Journal Published Online: 01 October 1975
Volume 20, Issue 4

Enzymatic Characterization of Soil Evidence

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Soils is most assuredly an important type of physical evidence; if one can establish that soil on the shoes or clothing of a suspect matches that of a crime scene it will lend support to a hypothesis that the suspect had, in fact, visited the scene. Likewise, comparison of soil from the tires or the undercarriage of an automobile with the soil from a particular location may establish with greater or lesser certainty that the automobile was at one time present at the location. Furthermore, soil evidence is more likely to be encountered in those offenses against persons or property which society deems most severe. Equally important is that soil evidence, properly examined and properly interpreted, may serve an exclusionary purpose and exonerate the innocent. Erratum to this paper appears in 21(2).

Author Information

Thornton, JI
University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
McLaren, AD
University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Pages: 19
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS10319J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10319J