TEC
Thenoyl Europium Chelate. Treatment having fluorescent properties used with selected
wavelengths of light to enhance cyanoacrylate fumed friction ridge detail.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
TMB
Tetramethylbenzidene. Reagent used to detect / enhance bloody friction ridge detail.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
TMB is a suspected carcinogen and has a very short shelf life (one day).
TWGFAST
Technical Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology. Established by the
FBI in 1995. In 1999, the name was changed to better reflect the goals of this group. This
organization develops standards and guidelines in the area of friction skin identification.
Taber, Isaiah West (Tabor) (1830-1912)
There are many books and articles that refer to a man named Tabor who was an eminent
photographer in San Francisco who proposed using fingerprints to register the Chinese around 1880.
One article was published by Jay Hambridge in October 1909 in Century Magazine titled
“Fingerprints: Their Use by the Police”. Hambridge states “Some 30 years ago…..” but that is the
only reference to a date. Tabor’s proposal was not accepted but it seems that this may have been
the earliest trace of using fingerprints as a means of identification in the United States.
In ‘Fingerprint Whorld’, Volume 10 number 40, 1985, G.T. Lambourne wrote an article about
Taber and included letters he received from the Smithsonian Institute. Due to Lambourne’s
research it appears that Taber’s name had been misspelled throughout the years. Lambourne
believes this misspelling originated from Galton’s book ‘Fingerprints’ but it appears that his name
was also misspelled in a letter from the House of Representatives, U.S. dated 1888. Lambourne
also discovered the year that Taber suggested using fingerprints as a means of identification was
the year 1886 and that his initials were I.W. Taber.
Due to the combination of reference material available the man referred to as Tabor seems to be
the well-known San Francisco photographer Isaiah West Taber (1830-1912).
Tactile
Pertaining to the sense of touch.
Take Away Print
A ‘take away’ print, also referred to as a negative impression, is created when an object is
touched and instead of the friction ridges leaving a matrix behind, the friction ridges take away a
substance that is left on the substrate. This is common when the object being touched is covered
with dust or another substance, such as blood. Frequently ‘take away’ prints are tonally reversed.
Target Group
A unique group of friction ridge details that stands out enough for an examiner to easily
memorize. When the same group is location in an exemplar then recognition is triggered and a
detailed comparison can begin.
See Focal Points.
A distinctive group of ridge features (and their relationships) that can be recognized.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Taylor, J.H. (James Herbert)
On May 1, 1910, Taylor was promoted to Chief of the Identification Section for the U.S. Navy. He
wrote a book entitled “Finger Print Evidence” and in 1917 invented the metal identification tags for
all the Navy men in WWI that had their fingerprints etched on them. In 1926, J.H. Taylor testified
for the defense in the first known erroneous identification case, see Hall-Mills double murder
case.
Taylor, Thomas (1877)
Microscopist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, suggested that markings of the palms, the
hands and the tips of the fingers could be used for identification in criminal cases. Although
reported in the American Journal of Microscopy and Popular Science and Scientific American, the
idea was apparently never pursued from this source.
Principle of Criminalistics: The Profession of Forensic Science, By Keith Inman and Norah Rudin,
CRC Press, 2000.
http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/forensicfiles/timeline1.html
Technical Review
A term first used by ASCLD/LAB.
Review of notes, documents, and other data that forms the basis for a scientific conclusion (see
ASCLD-LAB 2008 Manual).
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Technician
A person skilled in the details of a subject or task. especially a mechanical one.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
Technology
The science of the application of knowledge to practical purposes: applied science.
Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=technology 10-14-2005
Tenprint
A recording of the friction ridge skin on the distal phalanges.
1. A generic reference to examinations performed on intentionally recorded friction ridge
impressions.
2. A controlled recording of an individual’s available fingers using ink, electronic imaging, or other
medium.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Tenprint Examiner
See Friction Ridge Examiner.
Tension Crease
“Usually in crisscrossing patterns or at right angles to the ridges. These secondary creases are
known as tension creases and are not normally found on the hands at birth. “
Scott’s Fingerprint Mechanics. By Robert Olsen
See Creases, Flexion Creases and White Lines.
Tetramethylbenzidene
See TMB.
