NCJ Number
175289
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: May 1998 Pages: 505-508
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Research was conducted to measure the frequency of pubic hair transfer between a limited number of consenting heterosexual partners and to evaluate the potential significance of this finding in forensic science casework involving sex offenses.
Abstract
The research used standardized procedures for collecting the samples and tracked the situational variables. The participants were six white couples who were forensic laboratory employees and their spouses. They collected their pubic hair combings immediately following intercourse. The experiment was replicated 10 times for 5 couples and 5 times for another couple, for a total of 110 samples. Frequencies of transfers of pubic hairs were calculated from instances where exogenous hairs were observed. Results revealed at least 1 exogenous pubic hair in 19 of the 110 combings (17.3 percent). Transfers from females to males occurred in 13 of 55 cases and thus were more frequent than transfers from males to females, which occurred in 6 of 55 cases. Transfers occurred simultaneously between both male and female only once. A total of 28 exogenous pubic hairs were identified. Findings indicated no clear relationship between the transfer of hairs and intercourse duration, intervening intervals, precoital bathing intervals, and position during intercourse. The prevalence of female-to-male pubic hair transfers suggested the importance of collecting pubic hair combings from male suspects as well as from female victims, provided that the time interval is not extreme. Findings indicated a low frequency of pubic hair transfer during sexual intercourse and suggested that transferred pubic hair may not be available to examiners of trace evidence in many sexual assault cases. 18 references (Author abstract modified)