Physics and Pattern Evidence

Scientific Area Committee

Chair: Melissa Gische, FBI

AAFS — February 2018
Pattern SAC Leadership

2

• Officers

• Chair: Melissa Gische, FBI

• Vice Chair: R. Austin Hicklin, Noblis

• Executive Secretary: Thomas Busey, Indiana University, 

Bloomington

• Subcommittee Chairs:

• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Toby Wolson, Retired 

(Miami-Dade Police Department)

• Firearms and Toolmarks: Todd Weller, Weller Forensics

• Footwear and Tire: G. Matt Johnson, Orange County 

Crime Laboratory

• Forensic Document Examination: Gerry LaPorte, NIJ

• Friction Ridge: Henry Swofford, Defense Forensic 

Science Center
Pattern SAC Members and Liaisons

• Members

• David Baldwin, Special Technologies Laboratory, USDOE

• Ted Burkes, Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Lesley Hammer, Hammer Forensics

• Paul Kish, Paul Erwin Kish Forensic Consultant & Associates

• Hal Stern, University of California, Irvine

• David Stoney, Stoney Forensic, Inc.

• John Vanderkolk, Indiana State Police Laboratory Division

• Ex-Officio Members

• Liaison to Human Factors Committee: Rick Lempert, University of Michigan

• Liaison to Legal Resource Committee: David Kaye, Pennsylvania State 

School of Law

• Liaison to Quality Infrastructure Committee: Erin Henry, Oklahoma State 

Bureau of Investigation

3
Pattern SAC: Role

• Provide direction and oversight for 5 subcommittees

• Firearms & Toolmarks

• Footwear and Tire

• Friction Ridge

• Questioned Documents

• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• Interface with the resource committees 

• Human Factors

• Legal Resource

• Quality Infrastructure

• (OSAC-wide Forensic Statistics Task Group)

• Communicate activities, progress, recommendations

• Review and approve standards and guidelines

• Coordinate research priorities

4
General Process

5

SC TG: 3-5 SC: 20

SAC: 15

RCs: 62

SC: 20 SAC: 15 SDO

QIRC: 15

HFC: 11 LRC: 11

STG: 25

SC: 20
AAFS Standards Board (ASB) 

Physics and Pattern Evidence SAC subcommittees are using 

the AAFS Standards Board (ASB) as the Standards 

Development Organization (SDO) for completed documents. 

The ASB has three types of documents.

• Standards (S)

• Technical Reports (TR)

• Best Practice Recommendations (BPR)

6
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 

Subcommittee

February 2018
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• The Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 

Subcommittee will focus on standards 

and guidelines related to the scientific 

detection and analysis of bloodstain 

patterns present at crime scenes and on 

associated evidence.

8
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Toby L. 

Wolson, M.S.

Noslow Forensic 

Consultations, LLC

2019 toby.wolson@gmail.com

Vice Chair Jeff Gurvis National Forensic 

Support Laboratory

2018 Jeff.gurvis@nfslab.com

Executive 

Secretary

Holly Latham Kansas Bureau of 

Investigation

2019 bloodstainanalyst@live.

com

9
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Kim Clements, MSFS D.C. Consolidated Forensic Laboratory 2020 kimberly.clements@dc.gov

