Our CCLiveChat today was with Gary Howard a.k.a. TriniCSI on Twitter. We discussed the chemical treatment of fingerprints. And despite mind-boggling technical difficulties we got an excellent conversation going.
Gary Howard is a fingerprint recovery expert and crime scene specialist in the UK. We touched on the three types of fingerprints that can be found at a crime scene, blood transfers, latent and patent prints, and the different terminology for plastic prints. Gary also explained how to lift prints from vinyl gloves, remote transmission, the use of amido black and how it only responds to protein in blood and not just to protein. We briefly touched on gummy fingers and life in the sun.
The hour flew by but Gary is willing to answer any questions you have so if you do, post them below in the comment section and I’ll alert Gary that “he’s got mail!”
This was our last chat for 2011, themed or free style. We start 2012 on January 6 with a normal chat and on Jan 13, our guest is our very own Richard Case who will talk some more about fingerprints.
I’d like to encourage you to share your thoughts on your own social media platforms. By doing so you too enhance the victim’s digital footprint. By sharing/liking/retweeting these posts, the case reaches new networks, new connections, and new news feeds. Maybe one day the updates will pop up in the right person’s news feed. Someone who can help. And that is the goal. If you wish to comment or discuss a case with other readers head over to my blog’s Facebook page.
The verbatim chat is below.
See you at the next CCLiveChat!
| From User | Tweet | Time |
| Vidocq_CC | And it is noon, folks! #cclivechat today with @triniCSI on fingerprinting and cold cases! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:00 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @LilacLounge @Vidocq_CC @1jaclynwatson @trinicsi hi y'all! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:16 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Welcome Gary and thanks for being our guest today! Let's start with a short intro ... Careabean? CSI? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:36 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase Hi Richard! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:48 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TrickyCase hi Richard! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:02:05 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI You do not show up on Tweetchat, did you allow the app access to your account? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:02:21 +0000 |
| 1jaclynwatson | Good afternoon/evening all #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:02:30 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @LilacLounge Hi Sue! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:02:36 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @Vidocq_CC Hi Mr. V 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:03:37 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @triniCSI: can you start by explaining something about the 3 three types of prints that are found at a crime scene? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:04:39 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI well I can see all your tweets fine #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:04:54 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | I fear that Gary is not showing up on tweetchat! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:05:03 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI @Vidocq_CC Is it just you V?? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:05:52 +0000 |
| 1jaclynwatson | @TrickyCase @trinicsi I can't see Them. Are they hashtagged #cclivechat ? | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:05:55 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase No, not just me, Jaclyn can't see him either. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:06:50 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Still good for me 😀 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:07:24 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | All good on tweetdeck #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:07:48 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC @TrickyCase Nor me #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:08:00 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI: can you start by explaining something about the 3 three types of prints that are found at a crime scene? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:08:03 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI its just me and you mate 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:08:37 +0000 |
| 1jaclynwatson | @LilacLounge @trinicsi yep me neither :-/ #cclivechat odd! | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:08:42 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase @TriniCSI Sue cannot see you either! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:09:41 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI oooh.. got me thinking now! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:10:38 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI Just gonna send you some Qs: Can you explain in plain English what blood transfer patterns are? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:11:07 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Still not a problem to me... and I have logged online and using tweetdeck #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:12:07 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI Latent prints respond to leucocrystal violet due to the hemoglobin, correct? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:12:56 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI What was the 3rd.. visible... latent... ? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:13:42 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase plastic prints, visible prints, and true latent or invisible prints #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:14:43 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI @Vidocq_CC what are patent prints when they're at home :s #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:16:05 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | This is horrible, @triniCSI's tweets do not show up in my normal stream and not here in Tweetchat either. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:16:06 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TriniCSI Gary, how would prints in blood be classified? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:16:15 +0000 |
| 1jaclynwatson | @Vidocq_CC @trinicsi mine either #cclivechat I'm just checking on my TL as I follow you all! | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:22 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC @triniCSI It's odd. I can't see Gary's tweets at all unless I look at the conversation from someone's reply #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:35 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | I can see all... my computer has mystical twitter powers #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:44 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: Blood transfer patterns - when you have blood on you and then touch a third party/surface is called a pattern #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:18:25 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: latent prints are any not visable to the eye but through chemicals we can enhance them #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:18:39 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TrickyCase @TriniCSI @Vidocq_CC Are they prints on a shiny shoe? 😉 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:18:47 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @LilacLounge: @Vidocq_CC @triniCSI It's odd. I can't see Gary's tweets at all unless I look at the conversation from someone's reply #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:19:13 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | RT @TriniCSI: Only "patent" shoes Sue 😉 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:19:52 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @trinicsi Has there ever been a case where a reaction on a latent print was caused by anything else but hemoglobin? