Hair and Fiber Analysis

In this activity we examined different types of hair and fibers under a microscope. We had to identify certain characteristics that made each type of hair or fiber unique. For instance when examining the hair we used hair from someone who had dyed their hair, Asian hair, synthetic hair, African American hair, cat hair, dog hair, and Caucasian hair. When looking at it under the microscope we had to examine the condition of the tip, the color that it was, if it curled and any other splits in the hair that would make it easy to identify. When looking at fibers we looked at cotton, silk, nylon, linen and wool. When analyzing these different fibers we can see that each one had a different look to it, for instance wool is a fabric that comes from animal hair while cotton comes from a plant and is then woven into cloth. Because of this their structure will surely look different, making them easy to identify at a real forensic crime scene.

Fingerprint Analysis

In this activity we lifted fingerprints from a glass surface and a black countertop. We did this by taking a finger and rubbing it on the bridge of our nose and our forehead in order to get an adequate amount of oil on our finger. We then pressed our finger on the surface and carefully lift it in order to not smudge the print. Depending on whether it was on the glass surface or on the black countertop we used a black or white powder in order to distinguish the prints. On the glass surface we used a black powder made out of graphite and then used a white powder for the black countertop. We used the powder and lightly dusted the fingerprint and brushed away gently at the excess powder. We then took clear tape and placed it on the print making sure we got a negative of the print.

Fingerprints (sorry if they are a bit blurry)

Footprint Experiment Analysis

In this experiment we got into groups of three or four and each member of the group had to place a shoe print in a container of dirt and then do an analysis of the footprint. I was in a group with Caroline Thomas and Alonzo Fullenwilder, Caroline was wearing flats so her print was easy to identify due to it having little to no arch and having few grooves. I was wearing converse and you could actually see the shoe size and the part of the heel that was worn away. While with Alonzo’s shoe he was wearing basketball shoes and his foot was different in size compared to Caroline and I’s print. Also the grooves in each shoe were different due to the different type of shoe it was.  Because of these characteristics we were successfully able to determine the different characteristics in footprints and their importance to a forensic investigation.

Lip Analysis

This was a class activity where everyone had to first apply lipstick/ lip-gloss. Once we had gotten the lipstick/lip-gloss on we would press our lips onto a note card, thus leaving a lip print. After we had done this we analyzed the prints for any distinguishing characteristics. We had to find a minimal amount of 5 characteristics that made your lip print unique to that person. Then after we got into groups of three or four and placed another set of lip prints on a sheet of white printer paper. Once we did this the other groups had to try to match the prints that were on the paper with the prints that were on the note cards. From this activity I had learned how to identify different characteristics on prints, and how they made each print unique to that person.

A collection of all the lip prints at our table

Witness Experiment Analysis

In this class activity we got into groups of three or four where each student cut out a face from a magazine. When cutting out the faces we had to make sure that the faces we cut out were similar in size to the other students, this ensures that it will not be too easy for one to put together a face. Afterwards each student cut the face into different parts, which consisted of a mouth, eyes, nose, and hair. Once we had cut up the face the student had to reassemble the face with the now cut up pieces. After this was done each group mixes the pieces and another person in the group has to try to reassemble the face by distinguishing certain features. After this activity was conducted we learned the importance of witnesses and how to be a good witness in a crime by recognizing certain features.

Famous Forgery Case in History

One of the most famous forgery cases is the Anthon Transcript forgery that was conducted by Mark Hofmann in the year 1980. In this case Mark Hofmann had created a forgery of the Anthon Transcript. The Anthon Transcript is a very valuable piece of Mormon literature. With the forgery he made of the Anthon Transcript he sold it to the Latter-Day-Saints church in the state of Utah for more than $20,000. While people were investigating his other crimes, which include the murder of the historian Steven Christensen (1985), they discovered that the Anthon transcript that was sold five years earlier from that point was a fake. They discovered this along with the forgery of the Joseph Smith III Blessing and the Salamander Letter.

One of Hofmann's other forgerys.

Reflection of Check Forgery

On Monday November 14, 2011 we conducted an experiment to see how well we could identify someone’s handwriting. We did this by creating a fake check and we tried to see if a random person would be able to identify who had written the check. Once we had created the fake check we ripped the check into many pieces and then clipped it together with our handwriting analysis template. The template would assist the reader by allowing them to have a reference of the writer’s handwriting. My group was successfully able to see who had written what check by using their templates. Specifically we took notice of the strokes and loops of the handwriting in order to see if they matched the specifics of the examples.

Pictures of this activity will be up very soon!

