Impression Evidence Review

What is impression evidence?

• Impressions are objects or materials that have retained the characteristics of other objects through direct contact

• Impressions are objects or materials that have retained the characteristics of other objects through indirect contact

• Impressions are objects or materials that have not retained the characteristics of other objects through direct contact

• Impressions are objects or materials that have not retained the characteristics of other objects through indirect contact

Examples of impression evidence:

• Shoe Prints

• Tool Marks

• Bite Marks

• All of the above

T/F: Impressions may be found in or on many different types of materials

• True

• False

What are patent impressions?

• Visible when an object picks up a material like blood, soil, paint or dust and transfer it to another location

• Hidden from the unaided eye and can be lifted by dusting

• Can be left in soft materials like mud or snow and is easily lost

What are latent impressions?

• Visible when an object picks up a material like blood, soil, paint or dust and transfer it to another location

• Hidden from the unaided eye and can be lifted by dusting

• Can be left in soft materials like mud or snow and is easily lost

What are plastic impressions?

• Visible when an object picks up a material like blood, soil, paint or dust and transfer it to another location

• Hidden from the unaided eye and can be lifted by dusting

• Can be left in soft materials like mud or snow and is easily lost

Investigators analyze the impression evidence to find ___________ characteristics.

Flat impressions should be photographed or ______ if they are fingerprints.

3-D impressions should be ________ and photographed.

Hidden from the unaided eye