NCJ Number
59424
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 586-590
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF SEVERAL CASE ANALYSES OF LASER DETECTION OF FINGERPRINTS ARE PRESENTED, EARLY USAGE OF THE LASER METHOD IS ILLUSTRATED, AND CONCLUSIONS REGARDING POTENTIAL VALUE TO THE INVESTIGATOR ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
LASER DETECTION OF FINGERPRINTS ENTAILS EXPOSURE OF CRIME SCENE EXHIBITS TO LASER LIGHT AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF ANY FINGERPRINTS THEREBY INDUCED. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TECHNIQUE IN SEVERAL CASES OF DIFFERING ELEMENTS RESULTED IN MANY INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. FIRST, ALL-LINES LASING USED LASER POWER MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN DID A SINGLE-LINE WITHOUT APPARENT LOSS IN SENSITIVITY. SECOND, SINCE THE LASER AND NINHYDRIN TECHNIQUES RELY ON DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF FINGER DEPOSIT, THESE COMPONENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRESENT IN THE SAME FINGERPRINT IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO BE DETECTABLE BY EITHER METHOD. THEREFORE, ONE TECHNIQUE HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING FINGERPRINTS THAT THE OTHER TECHNIQUE FAILS TO DETECT. THIRD, THE LASER METHOD MAY BE USED WITH SUCCESS ON SURFACES THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS AMENABLE TO OTHER TECHNIQUES BECAUSE WITH THE USE OF THE LASER THE SURFACE MATERIAL IS TOUCHED ONLY BY LIGHT, AS OPPOSED TO SOLUTION OR POWDER. FINALLY, SOME FINGERPRINTS ARE WITHIN REACH OF THE LASER METHOD EVEN UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS EXCESSIVE ROOM TEMPERATURE OR EXTENDED TIME LAPSE. INITIAL USAGE OF THE LASER METHOD HAS PROVIDED ENCOURAGING RESULTS, BUT MORE WORK, PARTICULARLY ON THE DETECTION OF FINGERPRINTS ON SKIN, IS NEEDED TO ACCURATELY ASSESS POTENTIAL VALUE TO THE INVESTIGATOR. PHOTOGRAPHS AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)