Footwear Impression Evidence: Detection, Recovery and Examination

Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations

by William J. Bodziak

Reviewed and recognized as the most authoritative source in the field, this book describes the methods used worldwide to recover and identify footwear impressions from the scene of a crime. In this new edition, everything, including the original twelve chapters, bibliography, appendix, etc., has been clarified, updated and expanded. This edition includes updated and new information on recovery procedures and materials such as lifting, photography and casting; chemical enhancement; updated information about footwear manufacturing; footwear sizing; and known impression techniques and materials.

WHAT S NEW IN THE SECOND EDITION:

Besides updating and expanding the twelve original chapters, Footwear Impression Evidence: Detection, Recovery and Examination, Second Edition adds three new chapters: one chapter on barefoot evidence, which concerns impressions made by the naked or sock-clad foot or those which remain in abandoned or discarded footwear; another new chapter on several cases in which the footwear impression evidence was of primary importance in bringing about a conviction or confession; and finally, a new chapter on the footwear impression evidence in the O.J. Simpson criminal and civil cases.

Genres: Science, Crime

520 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Cozette Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed on the minute points of footwear examination and comparison. I read the 1995 version so some of the manufacturing and collection techniques were outdated for this line of work

[Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about shoes. From the manufacturing of shoes to chemical reagents to enhance shoes, it covers all. It also has real life case examples such as the O.J. Simpson trial, but some parts need updating such as the photography of impression and some statistics. A must read for forensic shoeprint/foot print examiners.

[Mike Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a number of years ago as part of my job as a forensic chemist and crime scene investigator. It is the premier benchmark of footwear analysis in the industry. Bill Bodziak is a former FBI expert, since retired, who testified at the O.J. Simpson trial and thoroughly discredited the defense testimony in the appendix of this book.

While the technical details of footwear are not of much interest to the layman, if you can find a copy to borrow, the account of the Simpson case in the appendix is well worth time reading for anyone who is interested in the case, or who doubts the outcome of the trial.