How are fingerprints classified in CSI?

How are fingerprints classified in CSI?

Richard Saferstein (Former Chief Forensic Scientist) gives expert video advice on: How are fingerprints detected at a crime scene?; What's the difference between a 'visible fingerprint' and a 'latent fingerprint'?; How are fingerprints preserved in CSI? and more...

Fingerprints come in three general patterns. All humans and all of their fingers have fingerprints that fit into one of those three categories. About 60% of the population will have loops, about 35% of the population will have whorls, and about 5% of the population will have arch patterns. So there are three general patterns to fingerprints: loops, arches, and whorls.