Dermatoglyphics Study of a Group of Violent Criminals & Sexual Offenders in Erbil City

According to scientists dermatoglyphics proved that is a very useful tool for identification of various gene-linked abnormalities and many human diseases. The aim of this study is to compare the differences in the finger ridge count (FRC) and fingerprint pattern. The study was conducted on 30 prisoners (15 violent criminals and 15 sexual offenders) and 30 students as a control group in Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Exemplar prints of prisoners were obtained from the Directorate of Erbil Central Prison, while for the control group fingerprints were obtained from the students of the biology department, Koya University by ink method to examine the differences between the fingerprint patterns. The result of fingerprint patterns showed that there was no significant difference between violent criminals and controls. The results of fingerprint patterns in sexual offenders showed a significant decrease of ulnar loop in both hands (right and left) (P=0.001) (P=0.035) respectively, when compared to the control group, while double loop increased significantly in both right and left hands (P=0.001) (P=0.006) respectively, when compared to normal social behaviors. Fingertip ridge counts of violent criminals showed no significant difference in most digits of both hands with exception of middle finger that increased significantly (P=0.006) (P=0.022) respectively, when compared with control group, while for the sexual offenders also there was no significant difference in most digits only index and little finger of right hand showed significant increase (P=0.034) (P=0.033) respectively, when compared with control group.