FRSC 3010 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
Visual evidence presented in court as it relates to footwear impressions may
provide
type and make of shoe, approximate size, number of suspects, pathway in, through and
away from crime scene and possible sequence of events in crime scene
Footwear impression evidence is overlooked because?
- lack of training in the proper techniques to search, photograph and preserve the
evidence
- the evidentiary value of the footwear impressions is not understood
- lack of education in the comparison of footwear and report writing
Footwear in the scene
• Consist of 2 and 3 dimensional impressions
• Scale must be on plane with bottom of impression
• Use a tripod for closeup photos
• Most impressions are partial
• Recover all impressions whenever possible
• May provide information about number of suspects
What are the class characteristics of footwear impressions?
intentional or unavoidable characteristics that repeat during the manufacturing process
- example is pattern at bottom of shoe
,Accidental Characteristics
A characteristic of an item that was obtained through some process other than at the
time of production.
Footwear Collection Techniques
Gelatin Lifter
Electrostatic dust print lifting device
Casting
Gelatin lifter
a sheet of rubber with a low-adhesive gelatin layer on one side that can lift prints from
almost any surface, including porous, rough, curved and textured surfaces.
- typically used with fingerprint powders on two dimensional surfaces
Electrostatic dust print lifting device
Operates by charging a plastic film, placed over the dust print, which creates
electrostatic adhesions and draws the film onto the surface bearing the print
casting method
• Used for recording three dimensional footwear impressions
• Typically use dental stone
• For impressions found in snow, sand or soil
locating two dimensional impressions (footwear), what should be examined?
1) Movement within scene
2) Point of entry
3) Disturbed areas
4) Point of exit
,Two dimensional impressions
• May be visible to the eye
• Can use oblique lighting to examine surfaces in scene
• Floor will be main source of impressions
• Use fingerprint brush to search for impressions on floor
Locating three dimensional impressions
• Typically located on the outside of scenes
• Involves depth in addition to length and width
• Points of entry/exit, observation
• Various substrates (surfaces)
• Placement of scale on plane with bottom of impression key
• Oblique lighting
Photographing footwear impressions
• After overall and mid range photos
• First closeup photo without scale
• Next photos with scale and flash on an angle to impression (oblique)
• Scale must be at same level as impression in order to be useful
Close up photographs of footwear impressions require?
• Position camera on tripod with film plane parallel to impression
• A rigid scale should be included in every photograph
• Place scale next to and along length of impression at same plane as bottom of
impression
What should be done when photographing 3D impressions?
, • Camera on plane with impression
• Scale level with bottom of impression
• Oblique lighting (ground to 45 degrees)
• 1 metre from impression
• Move flash to three different positions, approximately 100 degrees apart
• Fill the frame
• High depth of field (F18-22)
• Take additional photographs with flash at multiple positions around impression as
needed
• An identifier should be included in each photograph
What lighting should be used to photograph 3D footwear impressions?
oblique lighting
What should be included in the notes about footwear impressions?
Detailed description of:
• Where found (inside/outside)
• Direction of travel
• Detail in impression (pattern)
• Substrate (Dirt/snow/tile)
• How preserved? (Photos, casting)
• Any development or enhancement technique used? (fingerprint powder, spray paint)
• How many?
• How many different types?
• Any footwear for elimination from witnesses, victim, suspect?
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
Visual evidence presented in court as it relates to footwear impressions may
provide
type and make of shoe, approximate size, number of suspects, pathway in, through and
away from crime scene and possible sequence of events in crime scene
Footwear impression evidence is overlooked because?
- lack of training in the proper techniques to search, photograph and preserve the
evidence
- the evidentiary value of the footwear impressions is not understood
- lack of education in the comparison of footwear and report writing
Footwear in the scene
• Consist of 2 and 3 dimensional impressions
• Scale must be on plane with bottom of impression
• Use a tripod for closeup photos
• Most impressions are partial
• Recover all impressions whenever possible
• May provide information about number of suspects
What are the class characteristics of footwear impressions?
intentional or unavoidable characteristics that repeat during the manufacturing process
- example is pattern at bottom of shoe
,Accidental Characteristics
A characteristic of an item that was obtained through some process other than at the
time of production.
Footwear Collection Techniques
Gelatin Lifter
Electrostatic dust print lifting device
Casting
Gelatin lifter
a sheet of rubber with a low-adhesive gelatin layer on one side that can lift prints from
almost any surface, including porous, rough, curved and textured surfaces.
- typically used with fingerprint powders on two dimensional surfaces
Electrostatic dust print lifting device
Operates by charging a plastic film, placed over the dust print, which creates
electrostatic adhesions and draws the film onto the surface bearing the print
casting method
• Used for recording three dimensional footwear impressions
• Typically use dental stone
• For impressions found in snow, sand or soil
locating two dimensional impressions (footwear), what should be examined?
1) Movement within scene
2) Point of entry
3) Disturbed areas
4) Point of exit
,Two dimensional impressions
• May be visible to the eye
• Can use oblique lighting to examine surfaces in scene
• Floor will be main source of impressions
• Use fingerprint brush to search for impressions on floor
Locating three dimensional impressions
• Typically located on the outside of scenes
• Involves depth in addition to length and width
• Points of entry/exit, observation
• Various substrates (surfaces)
• Placement of scale on plane with bottom of impression key
• Oblique lighting
Photographing footwear impressions
• After overall and mid range photos
• First closeup photo without scale
• Next photos with scale and flash on an angle to impression (oblique)
• Scale must be at same level as impression in order to be useful
Close up photographs of footwear impressions require?
• Position camera on tripod with film plane parallel to impression
• A rigid scale should be included in every photograph
• Place scale next to and along length of impression at same plane as bottom of
impression
What should be done when photographing 3D impressions?
, • Camera on plane with impression
• Scale level with bottom of impression
• Oblique lighting (ground to 45 degrees)
• 1 metre from impression
• Move flash to three different positions, approximately 100 degrees apart
• Fill the frame
• High depth of field (F18-22)
• Take additional photographs with flash at multiple positions around impression as
needed
• An identifier should be included in each photograph
What lighting should be used to photograph 3D footwear impressions?
oblique lighting
What should be included in the notes about footwear impressions?
Detailed description of:
• Where found (inside/outside)
• Direction of travel
• Detail in impression (pattern)
• Substrate (Dirt/snow/tile)
• How preserved? (Photos, casting)
• Any development or enhancement technique used? (fingerprint powder, spray paint)
• How many?
• How many different types?
• Any footwear for elimination from witnesses, victim, suspect?
