NCJ Number
50729
Journal
Forensic Science Society Journal Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 271-285
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF 650 PAIRS OF USED MEN'S FOOTWARE WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH TRACE EVIDENCE IS ENCOUNTERED. A WIDE VARIETY OF PARTICLES WERE RECOVERED AND MANY OTHER CHARACTERISTICS HAD EVIDENCE VALUE.
Abstract
A SURVEY OF USED FOOTWEAR FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE TYPES OF GLASS, PAINT, METAL, AND WOOD FRAGMENTS MOST LIKELY TO BE RECOVERED, THE ABILITY OF STANDARD LABORATORY TESTS IN RECOVERING SUCH EVIDENCE, AND PATTERNS OF HEEL WEAR, TREAD WEAR, AND OTHER IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF EVIDENTIAL VALUE. SINCE WOMEN'S SHOES ARE RARELY ENCOUNTERED IN CASEWORK, THIS STUDY CONCENTRATED ON MEN'S FOOTWEAR. THE SHOES WERE COLLECTED OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS FROM DONATIONS TO GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, (SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA) AN ORGANIZATION WHICH RECEIVES WIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND COLLECTS FROM ALL SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES. COMPARISON WITH SHOES BROUGHT IN AS EVIDENCE CONFIRMS THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SAMPLE. IT WAS FOUND THAT LARGE PROPORTIONS OF THE SHOES CONTAINED SAND OR GRAVEL, GLASS (WHICH WAS SORTED BY COLOR), METAL FRAGMENTS, WOOD, PLANT MATERIALS, SOIL, AND RESIDUES. CLEAR, COLORLESS GLASS WAS THE MOST FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED MATERIAL OF EVIDENTIAL VALUE. LEATHER SURFACES TENDED TO RETAIN CONTACT DEBRIS WHILE RUBBER SURFACES HAD BETTER RETENTION OF PENETRATING DEBRIS, SUCH AS GLASS. CREPE OR FOAM-RUBBER SOLES HAD LOW PARTICLE RETENTION DUE TO THEIR FLEXIBILITY. A TABLE WAS DEVELOPED SHOWING FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF MAJOR DEFECTS, SUCH AS CUTS AND HOLES, AND TREAD WEAR CHARACTERISTICS. ANOTHER TABLE WAS DEVELOPED FOR TREAD PATTERNS AND TRADEMARK DESIGNS. STYLE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH CAN AFFECT MEASUREMENTS OF FOOT SIZE THROUGH SIMPLE MEASUREMENTS OF SHOE IMPRESSION ARE DISCUSSED. THE VALUE OF VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS AS EVIDENCE IS WEIGHTED. DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ARE PROVIDED. TECHNIQUES FOR EXAMINING SHOES FOR EVIDENCE INCLUDE MICROSCOPE EXAMINATION, SIFTING THROUGH SIEVES, AND MEASURING ULTRAVIOLET FLUORESCENCE. TABULAR DATA, GRAPHS, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)