NCJ Number
209476
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 55 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2005 Pages: 181-188
Date Published
March 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In examining the time that elapses between the collection of shoeprint impressions from a crime scene and collecting a suspect’s footwear, this study investigated the amount of change in the patterns of the soles of shoes over a specified period of time.
Abstract
Shoeprints can be linked to a person’s shoes by comparing general characteristics, such as the shoe’s class characteristics, wear pattern, and individual characteristics. However, footwear impressions found at a crime scene linking a suspect to the crime scene can encounter identification problems based on the time that elapses between the collection of impressions from the scene and collection of the suspect’s footwear. The question that arises is exactly how much time can elapse before identification is impossible. Using an Indenticator LE-25 Inkless Foot/Shoe Print Kit, this study obtained shoeprints from 26 laboratory employees and 28 high school students. After a period of 2 months, shoeprints were again obtained from these same participants wearing the same shoes. Out of 54 sets of shoeprints observed, 22 pairs could be positively identified as having a common origin. The remaining 32 shoeprints could not be positively identified to a particular shoe by analysts. The results indicate that a shoeprint examiner should expect to find some new individual characteristics that are not present on the recovered crime scene print in addition to some wear pattern changes.