Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

dealing with the presentation of shoeprint evidence in court, may also be provided
by this Group.
Useful guides, regarding various aspects of the photography of footwear marks,
are also found at the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology (SWGIT)
web-page (7). Among these guides are:
• Field Photography Equipment and Supporting Infrastructure (2009,
updated version),
• Guidelines for Image Processing (2010, updated version),
• General Guidelines for Photographing Tire Impressions (2010, updated
version),
• General Guidelines for Photographing Footwear Impressions (2010,
updated version).
The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Expert Working
Group Marks (EWGM), established in 1995, also runs an active web-page (8).
One of the remarkable features of this web-page is its “Wanted Page”, enabling
the exchange of information regarding unknown shoeprints. Since the beginning of
2008, more than 150 queries were submitted by shoeprint examiners from all over
the globe, many of which were successfully answered by other peers. In addition,
this Group’s newsletter, “Information Bulletin for Shoeprint/Toolmark Examiners”
(IBSTE) is also posted on this web-page.
The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (VA-DFS) has prepared a
procedures manual of various laboratory methods for footwear and tire tread
impressions, as well as a training manual for experts in this field (4). These
documents, as other VA-DFS manuals, are available on the Internet.
The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB, UK) Fingerprint and
Footwear Forensics (FFF) group produced special edition newsletters (9, 10),
dedicated to the recovery and imaging of footwear marks. These newsletters
comprise comprehensive and practical guidelines for many aspects of lifting
techniques and chemical enhancement methods for shoeprints found on various
surfaces.
2.1 Detection and Recording
2.1.1 Photography and Image Processing
Footwear impressions can be photographed (on film or digitally) or scanned. The
standard methods for shoeprint photography are covered in numerous articles,
including the SWGTREAD and the SWGIT guides (6, 7).
Blitzer and his colleagues (11) conducted a comprehensive study regarding the
effects of the photographic technology on the examination quality of footwear
impressions. The purpose of their study was to determine how footwear
impression examiners respond to different photographic methods employed. The
researchers used both resolution standard targets and inked shoeprints for the
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