Yes, clothes can retain fingerprints, but the success of recovering them depends on several factors. While not a routinely reliable method for forensic science, advancements are being made.
Factors Affecting Fingerprint Recovery from Clothing
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Fabric Type: The type of fabric significantly impacts fingerprint preservation. High thread count fabrics, like silk, nylon, and polyester, are more likely to reveal identifiable fingerprints. (Source: Forensic experts retrieve fingerprints from clothing, 2011). Conversely, porous fabrics may not retain prints well enough for identification. (Source: Do police routinely dust a murdered corpse for fingerprints (perhaps ... , 2022) Glossy fabrics, such as satin or gold lamé, offer a better chance of fingerprint recovery. (Source: Why is it usually impossible to obtain fingerprints from textiles such as fabric clothing and carpet, 2021)
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Amount of Residue: The amount of residue left by the fingerprint plays a critical role. Sufficient finger residue is needed to mark the clothing surface. (Source: How Long Do Fingerprints Stay on Clothes? A Forensic Guide ..., n.d.)
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Time Elapsed: The length of time since the print was left impacts the likelihood of successful recovery. Prints can last from a week to longer, depending on several variables. (Source: How Long Do Fingerprints Stay on Clothes? A Forensic Guide ..., n.d.)
Successful Fingerprint Recovery
While generally challenging, new methods are showing promise in recovering fingerprint ridge detail and impressions from fabrics. (Source: Forensic breakthrough: Recovering fingerprints on fabrics could turn ..., 2011) Research suggests that specific techniques are improving the chances of recovering usable fingerprints from various fabrics. (Source: The research is still in its early stages but we are starting to see results. We have shown that fabrics with a high thread count are best for revealing a print and have recovered identifiable fingerprints on a number of fabrics including silk, nylon and polyester., 2011)
