – U.S. Military adopts the use of fingerprints – soon thereafter, police agencies
began to adopt the use of fingerprints
1908 – The first official fingerprint card was developed
1924 – Formation of ID Division of FBI
1980 – First computer data base of fingerprints was developed, which came to be
known as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, (AFIS). In the
present day, there nearly 70 million cards, or nearly 700 million individual fingerprints
entered in AFIS
began to adopt the use of fingerprints
1908 – The first official fingerprint card was developed
1924 – Formation of ID Division of FBI
1980 – First computer data base of fingerprints was developed, which came to be
known as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, (AFIS). In the
present day, there nearly 70 million cards, or nearly 700 million individual fingerprints
entered in AFIS
Alphonse Bertillion, French anthropologist, devised
method of body measurements to produce a formula used
to classify individuals.
method of body measurements to produce a formula used
to classify individuals.
The fascinating
world of forensic
science...made
simple
world of forensic
science...made
simple
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