Handwriting Analysis Lab- Reflection and Forgery

When you are trying to forge a document you want to be the most accurate you can in order to make the reader believe that the document was really written by the person. In our lab we conducted on November 14^th, 2011 we wanted to see how well someone could forge our words. We first let the original writer write out the phrase “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” then we let another person try to forge the phrase, once by free hand and the second time by tracing over the phrase.  Free had forgery is when you forge with the copy in front of you instead of copying on it.  Tracing forgery is when you take a piece of paper and write on the original, by doing this you get the most accurate results.  

After this activity was through we analyzed the template seeing how close the forged handwriting was to the original. I noticed that the tracing was a bit closer to the original; I believe that the traced would be closer due to you having the original to write on. Though your hand may shake and you may press too hard on the paper, the free hand writing may not be as accurate because it is a more difficult process unless you are an artist which may make it a bit easier.

Pictures will be added very soon!

12 Handwriting Characteristics

1. Line quality: Do the letters flow or are they written with very intent strokes.
   Look over the “line quality” of the paper you are examining. Make line quality observations about your sample.
2. Spacing of words and letters. What is the average space between words and letters? Make notes over the “spacing” of your evidence paper
3. Ratio of height, width, and size of letters: Are the letters consistent in height, width, and size?
   Observe your ratios and record your findings. Measure short and tall letters.
4. Lifting pen: Does the author lift his or her pen to stop writing a word and start a new word?
   Observe the “lifting pen” habits and record your findings.
5. Connecting strokes: How are capital letters connected to lower-case letters?
   Observe the “connecting strokes” habits and record your findings.
6.  Strokes to begin and end: Where does the letter begin and end on a page?
   Observe the “strokes” habits and record your findings.
7. Unusual letter formation: Are any letters written with unusual slants or angles? Are some letters printed rather than written in cursive?
   Observe your “unusual letter formation” habits and record your findings.
8. Pen pressure: How much pressure is applied on upward and downward strokes?
   Observe any “pen pressure” habits and record your findings.
9. Slant: Do letters slant to the left or right? If slant is pronounced, a protractor may be used to determine the degree.
   Observe the “slant” habits. Use a protractor to record your findings.
10. Baseline habits: Does the author write on the line or does the writing go above or below the line?
    Observe any “baseline” habits and record your findings.
11. Fancy writing habits: Are there any unusual curls or loops or unique styles.
    Observe any “fancy writing” habits and record your findings.
12. Placement of diacritics: How does the author cross the t’s or dot the i’s.
    Observe any “diacritics” habits and record your findings for the top and bottom samples.

History of Handwriting Analysis



Over 2000 years ago, Aristotle had noticed the connection between handwriting and personality, during that time the Chinese also had made the observation that there was a correlation between a person’s character and their writing. In 1622 an Italian physician and professor of philosophy at the University of Bologna had published a book that described the analysis of character by using the study of handwriting, also known as graphology. Many years later during the 1890’s Dr. Ludwig Klages of Germany applied the gestalt theory to graphology. This had advanced his theories of rhythm and “form level” and it significantly helped broaden the scope of graphology. Alfred Binet was a renowned psychologist who had founded the present method of I.Q Testing for intelligence was a supporter of handwriting analysis. During his studies he had confirmed that certain character traits are reflected in a person’s handwriting.  Now even today handwriting analysis is a very important part of the study of forensics.

   



Ludwig Klages

Alfred Binet

Famous Case Involving Hair and Fiber Analysis

Wayne Williams

A famous case that included hair and fiber analysis is the case of Wayne Williams. Wayne Williams was suspected of the Atlanta Child Murders, but when the results of his polygraph test came up inconclusive the forensic detectives had no real evidence. But during his two-month trail prosecutors were able to find 19 different sources of fibers from Williams’ home and car. They were able to match those 19 different fibers to his bedspread, bathroom, clothes, carpets and dog and because of this along with some matching blood stains to the victims they were able to conclude that Wayne Williams was the murderer of those children.

Reliability of Hair and Fiber Crime Scene Data

Hair and fiber evidence can be a key factor of data that can be gathered at the scene of the crime. With the addition of hair in the analysis it enables the investigators to be able to determine the race and sex of the attacker/assaulter. Also it allows them to narrow down their suspects due to the characteristics of the hair. Along with hair, fiber is also very important in solving a crime. The fibers found in a crime scene can help determine what the criminal was wearing at that time. Also if the fabric the criminal was wearing at the time is rare, uncommon or if it was specially made, it helps narrow down the numbers until you only have a very slim amount of people.

