I.Fundamental Principles of Fingerprintinga.First Principle: A fingerprint is an individual characteristic; No two fingerprints have yet been found to possess identical ridge characteristicsa.i.The probability of two identical fingerprints is very rarea.ii.There are calculations but also no two fingerprints have been found to be identicala.iii.The fingerprint contains different ridge characteristics (minutiae) a.iv.Location of the characteristics and a point by point comparison of fingerprints will prove the individuality a.v.There are 150 different ridge characteristicsa.vi.Sometimes the investigator can only find a partial printa.vii.8 to 16 common characteristics will prove the individuality of a partial printa.viii.The opinion of uniqueness of a fingerprint is within its ridge characteristics b.Second Principle: A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s lifetimeb.i.Similar reproductions of friction are found on the palms and soles of the feetb.ii.
