Accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability of forensic footwear examiner decisions.

The interpretation of footwear evidence relies on the expertise of forensic footwear examiners. Here we report on the largest study to date of the accuracy, reproducibility (inter-examiner variation), and repeatability (intra-examiner variation) of footwear examiners' decisions. In this study, 84 practicing footwear examiners each conducted up to 100 comparisons between questioned footwear impressions (provided as photographs and digital images) and known footwear (provided as photographs, transparent test impressions, and digital images), resulting in a total of 6610 comparisons.

An esoteric technique useful in the identification of unidentified remains from the examination of faded, illegible hospital identification wristbands.

A technique routinely used in the examination of questioned documents has been found to be of assistance when employed in the examination of faded and/or partially legible hospital identification wristbands found with unidentified remains (UIDs). A non-destructive test used predominately by forensic document examiners in the analysis of writing inks, handwritten alterations, and obliterations has proven useful throughout the years when confronted with this unusual type of documentary evidence. This discussion paper was prompted by the Tri-State Crematory disaster, Walker County, Georgia, from a request by investigators as to whether or not any information could be obtained from the examination of faded hospital identification wristbands where no information was readily discernable.