The difference between identical hair and unidentical

Analysis of Hair and Fibers

Hair and fibers can be collected at many points throughout the process of forensic science. The best times to collect evidence of the crime committed are at the scene of the crime, or at the autopsy of a body.

When you are at the scene of the crime there can be many signs of who had committed the crime. The types of evidence you see there is endless, whether they are blood stains, fingerprints that were left behind, skin cells, or even hair and fibers; with all of these types of evidence it can still lead to the end result of catching a criminal.  Hair may not contain any tissues but they can help narrow down the search by studying the hair’s characteristics. The characteristics include thickness, whether it is straight curled, color etc.  Also with the finding of hair investigators can find out the race and sex of the criminal.

Fibers are a very important part of a crime scene for they tell you what the attacker or killer was wearing at the time the crime was committed. Some forensic scientists can identify where the garment was made and thus see who the manufacturer is. If a piece of clothing is rare or is specially made it helps narrow down the search for the person to as low as 1 in one billion.

Hair & Fiber Collection techniques

Having evidence when you are going to court is a vital thing to have, so in order to have evidence you must make sure it is well preserved when collected.

The three common methods to collect hair and fiber evidence include visual collection, tape lifting, and vacuuming.

Visual collection- on certain surfaces hairs and fibers can be seen with the naked eye. By using a pair of clean forceps and trace paper you can remove the sample from the surface and onto the clean piece of trace paper. Once on the paper it can be folded and then packed in an envelope.

Tape lifting- With this method you apply tape to the location where you believe that the sample will be. Then you remove the tape and package it into an envelope.

Vacuuming- When using this method you go to the area where the suspected samples are and it is vacuumed. The evidence will be caught in a filtered trap that is attached to the vacuum. Once the area has been vacuumed and the samples have been collected they will be packaged in a clean piece of trace paper for submission to a laboratory. Vacuuming is NOT the best way to collect samples due to risk of cross contamination.

Collecting Hair with the use of forceps

Types of Fibers

Wool


Wool

 Wool is a fiber that comes from sheep, the distinct feature that makes wool unique are the ridges that are on each individual strand.

Cotton


Cotton

 Cotton is one of the more commonly used fibers used in clothing and has a distincted twisted DNA like look under a microscope.

Linen

Linen

A plant fiber that comes from the plant flax, has some resemblence to cotton when it comes to their abilities in absorbance and ability to be easily dyed.

Nylon


Nylon Fibers

One of the first synthetic fibers made by man it is known for its strength, elasticity, and resistance to oil and grease. Spandex

Spandex

A synthetic material it is well known for its versatility, lightness and strength.

Labeled Parts of a Complete Hair

History of Hair & Fiber Analysis

Hair analysis is a generally new thing in the world of forensics. Because everyone’s hair nearly as unique as their fingerprints it gives investigators more information about a crime scene.

A French scientist by the name of Edmond Locard, discovered that people would continually pick up and transfer minute pieces of dust, hair, fibers and other materials without even knowing it. Locard then realized that these exchanges of material would be key to analyzing a crime scene. Because of this the Locard Exchange Principle had become the foundation for forensic science in the early 1900’s.

Francois Goron was one of the very first investigators to try to use hair in order to identify a murderer. In his first case using hair analysis he found that the hairs he collected would be of no use because it could not be identified as human at the time. Later in the year 1899 Goron tried once more and was able to find out that a murder victim’s hair had been dyed. Because of this information it eventually led to the arrest of the murderer and it was the first successful crime solved by using forensic hair tests.

In 1910 a comprehensive study of hair was published by the French forensic scientists Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert. The study was titled Le Poil de l’Homme et des animaux or in English The Hair of Man and Animals. In this study it included various microscopic studies about the hairs from many animals.

In 1934 the use of a comparison microscope was first used by Dr. Sydney Smith. The comparison microscope was used in order to perform side-by-side analysis of hairs that were collected from a crime scene.

Comparison Microscope

Hair comparison through the use of a comparison microscope

   

Fingerprint Lifting Techniques

Lifting techniques are used one the fingerprints at a crime scene are developed and photographed. Fingerprints are lifted in order to be stored and used later for further analysis.

There are three ways to lift fingerprints and the three ways to do this are: hinge lifters, rubber lifters, and cellophane tape.

Hinge lifters are used by placing it on the print and then pressing down on it evenly. By doing this the lifted print will be covered and is thus protected from scratches and debris.