2 Tom J. Griffin Bevel, Gardner & Associates 2020 grifclue@comcast.net

3 Cristina Gonzalez Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department 2019 ccgonzal@lasd.org

4 Leah Innocci Wyoming State Crime Laboratory 2019 Innocci1@gmail.com

5 Kenneth Martin, MS Bevel, Gardner & Associates 2019 kf.martin@verizon.net

6 Stephen Michielsen, PhD North Carolina State University 2018 smichie@ncsu.edu

7 Jeremiah Morris Johnson County Sheriff’s Office 2020 jeremiah.morris@jocogov.org

8 Elizabeth Pierri, MSFS Naval Criminal Investigative Service 2020 elizabeth.pierri@ncis.navy.mil

9 Susan Rinehart LAPD Crime Laboratory 2018 g9670@lapd.online

10 Elizabeth Richards, PhD USAF Office of Special Investigations 2020 elizabeth.richards@us.af.mil

11 Jason S. Simser, PhD MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 2019 jason.simser@state.mn.us

12 LeeAnn Singley, MS Grayson Singley Associates 2018 lsingleygsa@msn.com

13 Gabriele Suboch, PhD Northcentral University 2019 forensics25@hotmail.com

14 Peter Valentin, PhD University of New Haven 2020 pvalentin@newhaven.edu

15 Haonan Wang, PhD Colorado State University 2018 wanghn@stat.colostate.edu

16 Gary Wilgus Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation 2020 gary.wilgus@ohioattorneygeneral.gov

17 Kevin Winer Kansas City Police Department 2018 kevin.winer@kcpd.org 10
Past Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Almon Brown S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SELD)

2 Peter De Forest, DCrim Retired Professor/Consultant

3 James O. Pex, MS International Forensic Experts, LLC

4 Ralph R. Ristenbatt, III The Pennsylvania State University

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17 11
BPA SUBCOMMITTEE AFFILIATES

• The BPA Subcommittee currently has 50+ BPA experts that 

have volunteered to be affiliates. They represent 6 countries, 

public, private, academia, law enforcement, crime scene 

investigations, crime laboratory, and judicial sectors.

• Addition of affiliates to task groups is based on the needs of the 

task group and the specific BPA expertise of the affiliate.

• To become an OSAC affiliate, it is recommended that you 

complete an OSAC application at 

https://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac-application.cfm.

12
ASB approved documents

• ASB Technical Report 033, Terms and Definitions in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2017 (https://asb.aafs.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/11/033_TR_e1_2017.pdf)

13
Documents at ASB

• Guidelines for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis

• Guidelines for the Validation of New Procedures in 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• Guidelines for the Minimum Education and Training 

Requirements For Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

• Guidelines for a Quality Assurance Program in 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

14
Documents in progress

• Conclusion statements for bloodstain pattern identifications

• Conclusion statements for BPA reconstructions

• BPA taxonomy for use in classification of bloodstain patterns

• Guidelines for a BPA Certification Program

• Guidelines for Developing Standard Operating Procedures for 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• Guidelines for Proficiency Testing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• BPA process map

15
Research Needs

• Current list of BPA research needs is available on NIST.gov 

(https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-researchdevelopment-needs)

16
Firearms and Toolmarks

Subcommittee

February 2018
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Email

Chair* Todd Weller Weller Forensics toddweller@wellerforensics.com

Vice Chair Andy Smith San Francisco Police Dept 

Crime Lab 

andy.smith@sfgov.org 

Executive 

Secretary

Wendy Gibson VA Dept of Forensic 

Science

Wendy.gibson@dfs.virginia.gov

18

*In October 2017, Andy Smith stepped down as Chair and Todd Weller was appointed 

Chair
Subcommittee Voting Members

# Name Organization

1 Steve Scott FBI

2 Mike Neel BATF

3 Xiaoyu Alan Zheng NIST

4 Ted Vorburger, PhD NIST

5 Eric Collins Contra Costa Co Sheriff Forensic Services

6 Doug Murphy FBI

7 Max Morris, PhD Iowa State University

8 Chris Monturo Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab

9 Erich Smith FBI

10 James Carroll Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office

11 Cassey Allen TX Department of Public Safety - Austin

12 Ryan Lilien, MD, PhD Cadre Research Labs 

13 Ron Nichols Nichols Forensic Science Consulting

14 Bill Demuth Illinois State Police

15 Melissa Oberg* Indiana State Police Crime Lab

16 Erica Lawton* Alabama Department of Forensic Science

17 Nicholas Petraco* John Jay College

19

*Melissa Oberg, Erica Lawton, and Nicholas Petraco are new members starting late 2017
Subcommittee Affiliate Members