Thenar Area
The large cushion of the palm located at the base of the thumb.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Thenoyl Europium Chelate (TEC)
A fluorescent dye stain used with an ultraviolet light source to visualize cyanoacrylate ester fumed
friction ridge detail.
Theory
A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially
one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions
about natural phenomena.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=theory 02-27-03
An explanation of why a natural phenomenon occurs which has been tested and has gained
general acceptance.
Explanations of observations (or of laws). The fact that we have a pretty good understanding of
how stars explode doesn’t necessarily mean we could predict the next supernova; we have a
theory but not a law.
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct99/940942724.Sh.r.html 02-27-03
(Authors note) This is a nonscientific definition, generally what people think of as a theory:
An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=theory 02-27-03
Theory of Differential Growth
The scientific theory that explains why fingerprints are unique. Internal and external
pressures and stresses alter the friction ridge features during fetal development.
Since it is impossible to duplicate these pressures, no two fingerprints will ever be
the same.
In addition to the Theory of Differential Growth being based on embryonic biological
formation, it is also supported by statistical probabilities (the probability of
duplication is virtually zero) and empirical data (no two formations have been
found to be the same in over 100 years).
Theory of Fingerprint Permanence (or Persistency)
The scientific theory that explains why fingerprints are permanent. Fingerprints develop on a
fetus. Once the secondary ridges start growing, the primary ridges stop any further development
and the blueprint for the friction ridge pattern is established. This pattern is permanent with the
exception of scaring.
Thermal Paper
Thermal paper is paper that uses heat to produce its images. It has a chemical coating on one
side that darkens when exposed to heat. The coated side of thermal paper is sensitive to the
DFO and ninhydrin processes. DMAC, RTX, Hydrochloric Acid, Indanedione (HFE-7100
formulation) and physical developer are good alternatives to processing this kind of paper.
ThermaNin
A ninhydrin derivative, available from BVDA, used to recover latent prints on thermal paper. This
chemical recovers latent prints without turning the thermal paper black.
Thermoplastic Powder
Toner powder used in copiers and printers.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Thick Skin
Thick skin refers to skin on the palms of the hands, fingertips or the soles of the feet. This skin
lacks follicles, sebaceous glands and arrector pili muscles.
http://www.vcu.edu/anatomy/OB/Skin~1/tsld020.htm 08-07-2004
Thin Skin
Nonfriction ridge skin.
Thin skin is skin that covers most of the body. It contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands and
arrector pili muscles. It also has thinner epidermis with less developed strata granulosa and
lucida, and the stratum corneum may be quite thin.
http://www.vcu.edu/anatomy/OB/Skin~1/tsld020.htm 08-07-2004
Third Level Detail (also see Level 3 Detail)
Ridge shape, relative pore location, and some accidental details.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
Thompson, Gilbert (March 21, 1839-June 9, 1909)
A railroad builder with the U.S. Geological Survey in New Mexico, who in 1882 put his own
thumbprint on wage chits to safeguard himself from forgeries.
http://www.forensicdna.com/Timeline020702.pdf 03-08-2003
Thompson was the first person to use fingerprints as a means of identification in the United
States.
Tibia
A bone in the lower leg.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Tibial Area
The plantar area situated on the big toe side of the foot.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide is a white powder used as a coloring pigment. In 2003, Josh Bergeron
published a paper in the Journal of Forensic Identification showing that when this powder is
mixed with methanol it becomes a wonderful processing technique to develop friction ridge detail
left in blood on dark surfaces.
Dave Wade also discovered that Titanium Dioxide can be mixed with water and photo-flo 200 to
develop friction ridge detail on other items, including the adhesive side of tape. See WhitePrint©
Titanium Dioxide.
Toeprint
Friction ridge impression left by a digit of the plantar surface.
Tolerance
The acceptance of dissimilarity caused by distortion, usually involving an individualization; the
opposite of the un-acceptance of differences caused by different friction ridge sources involving
an exclusion. Generally expressed as “within tolerance” or “out of tolerance” for the level of clarity
that is present in both impressions.
Within an acceptable range.
