ABSTRACT
Fingerprint examination requires careful observation, pattern recognition, and data collection. The study of fingerprint analysis begins with an understanding of the class and individual characteristics of friction ridge impressions. Class characteristics, such as fingerprint pattern types, allow large numbers of fingerprints to be organized into smaller categories. They also can be used for exclusionary purposes. Individual characteristics, such as minutiae, are unique structures that are used to identify the potential source of a fingerprint or palm print. The exercises in this chapter explore class and individual characteristics, fingerprint pattern types, and minutiae.
