Fingerprint and Footwear Analysis Reports Flashcards
What law requires a report?
Criminal Code of Canada
When is a report required?
When a case is going to court in an amount of time that satisfies disclosure requirements
Why are reports helpful/important?
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Assists the trier of fact and the court
Ensures the analyst follows a systematic scientific approach
Assists the expert witness with explanations
Shows transparency and professionalism
True or false: An analysis report should include as much information as possible.
False: BE CONCISE
What section of the CCC governs the rules and procedure of calling expert evidence at trial?
s. 657.3
According to s. 657.3 of the CCC, what must an expert report be accompanied by?
The associated affidavit
Under what conditions is it permissible for an expert to produce a report in court under s. 657.3 of the CCC?
2
- The court recognizes the person as an expert
- The party intending to produce the report in evidence has provided a copy with the affidavit to the other party and has given reasonable notice of the intention to produce it as evidence
According to the CCC, at minimum, when should a party intending to call an expert witness notify the other party about such intention?
Minimum of 30 days before the commencement of the trial.
When notifying the other party of intent to use expert opinion evidence, what information needs to be provided by the party using this evidence as set out in s. 357 of the CCC?
3
- Name of proposed witness
- Description of area of expertise of the proposed witness that is sufficient to permit the other parties to inform themselves about that area
- A statement of the qualifications of the proposed witness as an expert
What else must be given to the other party when notifying them of your intent to use an expert witness?
A copy of the report, if any.
If no report is prepared, a summary of the anticipated opinion and the grounds on which it is based.
How long does the defense have to provide prosecutors with the required materials and documentation?
No later than the close of the case for the prosecution.
What is a voir dire?
A mini hearing that determines either the admissibility of evidence or whether or not an expert is qualified to provide opinion evidence in court.
Who has the final say in a voir dire?
The judge
List agencies that set standards for friction ridge analysis.
3
SWGFAST
CanFRWG
OSAC Friction Ridge Subcommittee
What does SWGFAST stand for?
Scientific Working Group of Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology
What is the role of SWGFAST?
Establish consensus guidelines and standards for the forensic examination of palm prints and footprints.
What does OSAC stand for?
Organization of Scientific Area Committees
When did the OSAC Friction RIdge Subcommittee replace SWGFAST?
2014
What does the OSAC Friction Ridge Subcommittee do?
Focuses on standards and guidelines related to forensic examination of friction ridge detail from the hands and feet.
What does CanFRWG stand for?
Canadian Friction Ridge Working Group
What does CanFRWG do?
Support the forensic identification discipline by providing guidelines and resources to assist in ongoing training and professional development.
Who wrote Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis - An Introductioon to Basic and Advanced RIdgeology?
David Ashbaugh
List the 4 premises of friction ridge identification.
- Friction ridges develop on the fetus in their definitive form before birth
- Friction ridges are persistent throughout life except for permanent scarring
- Friction ridge patterns are highly discriminatory and never repeated
- Friction ridge formations vary within limits which allow for classification.
What was Ashbaugh’s philosphy regarding friction ridge identification?
Friction ridge identification is established through the agreement of friction ridge formations in sequence, having sufficient uniqueness to identify.
What is the analysis phase of friction ridge analysis?
Comprehensive phase where friction ridge anatomy, orientation, quantity and quality of fingerprint are considered.
List the sequence of analysis in the bottom up approach of friction ridge analysis.
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Substrate
Matrix
Development medium
Distortions
Give examples of substrate distortion in fingerprints.
3
Flexible substrates
Shape
Dirty substrates
What types of distortions can be made by a flexible substrate?
3
Creases or folds
Compression and expansion
Double taps
What type of distortion can be caused by a dirty substrate?
Take away
Give examples of matrix distortions possible for fingerprints.
4
Lack
Excess
Matrix smear/smudge
Movement
Give example of possible development medium distortions of fingerprints.