Fingerprint on a hinge lifter

Rubber lifters are used by first removing the plastic cover in one steady movement. When removing the plastic cover you would want to make sure that you don’t pause because this would result in a line being left on the tape. After the plastic cover is removed you would press the adhesive side of the tape down on the powdered print, then smoothing the surface evenly. Then you peel the tape off of the surface and this will leave you a negative image of the fingerprint.

Fingerprint on a rubber lifter

Cellophane tape is used on surfaces that aren’t flat, this type of tape attaches to the contours of the object in order to avoid any bumps. Instead of using a glossy or opaque tape you should use a high quality clear transparent tape in order to get the best results. The tape would then be placed on the print and then gently rubbed in order to get the print on the tape. Afterwards you place the tape on a card or piece of paper in order to have a correct print.

Patterns in Fingerprints

Fingerprint patterns fall under 3 general groups:

Arches

In arches the ridges go across the finger but don’t make backward turns.

The two types of arches are: plain arches and tented arches.

Plain Arch

• Tented arches- will have an angle, an up thrust, or will have two out of three basic characteristics of the loop.

Tented Arch



Loops

Occur in approximately 60-70% of fingerprint patterns.

In Loops one or more of the ridges enter on either side of the impression, will re-curve, touch or cross the line running from the delta to the core and then cease existing on or in the direction of the side where the ridge/ridges had originally entered. Every single loop pattern has one delta, one core and always has a ridge count. There are also two types of loops, radial and Ulnar loops.



Radial Loop



·         Radial loops- not very common, runs in the direction of the thumb.

Ulnar Loop

 ·         Ulnar loops- same side as the little finger, runs in the direction of the little finger.

Whorls

In a whorl some of the ridges in the fingerprint will make a turn through at least one circuit. If a fingerprint pattern contains two or more deltas it will be a whorl pattern. The four types of whorl patters are: Plain whorl, central pocket loop whorl, double loop whorl, and the accidental whorl.

·         Plain whorl- consists out of one or more ridges that make or will make a complete circuit with two deltas.  Between these two deltas an imaginary line is drawn and at least one re-curving ridge within the inner pattern area is either cut or touched.

Plain Whorl

·         Central pocket loop whorl- these consist out of at least one re-curving ridge or will have an obstruction at right angles to the line of flow, with two deltas, between the two deltas there will be no re-curving ridge within the pattern that is cut or touched.  These whorls will make one complete circuit that may be a spiral, oval, circular or any other variant of a circle.

Centarl Pocket Loop Whorl

·         Double loop whorl- consists out of two separate and distinct loop formations that have two separate and distinct shoulders for each core. They will also have two deltas and one or more ridges, these will thus make a complete circuit.

Double Loop Whorl

·         Accidental whorl- these whorls consist out of two different types of patterns(with the exception of the plain arch), they will have two or more deltas, or will have a pattern that possesses some of the requirements for two or more different types, or a pattern that will conform to none of the definitions.

Accidental Whorl

Plain arches- have an even flow of ridges from one side to the other.

Techniques/ Chemicals Used in Developing Fingerprints

Lifting fingerprints from a crime scene is a crucial step in determining a possible suspect. Fingerprints that are on hard and nonabsorbent surfaces are usually developed with the application of a powder. Examples of hard and nonabsorbent surfaces are, mirror, tile, glass, and painted wood. While for soft and porous surfaces they can be made visible with the treatment of a chemical. Examples of soft and porous surfaces are cloth, paper and cardboard.

When using a powder to develop a fingerprint the powder of choice is usually the one that has the best contrast with the surface while it is being examined. The black powder used in examining fingerprints is generally made out of black carbon or charcoal, and is applied to white or light-colored surfaces. The gray powder that is composed mostly of an aluminum dust, is used on darker colored surfaces; it can also be applied to mirrors and metal surfaces that have a polished look. These powders are usually applied lightly to a nonabsorbent surface with the use of a fiberglass or a camel’s-hair brush. Another powder that some people use is a magnetic-sensitive powder that is spread with a magna brush, a magnet in the form of a brush. Some investigators use fluorescent powders that can be seen under black-lights.



Fingerprint being developed by the dusting technique.

Chemicals can also be used to visualize latent prints; the oldest and most common method used is iodine fuming. Other chemicals that can be used in this process are silver nitrate, ninhydrin powder along with a suitable solvent (such as acetone or ethyl alcohol), super glue fuming, and many other types of chemicals.



Fingerprint developed by iodine fuming.



Types of Fingerprints

Direct prints are prints that are left in a medium that reveals them to the naked eye.  They could be when blood, ink, dirt, or grease on the finger come in contact with a smooth surface and in result they leave a friction ridge impression that is visible without having the need to be developed.

