Renitra Woods
CJ370
Unit 9 Assignment
July 14, 2014

Footprint and footwear evidence is very valuable. A footprint is the impression that every individual leaves on a surface that has some sort of moisture, it can also be left on a dry surface if the footwear or feet are damp they walk on it. If footprints are undisturbed they can last on a surface from a small amount of time to a long period of time.
Footprints should be used as evidence because footprints may be able to assist investigators in proving that an individual committed a crime, or was present at the scene of a crime and could have possibly committed the crime. Footprints are beneficial but not as beneficial as fingerprints or DNA evidence (LaMance, 2000).
When investigators look at footprints as evidence they are usually focused on the soles and heel indents, cuts or tread of the shoe itself, and other details such as the type of shoe and the size.
One of the first things investigators want to do when collecting a footprint on a scene is take a photograph, document what and where they found the evidence, and create a plaster mold.
Footwear is extremely important because it allows examiners to analyze the type of shoe the victim or the perpetrator had on, the size, if there was any damage in cases that may involve the individual wearing footwear such as a high heel shoe as well as the treads of the shoe sole.

Preserving and Photographing the evidence is important as well. When investigators approach a crime scene their intention is to observe walkthrough, analyze and collect. Impression evidence can be so fragile, so investigators want to collect as possible because not only can the beneficial evidence be easily over looked it can easily be contaminated (Mahoney, 2008).
Once investigators are sure that the scene is undisturbed they reenact the events in their minds to help them determine