U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Reliability Assessment of Current Methods in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
NCJ Number
              247180

Author(s)
          Terry Laber;
                        Paul Kish;
                        Michael Taylor;
                        Glynn Owens;
                        Nikola Osborne;
                        James Curran
Date Published

June 2014
Length
              93 pages
Annotation
              This study's objective was to produce the first baseline measure of reliability for the principal methods of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) by defining the upper limit of BPA classification reliability, with attention to method reliability rather than analyst competence.
Abstract
              This study determined that bloodstain-pattern analysts use contextual information in making pattern classifications, and this information can influence their accuracy. This shows that the boundary between bloodstain-pattern recognition and crime-scene reconstruction is often blurred. This means that at the stage of pattern classification, additional case-specific information, such as medical findings, case circumstances, and even witness testimony influence analysts' interpretations of bloodstain patterns. This problem is compounded by the fact that current bloodstain pattern classification used in BPA is described in terms of pattern formation mechanisms. This makes them components of a crime-reconstruction theory rather than a summary of pattern characteristics. The supplementary study on superimposed patterns showed that, for the current sequencing methods, the chances of incorrectly concluding the order of blood deposition in a spatter/transfer pattern combination is approximately 12 percent where spatter stains are deposited on top of transfer stains and 17 percent for the reverse sequence. Given these findings, the authors advise that practitioners and agencies should take steps to minimize the effects of contextual information in BPA. In this study, well-trained and experienced bloodstain-pattern analysts examined just over 730 patterns in 2 phases, 1 focusing on rigid non-absorbent surfaces frequently present at crime scenes, and the other on fabric surfaces representing surfaces frequently found at crime scenes, and the other on fabric surfaces representing clothing. Six different pattern types were used during the two studies. The extent of available pattern, the nature of the substrate, and the type of contextual information varied in a balanced experiment designed to determine the effect of these variables on pattern classification accuracy. 29 figures, 32 references, and appended supplementary information
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2010-DN-BX-K213


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)


  
  
        
  Award
        Reliability Measures for Current Methods in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
    
  
  
Date Published: June 1, 2014
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Blood stain patterns
        Blood stains
        Criminology
        Forensic laboratories
        Forensic sciences



  
Similar Publications
        
                      The History of a Monumental Forensic Tool and the Ethical Debate Sparked by Wrongful Convictions Based on Trace DNA Evidence
                  Score-based Likelihood Ratio Properties for the Specific-Source Identification Problem
                  US forensic Y-chromosome short tandem repeats database
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov