earticle

영어

Footprint evidence is essential in crime scenes as it is commonly found and can reveal the type and size of the suspect’s footwear. Detailed characteristics such as wear marks, impressions, and scratches can determine if a shoe matches the crime scene. Unlike fingerprint evidence, where Edmond Locard set a minimum characteristic point standard in 1914, footprint analysis lacks a clear quantitative foundation for identification determination. This study aims to establish a quantifiable basis for comparing the reliability of footprint and fingerprint identification by referencing established methods in fingerprint analysis. Based on previous research by Stone and Lim, which quantified the probability of identification for footprints, we conducted a comparative analysis with fingerprint standards. Our findings indicate that the selected footprints, which had 17 to 18 characteristic points, were considered identical based on fingerprint criteria. This comparison suggests that applying similar quantitative measures to footprints as those used for fingerprints can enhance the objectivity and reliability of footprint identification determinations in criminal cases, potentially aiding judicial decisions.