Henry Classification
System: A Summary
Primary
Each finger has a definite numerical value when a whorl type pattern is present. The total of these values make up the Primary.
The numerator is made up of the total sum of the values present in the even numbered fingers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) plus one.
The denominator is made up of the total sum of the values present in the odd numbered fingers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) plus one.
Secondary
The Secondary is composed of the pattern types present in the index fingers (2 and 7).
The number two finger is used as the numerator and the number seven finger is used as the denominator.
The Secondary is brought up to the classification line to the right of the primary.
Small Letter Group
Prints with an arch (a), tented arch (t) or radial loop (r) in any finger except the index fingers constitute the Small Letter Group of the secondary classification. Small letters consist of a, t, and r only.
Small letters are brought up to the classification in their respective relative positions to the index finger (2 and 7) when appearing in fingers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
All small letters must be indicated in the classification formula.
Dashes are used in the classification formula to indicate an ulnar loop or a whorl intervening between the index finger and the first small letter, or between two small letters.
When 2 or more small letter patterns of the same type appears together, they are indicated as: 2a, 3a, 2t, 3t, 2r, or 3r.
Subsecondary
The Subsecondary is taken from fingers 2, 3, 4 (numerator), and 7, 8, 9 (denominator).
The Subsecondary is brought up to the classification line to the right of the secondary.
Definite values are assigned to the ridge counts in these fingers.
Whorl tracings are brought up as part of the Subsecondary.
A small letter to the right of the index finger eliminates the Subsecondary, with some exceptions.
Major
The Major is taken from the thumbs.
The Major is brought up to the classification line to the left of the primary.
Number six finger has only one set of values as a loop; it is always constant.
Number one finger has two sets of values as a loop.
Number six finger is used as the denominator. Number one finger is used as the numerator.
In a combination of loop and whorl, the first set of values is always used for the number one finger.
If whorls are present in both thumbs, the tracings are used.
A small letter (a, t, r) present in either or both thumbs eliminates the Major.
Final
The Final is brought up to the right of the subsecondary.
The Final is taken from number five finger if number five is a loop, either ulnar or radial. If number five is not a loop, the Final is taken from the number ten finger. If neither five nor ten is a loop, there is no Final, with some exceptions.
If the Final is taken from number five finger, it is brought up above the classification line. If the Final is taken from the number ten finger, it is brought up below the line.
If whorls are present in all fingers, the whorl in number five finger is counted and brought up as a Final. When counting whorls, always count as if they were ulnar loops. A whorl in the right hand is counted from left delta to core. In the left hand, count from right delta to core. When counting double loops a horizontal double loop is counted from the left delta to the nearest core. A vertical double loop is counted from the left delta to the upright loop. More than two cores, count from deltas, to core least number of ridges distant.
Key
The Key is brought up to the classification line to the left of the major.
The Key is taken from the ridge count of the first loop appearing in the classification other than fingers five and ten. Either ulnar or radial loop may be used for the Key.
The Key is always brought up above the classification line, regardless of the finger used.
If there are no loops present there is no Key.
NCIC Fingerprint Classification
The NCIC method of fingerprint classification is utilized in many ways by the criminal justice system to better establish the identity of an individual.
When a wanted person's fingerprint classification is available, the NCIC FPC should always be included in the wanted person's record for entry into the TIME System Warrant/Wanted Persons File.
While not a positive identifier, the NCIC fingerprint classification can be of assistance in eliminating a person as a suspected wanted person, or a suspect in a criminal investigation. It is also included on the Crime Information Bureau Identification Transcript as an additional identifier. The use of the NCIC FPC in communications is less subject to error in transmission than the Henry Classification and is convertible to the Henry Classification for searching fingerprint files.
The NCIC FPC formula is printed in a straight line of 20 alphabetic and numeric characters, beginning with the right thumb as number 1, and continuing through number 10 with the left thumb being number 6.
