Jornal de pesquisa forense

Exploring the Potential of Ridge Density as Measure of Sex Identification

Abstract

Vilas Anil Chavan

Identification of individual based on fingerprints is well established and widely used for both security and forensic purposes. In a forensic scenario, when a fingerprint is found at a scene of crime, it is sought to compare with the fingerprints from a set of suspects. Sex Identification may be considered as first level of identification. In this study, potential of ridge density has been explored for sex identification within wide age groups. A database of fingerprints collected from 190(95 Male and 95 Female) people of various age groups ranging from 1-70 year from Marathwada population has been prepared. Analysis of the fingerprints shows ridge density as an efficient sex marker except for the kids less than 10 years of age. The present study was aimed to explore the potential of ridge density in sex identification. The variability due to well defined area for the calculation of ridge density was also explored. The study revealed that there is no significant difference in ridge density due to selected region. As far as variability due to age is concerned, it has been found that there is stability in ridge density once the age crosses 10 years. As far as identification of sex is concerned, there is a difference of 1-2 ridges when ridge density of male vs. female is calculated, which may be due to average over a small databas.