ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

The fingerprint pattern characterized by a circular formation is the whorl. Whorls are one of the primary types of fingerprint patterns, distinctively featuring circular or spiral arrangements. They typically have two or more deltas and can vary in appearance, including plain, central pocket loop, double loop, and accidental. These characteristics may help forensic experts distinguish whorls from other patterns such as loops, which curve back on themselves but do not create a full circular shape, and arches, which rise in the center which does not form circular patterns. Understanding the specific attributes of fingerprint patterns is crucial for forensic investigations and can contribute to the identification process in a variety of legal contexts.