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IDENTIFICATION FROM FOOTWEAR

NCJ Number
64743
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 225-230
Author(s)
L J LUCOCK
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF A PAIR OF SHOES CAN LEAD TO DEDUCTIONS CONCERNING THE WEARER, PARTICULARLY TO THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER TWO PAIRS OF FOOTWEAR HAVE BEEN WORN BY THE SAME PERSON.
Abstract
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE THE WEARER OF A PAIR OF SHOES BY EXAMINATION OF THE SHOES, BUT CERTAIN FACTORS CAN BE ASCERTAINED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE SHOES CAN BE VALUABLE IF THE SHOES HAVE HAD AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF WEAR AND IF THE DESIGNS OF TWO PAIRS BEING STUDIED DO NOT DIFFER MARKEDLY. A KNOWLEDGE OF NORMAL AND ABNORMAL FOOT FUNCTION AND FOOT DEFORMITIES AND THEIR EFFECT ON FOOTWEAR IS REQUIRED AND IS ESPECIALLY ESSENTIAL WHEN DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE EFFECT OF THE FOOT AND GAIT AND THE EFFECT OF VARYING DESIGNS AND DIFFERENT SIZES. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR EXAMINING FOOTWEAR INCLUDES AN INTERNAL SIZE STICK, A NARROW TAPE, CALIPERS USED TO DETERMINE VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF THE UPPERS, AND AN INTERNAL INSPECTION MIRROR. EXAMINATION OF SHOE WEAR COVERS PATTERNS OF SOLE AND HEEL WEAR, WEAR OF THE UPPERS, PATTERN OF LINING WEAR, INSOLE IMPRESSION, URINARY CONTAMINATION AND DIABETES MELLITUS, SAND MOLDINGS, AND SHOE PRINTS. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED: MARKED SIZE, INTERNAL STICK LENGTH, CREASING OF VAMP, SHAPE OF QUARTERS, FOOT IMPRESSIONS IN INSOLES, WIDTH ACROSS JOINT, AND DISTORTION OF VAMPS. EXAMINATION PROCEDURES AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS ARE DETAILED. ILLUSTRATIONS AND A TABLE ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)

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