ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

What characteristic describes plastic fingerprints?

1. Fingerprints that are left on paper

2. Fingerprints that are left in caulking, putty, or silicon

3. Fingerprints that are visible to the naked eye

4. Fingerprints that are developed with powder

The correct answer is: Fingerprints that are left in caulking, putty, or silicon

Plastic fingerprints are characterized by their ability to be impressed into a soft material, which allows for a three-dimensional representation of the fingerprint pattern. This context makes the option that identifies fingerprints left in caulking, putty, or silicon the accurate choice. When a finger presses into these types of materials, it leaves an impression that captures the unique ridges and patterns of the fingerprint, allowing for further examination and identification. In contrast, fingerprints left on paper are typically referred to as latent fingerprints, which require additional processing to be made visible. Those visible to the naked eye are generally not considered plastic but may fall under a different category depending on the medium. Fingerprints developed with powder involve a technique for visualizing latent prints on various surfaces but do not represent the physical impression itself. Thus, the key aspect of plastic fingerprints is their formation through indentation in malleable substances.