U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Technique for Developing and Photographing Ridge Impressions on Decomposed Water-Soaked Fingers

NCJ Number
140930
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1993) Pages: 197-202
Author(s)
D M Keating; J J Miller
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
One of the major challenges facing crime laboratory technicians involves the fingerprinting and subsequent identification of an unknown homicide or drowning victim whose fingers have been subjected to a long period of exposure to water and effects of decomposition.
Abstract
If the fingers of the individual have not been exposed to erosive effects of water and decomposition for a long period of time, they may be allowed to dry, and suitable impressions can often be obtained. In other cases, the fingers may have to be removed and processed by a crime laboratory in order to develop a suitable ridge structure for inked impressions or an exact photographic copy of the individual's fingers. In extreme cases, effects of water and decomposition make the fragile ridge structure appear to be nonexistent to the naked eye. The current procedure combines the use of cyanoacrylate vapor, commonly called "super glue fuming," and the ninhydrin process to develop the fragile ridge structure into discernible ridges that can be easily seen and photographed to identify the individual. The "building" effect of cyanoacrylate vapor, coupled with "tonal contrast" developed by the reaction of amino acids to the ninhydrin process helps to develop the ridge structure in areas of skin tissue ravaged by effects of water erosion and decomposition. 3 references and 4 figures