Abstract

DETERMINATION OF GENDER FROM THIRD LEVEL DETAILS OF PALM PRINTS

Hemraj* and Richa Biswas

ABSTRACT

With the passage of time, menials are coming out with a gigantic array of crime with high end of perfection. These heinous crimes often led a mystery for the investigative agencies in form of hidden evidences. These evidences which are recovered from the scene of occurrence provide a link between the culprit and victim. Fingerprint evidences are considered very crucial in any investigative lead towards the individualization of a suspect. A detailed analysis of a fingerprint by an expert can individualize the person and confirm his presence to a certain place. Although, DNA analysis can link a person with a victim or crime scene but DNA analysis is not possible in each and every case due to its high cost as well as being a time consuming technique. But there are some prints encountered from crime scene which are partial or chance prints and does not have sufficient ridge details to prove a positive identification, in such cases consideration of third level details of fingerprints enhance the chances for a positive identification. Previous studies conducted by various scientists have proved that third level details also have identification value as that of first and second level details. Pores and edge characteristics of an individual are also unique and remain unchanged throughout the life of an individual. In this study, an attempt has been made to differentiate the gender of an individual on the basis of third level details present in the palm prints. We studied various aspects of third level details (pores and edges of friction ridges) in males and females on their lateral palm print including characteristics such as number of pores, width of ridge, distance between two ridges etc. have been studied in palm area of 73 subjects (41 males and 32 females) to find that the friction ridges of palmer surface of males and females differ in some of the third level details.

Keywords: Palm prints, Poroscopy, identification, gender-discrimination, crime scene, no. of pores, etc.