Forensic Importance of Poroscopy in Age Estimation of the Fingerprint Donor and in Criminal Profiling

Abstract

Fingerprints are unique patterns of ridges and valleys on the tips of fingers. The study of these unique patterns for the purpose of personal identification is called dermatoglyphics. These patterns are formed during fetal development and remain constant throughout a person's life, except in cases of permanent injuries and/or certain medical conditions. Fingerprint analysis, which involves the examination of the ridges on the fingertips, is a common method used in criminal investigations to identify suspects. Recently, pores present in the fictional ridges are also found to be having equal importance as the ridge minutiae characteristics in personal identification. Poroscopy as a ‘third level’ of fingerprint analysis can help the experts to identify criminals with their unique characteristic features such as the type of sweat gland openings, pore density, and shapes. This research focuses on studying the forensic importance of the pores present in the frictional ridges in estimating the age of the fingerprint donor, and in criminal profiling. 500 samples were collected to analyze the difference in the pore conditions between the genders and people of different age categories. The study showed significant results and the potential ability of the Poroscopy in personal identification and in criminal profiling.