The amount of variation in appearance of friction ridge features to be allowed during a
comparison, should a corresponding print be made available.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Tonal Reversal
A transferred impression representing the furrows of a friction ridge impression rather than the
ridges. Tonal reversals result in the reverse effect than expected, i.e. with ink or black powder,
the dark lines represent the furrows instead of the friction ridges. Some reasons for tonal
reversals are:
a) excess moisture present on the skin
b) excess moisture present on the substrate
c) pressure
Visual clues that may indicate a tonal reversed print may include:
a) processing adheres to the background instead of adhering to the friction ridges (with black
powder processing, the background is dark)
b) the ridge count is off by one ridge with regard to the spatial relationship between
characteristics.
c) the appearance of dots in what appears to be the furrows, these are actually pores in the
ridges
d) split ridges: a thin line may appear in what is assumed to be the ridges, these are actually the
furrows
Top-Down Influences
One of the two cognitive influences with respect to observational knowledge. Top-down
influences are subjective in nature, guided by prior knowledge, expectations, or emotions.
See Bottom-Up.
Transferred Print
A transferred print is a finger and/or partial palm print impression that has been transferred from
one surface to another surface. This may happen intentionally (as with fabricated or forged prints)
or unintentionally (by the original substrate coming in contact with another surface). If a transfer
occurs unintentionally, the transferred print will be a reversed image.
Transient Crease
Creases which are not permanent.
Transitive Property of Equality
The mathematical principle: If a = b and b = c, then a = c. This relates to friction skin
identifications in establishing that if a print (a) was identified to print (b) and print (b) was identified
to print (c) then it is known that print (a) was left by the same person as print (c) without the need
of doing an additional comparison.
Transitory Print
A latent print seen by breathing on it.
Transposing the Conditional
The statistical equivalent of the Prosecutors Fallacy. In Bayes Theorum, the conditional
probability of an event happening, given that another event has happened is expressed as P(a/b).
Transposing the conditional is when someone misinterprets this to be the same as P(b/a),
whether intentional or unintentional. Example: While looking at the probability of someone
speaking Spanish, given that they are from Spain it may be misrepresented as the probability of
someone being from Spain, given that they speak Spanish.
Transposing the conditional can be related to fingerprints identifications in many different ways.
One example is that Examiners may be reluctant to testify to any minimum point standard. This
is often because people misinterpret the minimum number of points you may have used to make
an identification with the minimum number of points that you would use to make an identification.
Of course, this is not correct because there are other conditions that an identification is based on.
See Prosecutors Fallacy.
Trauma
Injury or damage.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Trifurcation
The point at which one friction ridge divides into three friction ridges.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Triketohydrindine Hydrate
See Ninhydrin.
Tripartite Rule
Published in the 1910’s, by Edmund Locard, The Tripartite Rule gives 3 different conclusions to a
fingerprint identification.
1) If more than 12 Galton points exist, then the certainty of a positive identification is beyond
debate.
2) If 8-12 Galton points exist, an identification will then be dependent on other items, such as
rarity.
3) If less than 8 Galton points exist, then the print cannot provide a certain identification.
Triradius
Area on the friction ridges where three ridge systems meet.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
This term was introduced by one of the authors of the book “Personal Identification”. It suggests
a 3 point star and includes both the delta and the 3 radiating lines where ridges deviate in
different directions.
Personal Identification, Wentworth and Wilder 1918 pg. 117.
Troup Committee
In 1894, Britain’s Troup Committee added fingerprints to Bertillon Identification Cards. The
fingerprints were not used for identification purposes, however, the value of fingerprints were
being recognized.
See Belper Committee.
True Skin
Another term for the dermis.
Turner, William Russell
See Russell-Turner, William.
Type 1 Error
The error in a system to overreact, a false positive result. An erroneous individualization.
Type 2 Error
The error in a system to underreact. Some view this type of error as either “false negative
results” or “inconclusive results when a definitive result could have been found”. Others view a
type 2 error only a “false negative results” stating that inconclusive results cannot be an
erroneous conclusion because inconclusive results are not conclusions, but the absence of a
conclusion.
Type Lines
The two innermost friction ridges associated with a delta that parallel, diverge, and surround or
tend to surround the pattern area.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Typica
A Greek word which is synonymous with characteristic.