NCJ Number
233778
Journal
Identification Canada Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 41-84
Date Published
June 2008
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This issue's featured articles address proof of the concept of Low Pressure Dye Vapor Deposition (LPDVD), creation of an inexpensive tire-track database, and the forensic training of Afghanistan Defense attorneys.
Abstract
In the first article, the authors describe a process for developing fingerprints deposited on glass, aluminum foil, thermal paper, and plastic bags. The process, known as Low Pressure Dye Vapor Deposition, was compared to conventional methods used by law enforcement agencies. Out of the substrates used in the comparisons (glass, aluminum foil, plastic bags, and thermal paper), only plastic bags yielded superior performance using cyanoacrylate. The results obtained from the processing of the 24-hour and 60-day-old prints shows the significance of the new LPDVD process. The descriptions of material and methods address sample preparation, processing, assessment, and data collection. The second article describes the step-by-step procedure used by the author in creating an inexpensive tire tread pattern database. It involved drafting a letter to tire retailers requesting assistance for the creation of a tire-tread database. The letter asked for copies of any new tire pamphlets or any older tire books. After collecting some 40 different pamphlets and tire books, the author began taking high-resolution pictures of the tire patterns, with the name of each tire visible. Using the photo management program acdseeTM, the author created folders for each tire make and labeled each tire by the make plus a sequential number. The organization of and the retrieval of the data are described. The article on the forensic training of Afghanistan defense attorneys describes in detail the author's experience in representing the International Legal Foundation and the International Criminal Defense Attorney's Association in preparing Afghan defense attorneys to participate responsibly in implementing the country's newly adopted constitution.