Question

When and why were finger prints first used in the united states

Answer 1

Because of this case where there were 2 guys with very similar names that looked so alike the could be twins. It was very hard for the prison to tell the inmates apart from eachother but fingerprints solved the issue because no fingerprints are identical. I believe it was the "Will and William West" case.

Answer 2

He is also credited with the firstfingerprint identification of a greasyfingerprint left on an alcohol bottle. In 1882, Gilbert Thompson of the U.S.Geological Survey in New Mexico, used his own fingerprints on a document to prevent forgery. This is the first knownuse of fingerprints in the United States.