The issue of dactyloscopy in terms of police activities

Fingerprints have been known since the dawn of time and as early as in the Stone Age they were used to sign agreements and deeds. Dactyloscopy – a field of criminology – arose and developed thanks to technological progress. Fingerprints accompany human beings throughout their entire lives, from their early beginnings in their mothers’ wombs to their death. They cannot be changed or removed without damaging the dermis of fingers. Lines which can be observed on the fingertips make systematic patterns. People leave dactyloscopic traces on a daily basis. It is the consequence of a special reaction of the substance which includes both sweat and fat. This substance comes off the fingertip and leaves traces. Fingerprints traces can be disclosed with the use of different methods. The spectrum of these methods is very wide. It was reflected and indicated in the content of this publication. Procedures play a very important role in the work of dactyloscopy technicians. They have an incredible impact on the success of the entire process of people’s identification with the use of fingerprints which were left. Implementation of established algorithms is crucial with regard to the possibility to collecting all the evidentiary material effectively. Identification and comparison of fingerprints traces constitute very important elements in the work of law enforcement authorities. Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) facilitates this processing. AFIS is in the possession of a huge database allowing for an identification of fingerprints in a shorter time. Without that tool, it would be difficult or even impossible to compare different fingerprints. The authors show the development of methods, techniques and research instruments which are used in the identification process. The development of modern technologies combined with achievements in biology or chemistry will cause further, perpetual evolution in the researched field.