HCME Anthropology Division Metric Research in Forensic Cutmark Interpretation

Research in costal cartilage impression evidence is well published and generally accepted but is based on subjective methods that lack a statistical foundation and reporting of error rates. Federal guidelines regarding admissibility of forensic testimony have become more rigorous in recent years, and as a result, impression evidence has been found inadmissible. The purpose of the proposed research is to transform costal cartilage impression evidence analysis from a subjective science to an objective science through developing a method that meets the federal guidelines. The proposed research method is designed to enable metric analysis of striation patterns by multiple observers resulting in statistical analysis of variance and inter- and intra-observer error. Furthermore, the proposed method requires standard laboratory equipment and is easily performed, fostering independent testing. ca/ncf