| Forensic Footwear Evidence |
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Forensic footwear evidence can be used in legal proceedings to help prove the identities of persons at the Crime Scene . Footwear evidence is often the most abundant form of evidence at a crime scene and in some cases can prove to be as specific as a Fingerprint . Initially investigators will look to identify the make and model of the Shoe or Trainer which made an impression. This can be done visually or by comparison with evidence in a Database both methods focus heavily on pattern recognition and Brand or Logo marks. Information about the owner of any footwear can be gained from the analysis of Wear patterns which are dependant on angle of footfall and Weight Distribution . Detailed examination of footwear impressions can help to link a specific peice of footwear to a footwear imprint as each shoe will have unquie wear charateristics. TYPES OF FOOTWEAR EVIDENCE Footwear evidence can come in at least 3 forms, footwear outsole impression evidence, footwear insole impressions and footwear trace evidence. Footwear outsole impression "shoeprints": Footwear outsole impressions are impressions left on an object that was caused by contact with a piece of footwear. These can left on the ground or raised surface by persons treading over it, left on doors or walls by persons attempting to kick or climb over a wall or even left on other persons after being kicked or stomped on. Plastic footwear impressions: Plastic footwear impression are 3 dimensional impression caused left by footwear on soft material after being treaded on. Such prints can found on soft surface such as loose soil, sand, mud and snow. Such prints can normally be seen by the naked eye and would be typically be recovered with photography as well as casting. Latent footwear impressions: Latent impressions are caused by the transfer of material from outsole of the footwear to the surface. Such prints can be on many different surfaces such as floor tiles, concrete or even carpet. Latent impression may not be easily visible to the naked eye and there detection may require the use of additional so specialized light sources such as portable UV lighting. Recovery typically includes photography as well as lifting with "gel" or "electrostatic" dust lifters. Information that can be determined from footwear outsole impressions: Determine type and make of footwear: Footwear impressions left at a location can be used to determine the make and model of shoe that left the impression. Information on the make and type of footwear can help profile the suspect and provide leads on who may have bought or worn the footwear which created the impression. Approximate height of person wearing shoe: Measurements of footwear impression can be used to provide approximation height of a suspect. With shoeprint size information, investigators can refer to statistical data to approximate the height of the person since shoeprint vs. height relationship follows a normal distribution. Height can also be approximate by stride length which could be measured from a set of footwear impressions. Determine activity of person when imprint was made: Analysis of a plastic footwear impression can also be used help determine the activity of the wearing when the imprint was made. The footwear imprint left by person is different when they are walking, running or carry heavy loads. A footwear impression left by running person will typically deeper in the hell and toe sections of the shoeprint. A person carrying a heavy load such as a body will cause deeper prints than a person not carrying anything. Link a specific piece of footwear to footwear imprint: A specific piece of footwear can be linked to a specific footwear impression with carefully analysis. Every piece of footwear will show different amounts of tread wear, different amounts of damage in the form of tiny cuts and nicks. These unique characteristics will also show on the impression left by the footwear. Footwear Insole imprints Footwear insole imprints are imprints left in the inside of footwear caused by contact from the person’s foot. Analysis of the insole imprints can be used to link a person(s) to a piece of footwear. Footwear trace evidence Footwear trace evidence is trace evidence that is recovered from footwear. Types of trace evidence that could be recovered include skin, glass fragments, body hair, fibres from clothing or carpets, soil particles, dust and bodily fluids. The study of this trace evidence could be used to link a piece of footwear to a location or owner. |
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