Comparison of the Individual Characteristics in the Outsoles of Thirty-Nine Pairs of Adidas Supernova Classic Shoes

• NCJ Number: 238782
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2012 Pages: 194-204
• Author(s): Hilary D. Wilson
• Date Published: June 2012
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined characteristics to identify footwear impressions.

Abstract

This study was conducted on 39 pairs of running shoes (Adidas Supernova Classic, men's size 12) that were worn by 1 individual over approximately an 8-year time period, on similar surfaces for a similar number of miles. These shoes were examined for the presence of individual characteristics to determine whether they were able to be individualized. The results of this study support the premise that all individual or accidental characteristics are random and happen by chance, and that by using these characteristics, footwear impressions are able to be identified to a single source. (Published Abstract)