# Name Organization

1 Jodi Marsanopoli BATF

2 John Murdock Contra Costa County Crime Laboratory

3 Nancy McCombs California Department of Justice, Fresno

4 John Marshall RCMP Forensic Lab, Ottawa

5 Gerhard Wevers Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 

New Zealand

6 Carey Alvarez Bacha Aurora Police Department Crime Laboratory

20
21

Employer Classification Mix of Voting 

Members

20%

25%

20%

10%

20%

5%

Employer Classification

Federal Government

State Government

Local Government

Private Forensic Pracitioner

Academic/Researcher

Industry Technology Partner
Discipline Description

The Subcommittee on Firearms and 

Toolmarks will focus on standards and 

guidelines related to the examination of 

firearm and toolmark evidence. This 

includes the comparison of microscopic 

toolmarks on bullets, cartridge cases, and 

other ammunition components. 

Examinations may also include firearm 

function testing, serial number restoration, 

muzzle-to-object distance determination, 

tools, and toolmarks.

22

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/organization-scientific-areacommittees-osac/firearms-and-toolmarks

SWGGUN legacy documents, research needs, etc.
Overview & Roadmap of FATM 

Subcommittee

23

Firearm Examination TG

Standards for day to day 

laboratory examinations

Novel Technology TG

Standards for emerging 

technology; e.g. 3D 

imaging and comparison 

algorithms 

Uncertainty of 

Measurement TG

Standards for 

measurement uncertainty 

and quantifying decisions

Training TG

Standards for new 

examiners and training 

program

Executive Committee

Manage task groups (TG) and performs 

administrative tasks of subcommittee

Terminology/Reports TG

Standards for FATM 

terminology and report 

writing

Criteria for Identification 

TG

Standards regarding 

comparison conclusions

Three years ago FATM subcommittee formed six task groups to 

focus on the most pressing/important topic areas in the discipline. 

The same task groups still exist and continue to work on standards 

and guidelines in each topic area.
Documents at ASB

24

• Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Firearm and 

Toolmark Analysis

• Standard for Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic 

Laboratories for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis

• Standard for 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality 

Control for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis

• Standard for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements for 

Firearms, includes guidelines and example spreadsheets for 

calculating uncertainty
Documents in progress

• Standard Guideline/Best Practice for the Safe Handling of Firearms and 

Ammunition 

• Standard Test Method for the Physical Examination and Classification of Firearms

• Standard Test Method for Function/Operability Testing of Firearms

• Virtual Microscopy

• Uncertainty for Trigger Pull Measurement

• Statistical Standards for Source Identification and Related Quantities

• Minimum Academic Qualifications of Firearm/Toolmark Examiners

• Minimum Requirements for an Examiner Training Program

• Standard Range of Source Conclusions and Criteria for Firearm and Toolmark

Examinations

• Standard for Supporting Documentation of Source Conclusions 

• Expression of Source Conclusions 

• Verification of Source Conclusions 

• OSAC Subcommittee on Firearms and Toolmarks Glossary

25
Research Needs

• In Jan 2016, FSSB asked that we highlight topics appropriate 

for additional research. Five topics highlighted:

• Assessment of Examiners' Toolmark Categorization Accuracy

• Blind Verifications Needs Assessment

• Cognitive Bias: To What Extent Does It Affect Firearm and Toolmark 

Comparison Outcomes

• Effect of New Technology on Quantitative Consecutive Matching Striae 

ID Criteria

• Study to Assess the Accuracy and Reliability of Firearms and 

Toolmarks (i.e. error rate study)

• Forms and more details available on website

• Will reassess and update in near future as some of these needs 

are being filled (e.g. numerous error rate studies are in 

progress)

26
Forensic Document 

Examination Subcommittee

February 2018
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Email

Chair Gerry LaPorte NIJ gerald.laporte@usdoj.gov

Vice Chair John Osborn Private Examiner Jposborn@aol.com

Executive 

Secretary

Thomas Riley Private Examiner Tomriley57@gmail.com

28
Subcommittee Voting Members

# Name Organization

1 Miriam Angel Los Angeles Police Department

2 Brett Bishop Washington State Patrol

3 Mark Goff Michigan State Police

4 Lisa Hanson Private Examiner (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension –

Retired)

