NCJ Number
55559
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 18 Issue: 1 & 2 Dated: (JANUARY/APRIL 1978) Pages: 47-55
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY ASSESSES THE UTILITY OF THE IODINE-SILVER PLATE METHOD FOR DETECTING LATENT FINGERPRINTS ON CADAVERS AND ON HUMAN SUBJECTS.
Abstract
FINGERPRINTS WERE PLACED ON 8 LIVING SUBJECTS, 4 WARM CADAVERS, AND 5 REFRIGERATED CADAVERS, AND THE SKIN IN ALL GROUPS WAS TREATED WITH IODINE. A SILVER PLATE WAS CAREFULLY APPLIED TO THE TREATED SKIN AND HELD THERE FOR SECONDS, REMOVED, AND THEN EXPOSED TO ARTIFICIAL LIGHT UNTIL AN IMAGE OF FINGERPRINT RIDGE DETAIL APPEARED. FINGERPRINTS WERE PHOTOGRAPHED AND RESULTS RECORDED FOR EACH SUBJECT GROUPING. STUDY FINDINGS SHOW THAT THE IODINE FUME-SILVER PLATE METHOD WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DETECTING USEFUL FINGERPRINTS ON BOTH LIVING AND CADAVER SKIN, ALTHOUGH THE PRINTS ON LIVING SKIN DETERIORATED RAPIDLY WITH TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE SUBJECT EXERCISED DURING AND AFTER THE IMPRESSION. FINGERPRINTS ON WARM CADAVERS AND ON REFRIGERATED CADAVERS LASTED BETWEEN 18 AND 24 HOURS. IMPLICATIONS FOR USING THIS METHOD FOR DETECTING FINGERPRINTS AT A CRIME SCENE ARE DISCUSSED. FINGERPRINT PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)