Nature of Evidence
Jay A. Siegel, Kathy Mirakovits · Forensic Science · 2021
The assessment of pattern evidence remained a subjective, problematic area of forensic investigation. Unlike DNA analysis, there were no statistical estimates of uncertainty in pattern evidence. The pattern evidence committees are addressing validation and statistical analysis for their areas of expertise. It will take time, but there is progress toward improved validation of pattern evidence. Individual evidence must contain unique characteristics found only in the known and unknown evidence and not found in any other members of this class of evidence. The science of DNA analysis has developed to the point that it is usually considered to be individual evidence. Many analytical tests must be verified to make sure that they are working properly. Positive controls are used to make sure that the chemicals in a test are functioning properly so that there are no false negative results.