who knows?

Question

what year did they first use "fingerprints" to convict someone?

Answer 1

In 1686 a professor at the University of Bologna, Marcello Malpighi, noticed that there were patterns in his fingerprints.A layer of skin was even named after Malpighi, one that is 1.8 mm thick.This layer helps mold the fingerprint into what can be seen.The English did not begin using fingerprints as a form of any sort of identification until 1858.Sir William Herschel made it required to put prints of the right index and middle fingers on every contract.This was by accident; Herschel based this on superstitious beliefs rather than scientific reasoning.But as he gathered more and more information he started to realize that each and every single fingerprint was different.

The Bertillon system came about in 1870 and was a system that measured and recorded the dimensions of certain bony parts of the body.This system was a great hit until a man was wrongfully accused in 1903.Will West had the Bertillon measurements that fit the desired ones, but there was already a man with the same measurements in prison with the name of William West.These men were twins, but with a fingerprint test, it was proven which brother committed the crime.

The United States first used fingerprinting in 1882 when Gilbert Thompson prevented forgery by putting his fingerprints on documents.Sir Francis Galton published the first classification of fingerprints in 1892.Scientifically he proved that fingerprints do not change as a person age, and that no two fingerprints are identical.According to his calculations the chance of identical fingerprints is 1 in 64 billion.Slowly fingerprints were used in determining more important matters.In 1892 two brothers were murdered and their mother’s throat was cut.A bloody print was found on a doorpost proving that the murderer was the boy’s mother.She cut her own throat to blame it on another.

In 1903 the New York State Prison started the first systematic use of fingerprints for criminals.The 12-point system is used today to make a positive match on two fingerprints.This means 12 points are taken on the collected specimen, and seen if they match up with 12 points from the possible suspect.Although there is no law that states this number be required, it is most often used.Whereas appearance on a person can change (hair can be died and cut, plastic surgery can occur, accidents can alter the appearance), fingerprints are the only sure fire thing that will never change on a human being.Even if the skin on the finger is cut or burned, the ridge structure remains the same, and the pattern will emerge on the new skin that grows.

Answer 2

"1903 The New York State Prison system began the first systematic use of fingerprints in U.S. for criminals. "