Taking Fingerprints from Corpses for Identification and Investigations

1. Taking fingerprints from fingertips of corpses commissioner Krzysztof Kowalski

2. Traffic accidents, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and crime entailing numerous deaths, whose identity is often not known. The correct answer to the question of who is the victim of a deadly incident which is the subject of the investigation gives him direction and, above all, facilitates the detection of the perpetrator. Identification of corpses is not only very important for the criminal law and forensics, but also causes effects in other areas of law such as inheritance, family, civil, or insurance law. Introduction

3. Post-mortem lesions of corpses If the bodies are found after a long time from the moment of death, the body undergoes various changes that are dependent on the conditions in which the body stayed, which in turn has a significant impact on the possibility of taking clear fingerprints e.g.: • mummification / natural mummification • burning, • bodies found in aquatic environment.

4. Taking fingerprints from corpse On the basis of existing provisions in the case of finding an unknown body, persons conducting their inspection are required to take fingerprints from fingertips or hands. In a situation where the state of the body allows it, this action is carried out on the scene or in the Department of Forensic Medicine. Fingerprints are taken by technicians being part of the investigative forensic group. After a few days after the death, taking fingerprints from the body should not be a problem for the technician, even if the body were in adverse conditions.

5. Taking fingerprints from corpse After securing photographic fingerprints uses standard fingerprints taking techniques are used, among which is the basic method: • covering the fingertips with dactyloscopic ink using a roller, pads or fingerprint paddles (cadaverous spoon), • charring fingertips. • silicone or latex casting, • powders and dactyloscopic foils, • the use of adhesive tape, • amputated fingers of corpses (chemical methods),

6. Discussion Fingertip exposed to dry air. Hand heat treated. The skin pulled from the hand treated with water.