5 Derek Hammond United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory

6 Jan Kelly Private Examiner (Las Vegas MPD – Retired)

7 Kevin Kulbacki Internal Revenue Service

8 Mark Lancaster Northern Kentucky University

9 Gary Licht Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory

10 Hector Maldonado FBI

11 Mara Merlino Kentucky State University

12 Karen Nobles Private Examiner (Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Retired_

13 Chis Saunders South Dakota State University

14 Joseph Stephens FBI

15 Peter Tytell Private Examiner

16 Rigo Vargas Mississippi Forensics Laboratory

17 Elaine Wooton Department of Homeland Security

29
Discipline Description

30

Forensic Document Examination

The Subcommittee on Forensic 

Document Examination will focus on 

standards and guidelines related to the 

discipline, including:

(1) source of handwriting, (2) source of 

machine-produced documents, 

typewriting, or other impressions and 

marks, (3) materials and devices involved 

in the production of documents, (4) 

genuineness and alterations, (5) 

preservation and/or restoration of 

legibility, (6) documentation and reporting, 

and (7) training and competency.
Documents at ASB

31

• Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination

• Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items*

• Standard for Examination of Indented Writing*

• Standard for Examination of Alterations and Obliterations*

*Not OSAC work products (legacy ASTM documents)
Documents in progress

32

• Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for Forensic 

Document Examiners (Standard Training Program for Forensic 

Document Examiners)

• Standard Terminology Relating to The Examination of Questioned 

Documents

• Standard for Source Conclusions

• Forensic Document Examination Bibliography

• Standard for Collection of Known Writing

• Standard for Initial Assessment of Questioned Document Evidenc
Future Standards/Best Practices

• Test Methods for Forensic Writing Ink Comparison

• Non-destructive Examination of Paper

• Examination of Documents Produced with Liquid Ink Jet 

Technology

• Examination of Documents Produced with Toner Technology

• Examination of Typewritten Items

• Examination of Rubber Stamps

• Examination of Dry Seal Embossments

• Examination of Financial, Identification, and Other Authorized 

Documents

33
OSAC Research Needs

34

1. Comparability and Complexity in Handwriting

2. Hand printing complexity and comparability

3. National Database of Handwriting

4. Further validation of the conclusion scale used in forensic 

document examinations
Footwear and Tire Track 

Subcommittee

February 2018
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair G. Matt Johnson Orange County 

Sheriff's Dept. 

2014-

2019

gmj@occl.ocgov.com

Vice Chair Rodney Schenck Defense 

Forensic Science 

Center

2014-

2018

Rodney.A.Schenck2.civ

@mail.mil

Executive 

Secretary

Stephen Greene US Customs and 

Border 

Protection

2014-

2019

Stephen.D.Greene@c

bp.dhs.gov

36
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Bohne, Sarah Colorado Springs Police Department 2014-2018 sarahebohne@gmail.com

