There are many ways that an individual can attempt to hide their identity - false name, false date of birth, new address, facial hair, hairstyle and clothing. The one thing that stays unchanged from before birth until after death and can be quickly checked is an individual's fingerprints.

 

Crime scene
When a CSI attends the scene of a crime they can recover a variety of evidence including fingerprint and palm mark evidence, this can include:

• Fingermarks left in sweat developed using a variety of dusting powders and flakes, lifted off the surface using an adhesive tape and preserved on a backing sheet.
• Fingermarks developed as above but photographed instead of or as well as being lifted.
• Visible fingermarks left in paint, grease, blood or other substance.
• Items recovered from the crime scene which the CSI thinks that the offender may have handled can be sent to the fingerprint Laboratory for chemical treatment. A variety of treatments are available for different combinations of circumstances.