When was fingerprinting first introduced?

Answer 1

Although the knowledge of fingerprints had been around since ancient times, and been utilized in certain applications, the first recorded practical use of the fingerprint classification system for law enforcement purposes is cited below;

"A leading fingerprint researcher of the time period was Juan Vucetich. Vucetich was employed as a statistician with the Central Police Department in La Plata, Argentina, until his promotion to the head of the bureau of Anthropometric Identification. Vucetich, having studied Galton's research, began to experiment with fingerprints in 1891. He started recording the fingerprints of criminals and devised his own classification system (Lambourne, 1984, pp 58-59).

Vucetich's classification system and individualization of prisoners through the use of fingerprints were the first practical uses of the fingerprint science by law enforcement personnel.

Other countries soon looked into using a fingerprint system to identify prisoners."

Answer 2

I'm not sure about the very first time fingerprints were utilized, but there was a man named William Herschel in Englang during the 19th century who used "Inked Hands". He was working in the Indian Civil War, and had soldiers sign contracts using these "inked hands", what we now know as fingerprints. Henry Faulds, a detective, was also involved in an earlier case using fingerprints. Not sure about the date on that one, but the name might give some hints.

Answer 3

Unable to locate any specific mention of the FIRST time fingerprints were used in court - however there are numerous cites that state that fingerprinting began being routinely used in the late 1890's and early 1900's for the routine identification of people. Therefore one can draw the conclusion that it is somewhere in that 10-20 year period that they began being used and accepted in court for purposes of identification.

Answer 4

DNA fingerprintingwas first thought suitable to be used in 1985. However, the first crime that was solved using DNA fingerprinting was in 1986.

Answer 5

Sir William Herschel is recognized as being the first person to use fingerprints as a means of identification.