Dermatoglyphic patterns of female convicted criminals in Anambra state

Abstract

Dermatoglyphic is the study of epidermal ridges present on the hairless surfaces of the skin. This study was aimed to determine the dermatoglyphic patterns associated with criminal traits among female subjects in Anambra state. 100 female subjects constituting 50 female convicted criminals in Onitsha prison and 50 controls which comprises of female students and workers of Chukwuemeka Oduemegwu Ojukwu University, Uli campus. Details of crimes committed were obtained through an interviewed administered questionnaire on their consent to participate in the study. Hp Scanjet was used to scan their palm prints and saved as Jpeg image on a laptop. Dematoglyphic variables of fingerprint pattern of whorls, loops, arches, atd angles, total finger ridge counts (TFRC) and a–b ridge counts were obtained using AUTOCAD 2015 installed in a laptop. Qualitative dermatoglyphic variables of whorls, loops and arches were found to differentiate criminals from the controls. Worthy of note was specified allocation of arch patterns on criminals’ right thumb, right little finger and left thumb which were significantly different from the controls (P<0.05). Total finger ridge counts of the criminals also showed significant differences compared with the controls. a-b ridge counts and atd angles showed no significant difference between the criminals and the controls (p>0.05). Fingerprint patterns of whorls, loops, arches can be used to differentiate criminals and non- criminals in our studied population, more precisely allocation of arch pattern on the right thumb, right little finger and left thumb among female subjects can be a sign of predisposition to criminality as shown in our study.