In practical work, when the quantity of shoeprints at the scene is small, or the shoeprints are incomplete, deformed, or blurred, making examination conditions poor, it is difficult to draw conclusions using a single examination method. By summarizing shoeprint print identification experiences, it is found that for such difficult shoeprints, employing a primary examination method supplemented by several auxiliary methods yields better examination results.
1. Advantages of Using Multiple Examination Methods
Among the four examination methods mentioned, except forthe randomly acquired characteristics examination method, the other three methods are based on the specificity and relative stability of the human foot structure, walking habits, and movement patterns. They utilize the differences in characteristics reflected by the foot and shoe in contact with objects under various postures such as standing and walking. These methods are further developments based on footwork characteristics. Each method, while forming its own system and having different focuses, is interconnected. The characteristics discovered using any examination method are part of a whole.
Using one examination method as the main approach,supplemented or complemented by other methods, addresses the limitations of relying solely on one method. This approach allows for the utilization of more characteristics, enhances the quality of the examination, maximizes the information contained ineach shoeprint, and improves the success rate of examination and identification.
2. The Practice of Using Multiple Examination Methods
Combining various methods in shoeprint examination and identification primarily addresses the challenges of examining incomplete, blurred, or deformed shoeprints extracted from the scene. Based on the principles of criminal scientific examination procedures, one must flexibly apply examination techniques and methods according to different situations.
(1) When the shoeprints or shoes from the scene and those from the suspect are of the same type, and conditions allow for randomly acquired characteristics examination, this method should be the primary approach.
Randomly acquired characteristics are the most intuitive and accurate. When randomly acquired characteristics are insufficient, other examination methods can be used to find additional characteristics to support the examination. During randomly acquired characteristics examination, the lack of prominent characteristics in the shoeprints can undermine the confidence of the technicians. By adopting another examination method to find supporting characteristics, the quality of the examination can be improved. If conditions do not permit randomly acquired characteristics examination, carefully observe the characteristics of the shoeprints at the scene to identify the most suitable examination method for characteristic comparison, while other methods can assist in finding additional characteristics.
(2) It is common for perpetrators to dispose of or burn their shoes and wear someone else's shoes to commit crimes.Therefore, it is difficult to extract shoe characteristics from the suspect's home for randomly acquired characteristics identification with the shoeprints at the scene. In such cases, the examination and identification of footwork characteristics, dynamic morphological characteristics, and wear characteristics can address these shortcomings.
The examination of different types of shoes should be based on clear and stable characteristics, with one primary examination method, and other methods as auxiliary means. The wear characteristic examination has become widely used in China over the past decade. It is easy to master and practical, accepted by most shoeprint identification technicians. Especially in cases involving old shoes, fine-patterned shoe soles, or long intervals between the crime and the suspect's apprehension, wear characteristic examination should be the primary method, with characteristics found by other methods serving as auxiliary characteristics.
For new shoes, coarse-patterned soles, hard-surface shoeprints, or blurred sole patterns at the scene, footwork characteristics often appear frequently, are of good quality, and are easy to identify. In such cases, footwork characteristic examination can be the primary method, with characteristics found by other methods serving as auxiliary characteristics.
For relatively complete shoeprints at the scene, where the sole patterns are blurred due to the ground or other surfaces, first observe the shoeprints to find stable and reliable characteristics as the main examination method. Especially the dynamic morphological characteristics of shoeprints, such as twisting, bending, tilting, and arching, which appear frequently and are easyto identify. The characteristics discovered by other examination methods can be used asauxiliary characteristics.
3. Issues to Consider When Using Multiple Examination Methods
(1) The application of multiple methods in shoeprint examination should be based on a comprehensive and proficient understanding of various examination and identification techniques.
(2) When the characteristics identified using one examination method are essentially consistent, supplementary characteristics identified through other methods should be used. In comprehensive evaluations, there must be sufficient class characteristics and specific characteristics that match to be used as the basis for shoeprint identification.
(3) In comprehensive judgments, any discrepancies found using any examination method must be reasonably explained. If necessary, on-site experiments should be conducted.
(4) The aforementioned methods can only be used as the basis for personal identification if it is confirmed that the extracted shoeprint samples were left by the suspect wearing their own shoes.
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