Impression and Pattern Evidence Flashcards

When casting a tire track impression in soft soil, what material is most commonly used?

Answer: Dental stone

Dental stone is preferred over plaster of Paris because it is harder, more durable, and captures finer detail.

What is the primary purpose of electrostatic lifting in footwear examination?

Answer: Lifting dry, dusty shoe impressions from hard surfaces

An electrostatic lifting device (ESDA) uses static charge to transfer dry dust impressions onto a black lifting film.

A bite mark on a victim's skin shows individual tooth characteristics. Which characteristic is NOT typically used in bite mark analysis?

Answer: Dental enamel color

Enamel color is not a reliable or useful characteristic in bite mark comparison because skin impressions do not record color.

In tire track analysis, what does 'track width' refer to?

Answer: The distance between the left and right tires on the same axle

Track width is measured from the center of the left tire to the center of the right tire on the same axle, helping narrow down vehicle type.

When photographing a shoe impression in soil at a crime scene, what is the correct oblique lighting angle?

Answer: A low angle of approximately 10-45 degrees

Low oblique lighting at 10–45 degrees casts shadows that highlight the three-dimensional detail of the impression.

What is a 'Wheelbase' measurement in tire track evidence?

Answer: The distance from the front axle to the rear axle

Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles and can help classify the type and make of a vehicle.

Which type of shoe print would be classified as a 'patent impression'?

Answer: A visible print left in blood or paint on a hard floor

A patent impression is already visible to the naked eye, such as a bloody or muddy shoe print left on a hard surface.