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:20:14 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | I could retweet all of Garys tweets... but I predict a massive reduction in followers #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:20:45 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Another Q for @triniCSI: How often do you find a patent handprint with latent fingerprints? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:21:14 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase Pls do retweet because I cannot see them. I have never been unfollowed due to RT in this chat #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:21:45 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @Vidocq_CC I know you wouldn't but some non-#cclivechat followers might :s | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:23:05 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC #cclivechat latent prints are not normally visible we use different chemicals to see them, depending on the surface they are on | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:23:18 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @triniCSI Amido Black reacts with protein OR with protein found in blood? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:23:31 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Can anyone pls RT @triniCSI's tweets as I cannot see them? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:23:57 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | RT @TriniCSI: I am having trouble with this #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:24:52 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | RT @TriniCSI: i just shut my twitter down, is that any better? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:25:10 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TriniCSI what are plastic prints? (I might have missed a tweet) #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:26:36 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | RT @TriniCSI: Amido Black reacts with protein OR with protein found in blood? Protein in blood #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:26:52 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | How do you make fingerprints on vinyl gloves visible? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:28:46 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Do you refer to it as a plastic print? Sounds like an Americanism #cclivechat no offence to Americans | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:28:51 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: plastic is a friction impression left in a material that retains the shape of the ridge detail - putty, clay etc #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:29:15 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TriniCSI Brilliant! Thanks. I'm following Gary on his profile page in a new tab. Clumsy but it works... #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:29:28 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI No, sorry Gary. I have no clue why this is happening! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:29:36 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: How do you make fingerprints on vinyl gloves visible? superglue is the best #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:30:15 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Can you explain how you use the superglue to make prints on vinyl gloves visible? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:30:45 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @TriniCSI This has never happened before. I hope you will join us again for #cclivechat regardless of today's glitch 🙂 | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:30:51 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase What would you call those prints, Richard? They do say plastic here. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:31:25 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI you live and learn 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:31:43 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @LilacLounge I hope so, I'm embarasssed because he took the time and with the time difference .... #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:31:56 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: Latent prints respond to leucocrystal violet due to the hemoglobin, correct? - yes #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:10 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC #cclivechat latent prints are not normally visible we use different chemicals to see them, depending on the surface they are on | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:28 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: Amido Black reacts with protein OR with protein found in blood? Protein in blood #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:33 +0000 |
| csiguy01 | 'listening' with interest #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:37 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @Vidocq_CC I refer to them as 3d impressions.. thats what the training notes say in relation to footwear in a soft substrate #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:42 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: how to use superglue 4 prints on vinyl gloves visible? glue is applied through process which sticks to sweat left from ridges #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:33:48 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Do you prefer superglue over gellifters? http://t.co/bm3DlRws #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:09 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase Good to know, maybe something to repeat in your chat Jan 13, 2012 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:38 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @csiguy01 Welcome, we do have some technical difficulties though so bear with us. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:35:00 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TrickyCase: @Vidocq_CC I refer to them as 3d impressions.. thats what the training notes say in relation to footwear in a soft substrate #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:35:18 +0000 |
| JChaseNovelist | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC #cclivechat latent prints are not normally visible we use different chemicals to see them, depending on the surface they are on | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:35:38 +0000 |
| 1jaclynwatson | @csiguy01 ditto #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:35:51 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: sweat left from ridges is then visualised either with dye or light source to capture image of ridges #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:36:20 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @JChaseNovelist Thanks for the RT! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:36:48 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Gary.. have you ever divulged which force you work for? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:37:12 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Cheers... I thought I was going mad #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:38:10 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: the problem with vinal gloves is the amount of sweat, causes layered prints #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:38:46 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI Don't blame you.. I was just trying to think of some Q's, like do you use Remote Transmission #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:40:36 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | How many times can you use Amido Black before it becomes unacceptable as evidence? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:40:54 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | Remote Transmission is the sending of marks digitally from the crime scene or CSI office #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:41:20 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TrickyCase: Remote Transmission is the sending of marks digitally from the crime scene or CSI office #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:41:57 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC You can use any chemical process a number of times but when you have a good image you photo it, then stop #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:43:05 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI I promote the use of RT... its good but has some issues... some forces do it and some are still looking into it #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:43:22 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC Obviously, you want to capture the mark before you ruin it, which does happen #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:44:22 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI If asked the majority will say they use Remote Transmission... but in truth most are still "playing" with it #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:44:26 +0000 |
