A review on recovery of latent fingerprints on different substrates immersed under muddy water

Fingerprints are most affirmative evidence for personal identification found at crime scene. However, its quite tedious and crucial to develop and identify the latent fingerprints from destructive crime scene conditions. Although some may believe that evidence recovered underwater will have no forensic value, but forensic research shows that identifiable fingerprints may still be developed. In this paper, we have discussed that it is possible to develop latent fingerprints from non-porous and porous materials disposed of in muddy water by using different powders available in the home. All the samples were disposed of in containers containing muddy water and then different techniques were used for the recovery of latent fingerprints. In this paper, economical, simple, and easily available powders have been chosen to recover the latent prints on five frequently encountered different substrates i.e., plastic, glass, metal plates, aluminium foil, cardboard, glossy-painted wooden substrates. It is examined that it shows very good and clear results on most of the surfaces with clear ridge characteristics.