Two characters are to be used for each finger as shown in the following table:
Primary
Each finger has a definite numerical value when a whorl type pattern is present. The total of these values make up the Primary.
The numerator is made up of the total sum of the values present in the even numbered fingers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) plus one.
The denominator is made up of the total sum of the values present in the odd numbered fingers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) plus one.
Secondary
The Secondary is composed of the pattern types present in the index fingers (2 and 7).
The number two finger is used as the numerator and the number seven finger is used as the denominator.
The Secondary is brought up to the classification line to the right of the primary.
Small Letter Group
Prints with an arch (a), tented arch (t) or radial loop (r) in any finger except the index fingers constitute the Small Letter Group of the secondary classification. Small letters consist of a, t, and r only.
Small letters are brought up to the classification in their respective relative positions to the index finger (2 and 7) when appearing in fingers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
All small letters must be indicated in the classification formula.
Dashes are used in the classification formula to indicate an ulnar loop or a whorl intervening between the index finger and the first small letter, or between two small letters.
When 2 or more small letter patterns of the same type appears together, they are indicated as: 2a, 3a, 2t, 3t, 2r, or 3r.
Subsecondary
The Subsecondary is taken from fingers 2, 3, 4 (numerator), and 7, 8, 9 (denominator).
The Subsecondary is brought up to the classification line to the right of the secondary.
Definite values are assigned to the ridge counts in these fingers.
Whorl tracings are brought up as part of the Subsecondary.
A small letter to the right of the index finger eliminates the Subsecondary, with some exceptions.
Major
The Major is taken from the thumbs.
The Major is brought up to the classification line to the left of the primary.
Number six finger has only one set of values as a loop; it is always constant.
Number one finger has two sets of values as a loop.
Number six finger is used as the denominator. Number one finger is used as the numerator.
In a combination of loop and whorl, the first set of values is always used for the number one finger.
If whorls are present in both thumbs, the tracings are used.
A small letter (a, t, r) present in either or both thumbs eliminates the Major.
Final
The Final is brought up to the right of the subsecondary.
The Final is taken from number five finger if number five is a loop, either ulnar or radial. If number five is not a loop, the Final is taken from the number ten finger. If neither five nor ten is a loop, there is no Final, with some exceptions.
If the Final is taken from number five finger, it is brought up above the classification line. If the Final is taken from the number ten finger, it is brought up below the line.
If whorls are present in all fingers, the whorl in number five finger is counted and brought up as a Final. When counting whorls, always count as if they were ulnar loops. A whorl in the right hand is counted from left delta to core. In the left hand, count from right delta to core. When counting double loops a horizontal double loop is counted from the left delta to the nearest core. A vertical double loop is counted from the left delta to the upright loop. More than two cores, count from deltas, to core least number of ridges distant.
Key
The Key is brought up to the classification line to the left of the major.
The Key is taken from the ridge count of the first loop appearing in the classification other than fingers five and ten. Either ulnar or radial loop may be used for the Key.
The Key is always brought up above the classification line, regardless of the finger used.
If there are no loops present there is no Key.
NCIC Fingerprint Classification
The NCIC method of fingerprint classification is utilized in many ways by the criminal justice system to better establish the identity of an individual.
When a wanted person's fingerprint classification is available, the NCIC FPC should always be included in the wanted person's record for entry into the TIME System Warrant/Wanted Persons File.
While not a positive identifier, the NCIC fingerprint classification can be of assistance in eliminating a person as a suspected wanted person, or a suspect in a criminal investigation. It is also included on the Crime Information Bureau Identification Transcript as an additional identifier. The use of the NCIC FPC in communications is less subject to error in transmission than the Henry Classification and is convertible to the Henry Classification for searching fingerprint files.
The NCIC FPC formula is printed in a straight line of 20 alphabetic and numeric characters, beginning with the right thumb as number 1, and continuing through number 10 with the left thumb being number 6.
Two characters are to be used for each finger as shown in the following table:
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