 Latent prints are prints that are not visible to the naked eye. These prints are formed from sweat from sebaceous glands on the body, water, salt, amino acids and oils contained in sweat. Before these prints can be seen or photographed they have to be developed. They can be developed by dusting, fuming or by using chemical reagents. These are also prints that are left from accidental contact with a surface, because of this they will sometimes not contain the full fingerprint or will be smudged or imperfect. Due to this it isn't as accurate as a direct print.

Plastic prints are indentions that are left in soft pliable surfaces, such as clay, paint, wax, etc. These types of prints can be viewed or photographed without the need to be developed.

Fingerprinting History

• Prehistoric fingerprinting was first recorded around 1000-200 BC. Fingerprinting was used in ancient Babylon for business transactions by pressing their finger into a clay tablet. It was also used in ancient China when the Chinese used clay seals in order to seal documents around 3^rd century B.C.

 

• In the year 1686 a professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna, Marcello Malpighi, was noted in his treaties; the ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints. Out of respect of his discoveries he had a layer of skin named after him called the Malpighi layer.

  

• In 1823 an anatomy professor at the University of Breslau, John Evangelist Purkinje, had published a thesis that discussed nine fingerprint patterns.

  

• Fingerprinting was first used by the English in July of 1858 by the Chief Magistrate of the Hooghly district in Jungipoor, India, Sir William James Herschel. He first used fingerprints on native contracts, then afterwards he had Rajyad Konai, a local businessman, impress his hand on a contract. The idea was to originally frighten the businessman out of all thought of repudiating his signature, but it then led to Herschel making every contract being stamped with their palm prints, and then later their index and middle fingers. It was believed then that personal contact with the document made the contract more binding than if they had just simply signed it.

 

• In 1863 Professor Paul-Jean Coulier published his observations that (latent) fingerprints could be developed on paper by iodine fuming. He also explains how to preserve/fish developed impressions and he mentions the potential for identifying a suspect’s fingerprints by using a magnifying glass.

• In the 1870s Dr. Henry Faulds studied about “skin-furrows” after noticing finger marks on specimens of prehistoric pottery. In the year 1880 he gave an explanation about his classification system and gave a sample of the forms that he had designed for recording inked impressions, to Sir Charles Darwin. Also during this year Faulds published an article in the Scientific Journal, “Nature”. In this he discussed the idea of using fingerprints as a means of personal identification, and the use of printers ink as a method for obtaining such fingerprints. He is also credited for the first fingerprint identification of a greasy fingerprint that was left on an alcohol bottle.

 

• In the year 1882 Gilbert Thompson, of the U.S Geological Survey in New Mexico, used his own thumbprints on a document in order to prevent forgery. This was the first known use of fingerprints in the U.S.

• In 1882 Alphonse Bertillon had devised a system of classification, which is known as Anthropometry or the Bertillon System. This system included measurements such as, head length and width, length of the middle finger, left foot and the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
• In 1892 Juan Vucetich had made the first criminal fingerprint identification. He was able to identify Francis Rojas, a woman who had murdered her own sons and had tried to place the blame on another. Being she had left a bloody fingerprint on a door post they were able to prove that she was the murderer. Galton published his book “Fingerprints” which established the individuality and permanence of fingerprints. Inside the book included the first classification system of fingerprints. He was also able to prove Herschel and Faulds suspicions right, he was able to scientifically prove that an individual’s fingerprints do not change over the course of an individual’s lifetime.
• On June 12^th of 1897, the Council of the Governor General of India approved a committee report that fingerprints should be used for classification of criminal records. Haque and Bose were two individuals that worked in Calcutta Anthropometric Bureau, which was the world’s first Fingerprint Bureau. Haque and Bose are the two Indian fingerprint experts who were credited with the primary development of the Henry System of fingerprint classification.
• The year 1902 was the year where fingerprints were first systematically used in the U.S.

• In 1903 the New York State Prison system began the first systematic use of fingerprints in the U.S for criminals.

• In 1905 the U.S. Army began using fingerprints and in 1907 the U.S Navy began using fingerprints. Afterwards in the year 1908 the U.S Marine Crops began using fingerprints.

• In 1924, congress passed an act that established the Identification Division of the FBI.  By 1946 the FBI had processed 100 million fingerprint cards in manually maintained files. By 1971 they had process 200 million cards. With the introduction of automated fingerprint identification technology, the files were divided into computerized criminal files and manually maintained civil files.

• In 2011 the largest AFIS repository in America, operated by the Department of Homeland Security’s US Visit Program, contained over 100 million fingerprints.