First U.S. fingerprint fileIn 1902, the first fingerprint file in the U.S. was initiated when the first fingerprint impression record was taken from James Johnson, an applicant for a job as a city fireman. The file was established for bureaucratic, not criminal reasons, to identifiy candidates taking the New York City Civil Service examination. It had become necessary to end a problem with impersonation by hired stand-ins taking the test on behalf of applicants for jobs as police or firemen. The medical examiner in charge of the physical exams, Dr. Henry P. DeForest, had been given the task of implementing a suitable identification procedure. He travelled to England and learned first-hand about the new fingerprinting procedures at Scotland Yard.« |
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