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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Evidence Technology: Fingerprints
Course: AJS213

First Term: 2025 Fall
 Lecture   3.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load


Description: Covers the fundamental principles of fingerprints, including the history of fingerprint classification, the biology of friction ridge skin, pattern analysis, comparison, and identification as well as their application in significant court cases. Also includes techniques for obtaining inked prints and developing and preserving latent prints.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify major characteristics of fingerprints, including typelines, deltas, and cores. (I, II)
2. Identify loops, arches, whorls, and questionable fingerprint patterns. (III, IV)
3. Classify prints according to the Henry Classification system, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) classification formula, and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) classification code. (VII)
4. Demonstrate the processing of prints using appropriate equipment. (V, VI)
5. Differentiate the advantages and disadvantages of using various powders and chemicals to develop latent prints. (VI)
6. Identify appropriate equipment and techniques to photograph latent prints. (V, VI)
7. Compare latent prints to a known person`s or suspect`s prints. (VII)
8. Create a chart displaying identified latent to known print for court. (VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. History of fingerprints as means of identification
II. Friction ridge skin
   A. Definition
   B. Biological structure
   C. Embryological development
   D. Significance of scars, creases, wrinkles and temporary wounds
III. Premises of fingerprints as evidence for identification
   A. Uniqueness
   B. Persistence
IV. Fingerprint pattern classification
   A. Major fingerprint characteristics
      1. Typelines
      2. Deltas
      3. Cores
   B. Fingerprint patterns and subclasses
      1. Arches
      2. Loops
      3. Whorls
V. Inked prints
   A. Purpose of obtaining ten prints and major case inked exemplars
   B. Methodology
      1. Equipment
      2. Techniques
      3. Processes
VI. Latent print detection and development
   A. Definition
   B. Factors involved in depositing latent prints
   C. Equipment and techniques to develop and obtain latent prints
      1. Black powder
      2. Fiberglass brushes
      3. Lift tape and cards
   D. Considerations in selecting development protocol
      1. Surface on which print is deposited
      2. Types of latent print residues
VII. Classify and apply processes in latent print comparisons
   A. Classification systems
      1. Henry System
      2. Automated biometrics identification system (ABIS)
      3. Next generation identification (NGI)
   B. Fingerprint comparison and identification
      1. Analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification (ACE-V) process
      2. Current stance on point standards in the United States
VIII. Latent fingerprint evidence and the law
   A. Court challenges related to latent print evidence
   B. Foundational studies in the latent print discipline
   C. Landmark cases
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 25, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.