4
Excess
Lack
Join the dot impression
Artifacts
What can lateral pressure distortion cause in a fingeerprint?
Horizontal movement
Longitudinal movement
Twisting
What are the three main patterns of level 1 detail in fingerprints?
Loop
Whorl
Arch
What is a loop pattern?
Re-curving ridges with a core to delta distance of three units or more.
Differentiate between radial and ulnar loops.
Radail = thumb
Ulnar = pinky
What is a whorl pattern?
Circular/spiral ridges with two or more points of delta.
List the different whorl patterns.
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Plain whorl
Central pocket loop whorl
Double loop whorl
Composite whorl
Accidental whorl
Describe an arch pattern.
Ridges lying one above the other
What are the two types of arch patterns?
Plain arch
Tented arch
Describe a tented arch pattern.
At least one up-thrusting ridge which tends to bisect superior ridges.
Give examples of level 2 fingerprint detail.
Ridge ending
Bifurcation
Dot
Short ridge/island
Lake/enclosure
Hook/spur
Bridge
Give examples of Level 3 fingerprint detail.
Pores
Line shape
Incipient ridges
Creases
Warts
Scars
What is the purpose of the comparison stage?
Determine suitability of the unknown print.
What things are you assessing when assessing the known print?
6
Substrate distortion
Matrix distortion
Development medium distortion
Deposition pressure distortion
Lateral pressure distortion
Clarity
What things are you looking for in the comparison stage at level 1 detail?
4
Pattern
Presence of delta
Core to delta distance
Ridge flow trends
What things do you compare from level 2 detail at the comparison stage?
2
Assessment of features/quantity/quality
Side by side sequential comparison
What is the evaluation step?
The culmination of the detailed analysis and comparison of all detail available?
What is included in the evaluation section of a report?
Summary of findings
Opinion
What are the three possible fingerprint conclusions as defined by SWGFAST/OSAC?
Identification
Exclusion
Insufficient detail
Describe the verification step in the ACE-V analysis.
Form of peer review
Independent analysis by another individual
What two organizations have set the standards for footwear evidence?
SWGTREAD
OSAC, Footwear and Tire Subcommittee
Outline the dates that SWGTREAD was setting standards for footwear analysis.
2004-2013
What does SWGTREAD stand for?
Scientific Working Group for Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence
When did OSAC, Footwear and Tire Subcommittee begin setting standards for footwear evidence?
2014
Who authored “Forensic Footwear Evidence”?
William J. Bodziak.
Outline the process of footwear comparison.
Analyze unknown
Analyze known
Compare
Evaluate
Verification
What features of footwear are compared during the comparison stage of the analysis?
Class
Wear
RACs
How can comparison of footwear be accomplished?
Side by side
Element tracing
Superimposition
In the verification step, who should conduct the verification?
An individual with equal or higher level of training/experience
Give examples of class characteristics that may be analyzed in a footwear analysis.
4
Physical size
Tread pattern design
Tread elements
Flat or raised heel block
Is wear greater in the known or unknown print?
Known
What factors contribute to the fact that variations will occur between successive impressions made by the same shoe?
4
Strike angle
Weight (amount and distribution)
Substrate
Amount of matrix
Give examples of possible footwear distortions.
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Movement
Slippage
Artifacts between substrate and outsole
Angle outsole strikes
Uneven or soft substrate that shifts/collapses
Compression of the impression
Photography issues
Collections/lift issues.
List the possible footwear conclusions established by SWGTREAD-OSAC.
7
Lacks sufficient detail
Exclusion
Indications of non-association
Limited association of class characteristics
Association of class characteristics
High degree of association of class characteristics
Identification
List the possible footwear conclusions established by the RCMP.
5
Inconclusive
Exclusion
Association of class characteristics
Higher degree of association
Identification
List the possible footwear conclusions established by the OPP.
4
Inconclusive
Excluded
Similar to
Associated to
