1. Ridge Characteristics
Crossover
Core
Bifurcation (fork)
Ridge ending
Island
Delta
Pore
Scar
EXAMPLE

2. In 2008, a man named Donald Smith was arrested for murder
In 2008, a man named Donald Smith was arrested for murder. All the forensic evidence pointed to Donald as being the perpetrator. He matched the witness descriptions, surveillance camera footage, and even the DNA evidence at the crime scene. However, Donald Smith claimed that he was innocent, and stated that his identical twin brother Ronald Smith was the guilty one.
Police used fingerprints found at the scene to determine that Donald was telling the truth. The fingerprints belonged to Ronald instead of Donald. This case demonstrates to us an interesting characteristic about fingerprints – even though identical twins have the exact same DNA, they have a different set of fingerprints.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 6

3. Henry FBI Classification System
Developed by Sir Edward Henry in the late 1800s for criminal investigations in British India
Allows for the logical categorization of ten-print fingerprint records into primary groups based on fingerprint pattern types
This reduces the effort to search a large number of records
Was the basis of modern day AFIS though methods are changing
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 6

4. Primary Classification
The Henry—FBI Classification
Each finger is given a point value
right
left
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5. Primary Classification
Assign the number of points for each finger that has a whorl and substitute into the equation:
right right left left left
index ring thumb middle little =
right right right left left
thumb middle little index ring
That number is your primary classification number
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6. Fingerprint Identification
When minutiae on two different prints match, these are called points of similarity or points of identification. At this point there is no international standard for the number of points of identification required for a match between two fingerprints. However, the United Kingdom requires a minimum sixteen points while Australia requires twelve. There are no legal requirements in the United States on the number of points. Generally, criminal courts will accept 8 to 12 points of similarity.

7. AFIS
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System - a computer system for storing and retrieving fingerprints
Began in the early 1970’s to:
Search large files for a set of prints taken from an individual
Compare a single print, usually a latent print developed from a crime scene
By the 1990’s most large jurisdictions had their own system in place. The problem - a person’s fingerprints may be in one AFIS but not in others
IAFIS—the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System which is a national database of all 10-print cards from all over the country 7
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company