| LilacLounge | @Vidocq_CC I'll have to duck out early. I have another commitment. Have a good weekend 🙂 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:44:28 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI How many times using Amido Black will ruin a print? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:44:59 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @LilacLounge Bye Sue, have a great weekend x #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:45:00 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @LilacLounge Bye, Sue! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:45:12 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Have you ever had a case where gummy fingers were used? http://t.co/SSzXOef2 #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:45:53 +0000 |
| csiguy01 | We RT from the office. Would be great to do from the scene! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:45:58 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @csiguy01: We RT from the office. Would be great to do from the scene! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:46:40 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI @csiguy01 Lincolnshire are trialing Blackberry Playbooks to take photos and send the prints from scenes.. very nifty #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:47:20 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TrickyCase: @TriniCSI @csiguy01 Lincolnshire are trialing Blackberry Playbooks to take photos and send the prints from scenes.. very nifty #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:48:33 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: gummy fingers relies on corruption that could be a big issue but eventually they get found out #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:49:34 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI Agreed, but have you ever seen those used in a case? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:50:02 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @TriniCSI They are very progressive and have a switched on Head of Fingerpris.. Hopefully I will be assessing the trial soon #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:50:37 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Despite technical difficulties, the hour is almost up! Any questions for Gary, anyone? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:50:59 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: to combat #gummy_fingers you should have a complete set and use at least two on electronic device to authenticate #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:51:10 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase In time for your chat? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:52:12 +0000 |
| csiguy01 | @TrickyCase @trinicsi we're in 2011 we should be doing this sort of thing. The technology I use at home is ten years ahead #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:52:52 +0000 |
| csiguy01 | @TrickyCase @trinicsi what I use at work. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:53:02 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @Vidocq_CC Unfortunately not... but there are lots of things happening in Fingerprints #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:53:33 +0000 |
| csiguy01 | @TriniCSI we remote transfer fingerprints to the bureau. I see no issue with blackberry or iPhones? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:54:53 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @csiguy01: @TriniCSI we remote transfer fingerprints to the bureau. I see no issue with blackberry or iPhones? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:55:49 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | A report was published 2 days ago from the Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry http://t.co/6pThhY2X with some big recommendations #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:55:50 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Gary, any particular cold case that you have never been able to forget? #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:56:15 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TrickyCase: A report was published 2 days ago from Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry http://t.co/Yv9SCve3 w/big recommendations #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:57:23 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @csiguy01 @TriniCSI BB's are used as they connect to secure police servers.. other mobile comms could face security issues #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:57:57 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC to be truthful, mine have been live cases...more than cold... #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:58:23 +0000 |
| TrickyCase | @Vidocq_CC Need to leave #cclivechat now see y'all next time! | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:59:08 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC but getting fingerprints from a proof of life in a kidnapping into the bureau in 2 hours from paper... #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:59:18 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TrickyCase: @csiguy01 @TriniCSI BB's are used as they connect to secure police servers.. other mobile comms could face security issues #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:59:31 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TrickyCase By Richard and thanks for the RTs! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:59:44 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC the country had not had a service like that before so it was good to prove the system and lab i built worked #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:29 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Thank you all for the RTs and all the help making sure we could all see Gary's tweets. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:01:30 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | I will have a recap posted later on DCC and I bet Gary will answer any Qs you have in the comment section below the post. #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:02:02 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | This was the last cold case live chat of this year. We open 2012 with Richard Case!!! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:02:29 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Jan 13, 2012's chat will be with @trickycase for more on fingerprints so mark the calendar! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC showed what can be done, and went on to help with solving case. she was released alive #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:03:11 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | @TriniCSI Glad to hear that, Gary! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:03:36 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | RT @TriniCSI: @Vidocq_CC my pleasure, would love to come back, and i shall make the effort to do so weekly, have a great Christmas thanks #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:03:49 +0000 |
| Vidocq_CC | Thanks, folks! #cclivechat | Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:04:04 +0000 |