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Trace evidence is found in many different forms with some examples including, but not limited, to fire debris, gunshot residue, glass fragments, and fibres. [2] Each of these types of evidence will have a trained analyst in that specific field who will conduct the analysis on these items.
Fragmentary or trace evidence is any type of material left at (or taken from) a crime scene, or the result of contact between two surfaces, such as shoes and the floor covering or soil, or fibres from where someone sat on an upholstered chair. When a crime is committed, fragmentary (or trace) evidence needs to be collected from the scene.
When possible, it is preferred that the entire item of evidence, such as a glass fragment or sweater with glass shards, is collected. [2] Glass evidence can also take on the form of trace evidence. In these cases, trace evidence lifters, forensic vacuums or tweezers can aid in the collection of the glass evidence. [2]
Types of trace evidence that could be recovered include skin, glass fragments, body hair, fibers from clothing or carpets, soil particles, dust and bodily fluids. The study of this trace evidence could be used to link a piece of footwear to a location or owner. DNA can be one of the contributing factors in forensic footwear evidence.
Trace evidence is sometimes an important factor in reconstructing the sequence of events in an accident. For example, tire burn marks on a road surface can enable vehicle speeds to be estimated, when the brakes were applied and so on. Ladder feet often leave a trace of movement of the ladder during a slip and may show how the accident occurred.
Transfer of fiber can occur during close contact with the victim or suspect. Fiber transfers can also occur during break-ins where fibers from the intruder are caught in. [1] [2] Fiber evidence is a type of trace evidence, this means it will likely be very small and sometimes could be microscopic. [3]
Contaminated evidence is any foreign material that is introduced to a crime scene after the crime is committed. [1] Contaminated evidence can be brought in by witnesses, suspects, victims, emergency responders, fire fighters, police officers and investigators. [2] Juries expect to see forensic evidence before they render a verdict based on that ...
Forensic identification is the application of forensic science, or "forensics", and technology to identify specific objects from the trace evidence they leave, often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. Forensic means "for the courts".