FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, January 13, 2020 1

OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: National Footwear Database

Describe

the need:

Footwear evidence is currently underutilized in the United States. A national footwear 

database would help make footwear evidence much more useful in criminal intelligence. 

This database would allow multiple agencies to share footwear information, including 

determining the make/model of a shoe from shoe impressions, linking crime scenes by 

comparing crime-scene impressions, and linking suspects to crimes by comparing arrestee 

footwear with crime-scene impressions. It would also allow for easy and automated 

integration of existing footwear databases created by different agencies. Efficient 

mechanisms to search large databases and algorithms for scoring the strength of match 

between impressions are required. Also needed is research into the architecture of the 

database, data definition, data modeling and standards, data interchange standards, and 

interoperability standards for integrating the existing agency databases. A comprehensive 

review of states’ laws and regulations and/or opinions from the various State Attorney 

Generals/District Attorneys is needed to ascertain the legal feasibility in each state of 

deploying such a National Footwear Database. 

Keyword(s): Footwear intelligence, database, linking crime scenes, linking suspects to scenes

Submitting subcommittee(s): Footwear & Tire Subcommittee Date Approved: February 23, 2021

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

• Henderson J. & Armitage R., (2018) “If the Shoe Fits: Proposing a Randomised Control Trial on the effect of a 

digitised in-custody footwear technology compared to a paper-based footwear method.”, Crime Security and 

Society 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.5920/css.2018.02

• Needham, J. A. and Sharp, J. S. (2016) Watch your step! A frustrated total internal reflection approach to forensic 

footwear imaging. Sci. Rep. 6, 21290; doi: 10.1038/srep21290
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4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

Yes.

5. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

This research would result in faster, more extensive and more reliable intelligence gathering for footwear forensics.

6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

Limited value.

7. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

The ability to improve the reliability, speed and variety of intelligence gathering could greatly help in identifying 

potential suspects and solving more cases. It could also result in greater use of footwear evidence overall, including 

improved training for collecting evidence at crime scenes. 

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): II

Major gap in 

current 

knowledge

Minor gap in 

current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research is 

being conducted I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted II IV

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.