Text 3. Fingerprints

I. Read and translate the text.

Fingerprinting is the best means of identification. Fingerprints help in identifying a criminal, a victim, or a dead person. Fingerprinting is simple and reliable because the skin pattern is an individual and permanent characteristic that doesn't change with the time.

The method of fingerprinting is called dactyloscopy. This method appeared at the end of the XIX century and has been greatly improved since that time. The offender's fingerprints are often found at the scene of the crime. But the prints can be easily destroyed through careless handling. Fingerprints are often left on chairs, tables, telephones and other objects.

Theoretically, fingerprints can be forged. But a forgery can be detected with the help of a hand-lens or photographic enlargement.

Vocabulary

fingerprinting to identify a criminal a victim the skin pattern to destroy the fingerprints careless handling to forge fingerprints to detect hand-lens photographic enlargement

дактилоскопия установить личность преступника жертва преступления узор кожного рельефа уничтожить отпечатки пальцев неосторожное обращение подделать отпечатки пальцев обнаружить ручная лупа фотоувеличение

II. Answer the following questions.

1. Who do fingerprints help identify?

2. Why is fingerprinting considered to be the best means of identification?

3. What is another name for fingerprinting?

4. How old is dactyloscopy?

5. What objects are fingerprints most often left on?

6. Why is it important to handle fingerprints carefully?

7. Can fingerprints be forged?

8. How can forgery be detected?

3. Find in the text English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.

1. средство

2. надёжный

3. постоянный

4. со временем

5. усовершенствовать

6. подделка

7. с помощью

Text 4. Phases and Nature of Investigation

I. Read and translate the text.

The 3 phases of investigation are:

1. identifying the criminal

2. tracing and locating the criminal

3. proving the criminal's guilt

Identifying the Criminal

The criminal may be identified through confession, the testimony of a witness or conclusive evidence.

Very often, in order to locate a criminal, it is enough to identify him. In many cases, however, it is necessary to trace a fugitive who is hiding.

Tracing and Locating the criminal

The second phase of investigation is finding missing or wanted persons. The search for a person is sometimes a simple matter of a few telephone calls or a visit to a house. At other times, however, the hunt can become a lengthy process which requires a great deal of tracing, such as a search of records and an application of various sources of information. Unofficial sources of information, such as confidential informants, are often used by investigating officers.

Proving the Criminal's Guilt

It is the most difficult phase of investigation. At this phase, it is necessary to gather the facts that can prove the guilt of the accused. The investigator should establish the fact of the existence of the crime, identify the defendant, find the necessary witnesses, provide physical evidence and present the case convincingly.

Finally, the case is tried in court. It is wrong to believe that every crime is soluble, and that the criminal always leaves traces at the crime scene. It is also hard to say if the investigation is a success or not. In general, it is easier to identify and locate the criminal than to obtain evidence to support the charge in court.