Site 1: http://projects. nfstc. org/trace/2009/index. htm
Website is run by the National Forensic Science Technology Center. This website gives a brief description of what trace evidence is. It states “ Trace evidence is considered one of the most diverse of the forensic disciplines because it can include the analysis of paint, glass, hair, fibers, particulate matter, botanicals, explosives, and impression evidence, among others. ” It goes on to state how the understanding of trace evidence can be crucial to an investigation.
The second paragraph on this page goes on to talk about a symposium in which brought together researchers and practitioners from the United States and abroad to enhance the information sharing of trace evidence. This website also has some very interesting summaries of the presentations given at this symposium under the Presentations/Videos tab.
Site 2: http://www. crimeandclues. com/hair_evidence. htm
Website is run by Daryl W. Clemens The websites editor is also Daryl W. Clemens and the Associate editor is Professor, Dr. Anil Aggrawal. Website was last updated September 10, 2009. The part of the website I looked at is called Trace Evidence: Hair. This page focuses on only one part of trace evidence which is obviously the hair. The article begins by describing a case that could not be solved because we had no way of distinguishing the difference between human and animal hair. It goes on to talk about how after the comparison between human and animal hair had been resolved, detectives started looking at dyed hairs.
Using hairs as evidence has come a long way. Hair can not be used as the sole indicator of guilt but when its used as a combination with other evidence it can be a very powerful tool. The rest of this article talks about the collection of hair, and how it can be used as evidence. It talks about the D. N. A which can be found on the root of the hair which can be used to identify people. It discusses the use of hair in toxicology and how it can be used long after a body is disintegrated.
In conclusion hair is a very powerful form of evidence which can show an individual had contact with the victim. Hair can not be used as solid evidence on its own but is used to back up other evidence obtained.
Site 3 http://www. michigan. gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1593_3800-15961–,00. html
Website is run by The Michigan State Police. This website is from The Michigan State Police Department. This website also gives us a better look at what exactly trace evidence is by giving us various example then defining each.
For example the website states that because an examiner will see a wide range of trace evidence, he/she must be proficient in understanding what each is. The two most interesting descriptions of trace evidence on this page are The Glass and The Footwear and Tire Impressions. In the Glass category it states how glass very commonly gets stuck to a person’s body, hair, clothing and or tools( if window was broken into). It states that glass can be matched through properties like glass tint, thickness, UV florescence, etc. The footwear and tire impressions are equally as interesting.
Although there may be thousands of people with the same type of shoe as you, your sneaker may be as individual as a fingerprint. Your shoes adapt to your feet and how you walk. They may also be subjected to wear and tear, scratches and nicks which also help in making them unique. This happens with car tires as well. Both footwear and tire impressions are examined in the same way. Track marks can be two dimensional in dirt or blood, but three dimensional in snow, mud or soft soil. Impressions are photographed, lifted or cast to compare to other tracks or prints.
