Chapter 8.5: Crime Scene Management

every scene has potential to reveal footwear impressions left at a scene

most likely to be arbitrarily destroyed

impressions may be from outside

first photograph with an appropriate scale

if removable- do so and package appropriately to ensure sample integrity

if immoveable- impressions made of whole print if possible, if not a partial print taken using ESLA

in soft earth- photograph and plaster cast of impression

mud and/or snow- spray with aerosol was several times and allow to harden

pour the plaster cast and allow to set

if blood- take photos, if print is faint enhance with chemicals- none appear to have adverse effects on subsequent STR DNA typing

once cast arrives to lab

shoe and size and type identified from sole imprint pattern

initial identification currently done using computerised system e.g: SICAR (shoeprint image capture and retrieval)

further evidential value required even after matching imprints