# Fingerprints on wanted posters

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingerprints-on-wanted-posters/114835>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 19, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingerprints-on-wanted-posters/114835 "2002-06-19T12:08:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingerprints-on-wanted-posters/114835/1 "2002-06-19T12:08:31Z")

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Did the wanted posters that used to get posted in post offices really include a set of the wanted person’s fingerprints? If so, why? Did people look at those posters and say “Hey, those _do_ look like his fingerprints!”?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingerprints-on-wanted-posters/114835/2 "2002-06-19T12:19:06Z")

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Probably because they send the posters to police departments, too. Of course, nowadays fingerprints are computer matched, but when it started it allowed the police to double check quickly. (“I think our perp might be Public Enemy #13. Check his prints against the poster.”)