NCJ Number
57045
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 599-605
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE IODINE-SILVER PLATE TRANSFER METHOD OF IDENTIFYING LATENT FINGERPRINTS ON HUMAN SKIN IS REPORTED AS A USEFUL TOOL FOR USE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN APPREHENDING PERPETRATORS OF SERIOUS CRIMES.
Abstract
THE IODINE-SILVER PLATE TRANSFER METHOD HAS SHOWN PROMISING RESULTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS FROM BOTH LIVE AND CADAVERIC HUMAN SKIN. IODINE VAPORS RETAINED BY THE MOISTURE OF LATENT FINGERPRINTS REACT CHEMICALLY WITH SILVER TO FORM SILVER IODIDE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY DARKENS WHEN SUBJECTED TO STRONG LIGHT. THIS PROCESS HAS PROVEN TO BE RELIABLE FOR DEVELOPING LATENT FINGERPRINTS ON GLASS, PAPER, OILY AND GREASY SUBSTANCES, AND CLOTH. IN CONTRAST TO STANDARD FINGERPRINT LIFTING TECHNIQUES, THE IODINE-SILVER PLATE METHOD ALLOWS MULTIPLE LIFTS OF A SINGLE FINGERPRINT. EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATION OF THE METHOD SHOWS VARIED RESULTS, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO WHETHER THE BODY WAS PREVIOUSLY EMBALMED. THE CONTINUATION OF EXPERIMENTS IS RECOMMENDED TO FACILITATE THE JUDICIAL PROCESSING OF CRIMINAL CASES. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES ARE DETAILED, AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)