I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Science of Fingerprints

2. Course Prefix & Number:
CRJU 2116

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course is a study of fingerprints as it relates to criminal investigations and the identification of suspects and victims of crimes.  The student will learn the Henry system of obtaining rolled impressions and the techniques of computerization in locating and filing unknown latent prints.  Dusting, lifting, and photographing latent prints in various mediums will also be examined.  Laser detection and ultraviolet location of latent prints will be presented in class.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Bemidji State University, June 2009, Criminal Justice

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Criminalistics AS
Criminal Justice AAS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Follow current steps in lab recovery of latent prints
Utilize appropriate technology	Employ current lab equipment in recovery of latent prints.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify types of fingerprint patterns;
• Recognize techniques for taking good fingerprints;
• Discuss the purpose of the Henry Fingerprint Classification System;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS);
• Explain and demonstrate proper techniques for locating and processing latent impressions; and
• Demonstrate proper evidence gathering procedures regarding locating, processing and gathering fingerprint evidence at crime scenes.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Crime Scene Basics
• Golden Rules of Crime Scene Investigation
• Crime Scene Photography Basics
• The three basic fingerprint patterns
2. The History of Fingerprints 
• Use of Fingerprints in ancient history
• Development of the Henry Fingerprint Classification System
• Modern Fingerprint Technology
3. Fingerprint Patterns
• Arches
• Loops
• Whorls
4. Latent Fingerprint Development
• Locating Latent Fingerprints at Crime Scenes
• Processing Fingerprints
• Gathering Fingerprint Evidence
• Proper Use of Magnetic Powders
• Proper Use of Latent Print Powder
5. Chemical Processing/Cyanoacrylate
• Proper Equipment considerations
• The basics of using superglue as an evidence gathering tool.
6. Chemical Processing Dye Stains
• The proper use of Ninhydrin as a technique to locate latent fingerprints
• Safety considerations
7. Fingerprint Comparisons (Ridge Characteristics)
• Deltas
• Cores
• Bifurcations
• Specialties
• Hooks
• Crossovers
8. Fingerprint Comparisons
• Fingerprint matches
• Fingerprint points of comparison
9. Crime Scene Practicals
• Locating fingerprints at crime scenes
• Recording Fingerprint Evidence
• Processing Fingerprint Evidence
• Gathering Fingerprint Evidence