Massachusetts Freemason Child Identification Program: Best Child I.D. Program in the World

One of the scariest things that can happen to a parent is having their child go missing. SO to help protect children, many groups are doing child identification programs to help parents have the necessary tools to help locate their child if he or she even went missing or lost. However, of all the programs available, the Masonic Child Identification Program (CHIP) is the best in the world. I will discuss Massachusetts' version, since that is where I am from. The kit includes a ToothPrint, a DNA cheek swab, a fingerprint card, and a video.

ToothPrint: Like a fingerprint, every person's bite is unique to them. Even identical twins have different ToothPrints. It is a plastic wafer that when heated can be molded. The child bites on it for a few seconds and then it is put into a plastic baggy. What makes this tool indispensable is the fact that saliva is on the wafer, enabling scent tracking dogs to take one whiff of the ToothPrint and have a direct scent from the child as opposed to rubbed off skin cells on clothing, which is indirect. This wafer can also be used to positively I.D. an unidentifiable body. For example, teeth can withstand several thousand degrees of heat while skin (fingerprints, tattoos, birthmarks) cannot, making the teeth very important in identifying a body.

DNA cheek swab: This is like an extra long cotton swab that is gently rubbed on the inside of the cheek. Then then swab is capped. This contains both chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA, both of which are vital in investigations and identification. This last for up to 30years when kept in the freezer. It also can be used for scent tracing since like the ToothPrint, it is direct from the child.

Fingerprint card: The classic fingerprint card takes impressions of all ten fingers. This is used less for identification purposes but is essential for investigation. Most parents do not have their children's' fingerprints unless the child has been arrested, which as one can guess is not very often. Some states have updated to using computers to do a scan of the child's fingerprints so that it is readable by both fingerprinting programs that law enforcement uses.