Forensic Chemistry

Volume 39, July 2024, 100584

Physical (trace) evidence casework including web scraping on demand

Johannes Gottwald, Ulrich Simmross

Abstract

Occasionally, trace evidence1-casework faces major challenges, as not only suitable analytical methods must be available for relevant technical products and their traces, but background information regarding market or manufacturing processes must also be collected. Furthermore, analytical and forensic benefit are supposed to go together, in certain cases even under great time pressure. Given the focus of forensic service providers on individual traces, trace evidence work areas may not always be well prepared, particularly for products for which there are no collection traditions. On the basis of three fictitious case studies, an approach based on division of labor is presented and its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.

Keywords: Adhesive tape; Cable tie; Aluminum repair tape; Product tracing; Forensic image comparison