2 Dumitra, Aurora NYPD Police Laboratory 2014-2019 aurora.dumitra@yahoo.com

3 Gorn, Michael Federal Bureau of Investigation 2014-2018 gornmichael@aol.com

4 Hamburg, Christopher Oregon State Police 2014-2017 chris.hamburg@state.or.us

5 Homer, Cindy Maine State Police Crime Laboratory 2014-2018 cindy.homer@gmail.com

6 Jagmin, Jeff Washington State Patrol 2015-2019 jeff.jagmin@wsp.wa.gov

7 Kanaris, David Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory 2015-2018 david.kanaris@alaska.gov

8 Lane, Amanda Virginia Department of Forensic Science 2014-2018 amanda.lane@dfs.virginia.gov

9 Lund, Steven NIST 2015-2019 steven.lund@nist.gov

10 Koertner, Anthony Federal Bureau of Investigation 2018-2021 anthony.j.koertner.civ@mail.mil

11 Mueller, Ron Charlotte County Sheriff's Office 2015-2019 rmueller@ccso.org

12 Snyder, Christine Seminole County Sheriff's Office 2017-2020 csnyder@seminolesheriff.org

13 Speir Ph.D., Jacqueline West Virginia University 2015-2019 Jacqueline.Speir@mail.wvu.edu

14 Ragaza, Lisa Connecticut State Laboratory 2017-2020 Lisa.Ragaza@ct.gov

15 Wilcox, Alicia Husson University 2017-2020 wilcoxa@husson.edu

37
Affiliates

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Yamashita, Brian Royal Canadian Mounted Police 

(Ret.)/Researcher

2015- abriany@magma.ca

2 Richetelli, Nicole West Virginia 

University/Researcher

2018- nrichete@mix.wvu.edu

3 Hilderbrand, Dwane Forensic ITC Services 2018- Dwane@forensicitc.com

4 Kainuma, Alan Honolulu Police Department 2018- akainuma@honolulu.gov

38
Footwear and Tire

Scope:

Detection, documentation, recovery, 

examination and comparison of footwear 

and tire evidence.

39
Documents at ASB

• Guideline for the Preparation of Test Impressions from 

Footwear and Tires

40
Documents in Progress

• Minimum Qualifications and Training for Footwear and Tire Examiner

• Forensic Documentation and Photography of Footwear and Tire 

Impressions at the Crime Scene

• Terminology for Footwear and Tire Impressions

• Chemical Enhancements of Footwear and Tire Impressions

• Proficiency Testing for Footwear and Tire Examinations

• Comparison Casework Documentation for Footwear and Tire 

Examinations

• Detection of Footwear and Tire Track Evidence at Crime Scenes

• Examination Procedures for Footwear and Tire Comparisons

• Scope of Work for Footwear and Tire Examiners

41
Future Documents

• Articulation of Conclusions in Footwear and Tire Report Writing 

and Testimony.

42
Research & Development Needs Identified

• Examiner Reliability Study: Black/White Box Study on Footwear and Tire Examiners

• National Footwear Database/Reference Collection

• Population Frequency of Class Characteristics: Footwear in the United States

• Testing and Validation of 3D Imaging Technologies for Footwear & Tire Impression 

Evidence

• Probability Study of Randomly Acquired Characteristics (RACs). 

43
Friction Ridge Subcommittee

February 2018
Subcommittee Leadership

45

• Chair: Henry Swofford

• Defense Forensic Science Center

• Term expiration September 30, 2020

• Email: Henry.J.Swofford.Civ@mail.mil

• Vice Chair: Thomas Wortman

• Defense Forensic Science Center

• Term expiration September 30, 2018

• Email: Thomas.M.Wortman.Civ@mail.mil

• Executive Secretary: Maria Ruggiero

• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office

• Term expiration September 30, 2019

• Email: mcruggie@lasd.org
Subcommittee Membership

• Black, John P. Black & White Forensics, LLC 2018 john@bwforensics.com 

• Brock, Steven Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office 2018 Steve.Brock@shf.sccgov.org

• Connelly, Joshua Douglas County Sheriff 2019 joshua.connelly@douglascounty-ne.gov

• Eldridge, Heidi RTI 2019 heidi.eldridge@icloud.com 

• Fontaine, Liz FBI Laboratory 2020 ekfontaine@fbi.gov 

• French, Michael, K. MorphoTrak, LLC 2018 michael.french@morpho.com 

• German, Edward R. Macon County Sheriff's Office 2018 ed.german@sheriff-macon-il.us

• Hall, Carey Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 2019 carey.hall@state.mn.us

• Hornickel, Mandi Illinois State Police 2020 Mandi_hornickel@isp.state.il.us 

• Kriel, Louis Georgia Bureau of Investigation 2017 louis.kriel@gbi.ga.gov 

• Lavine, Michael Umass Amhearst 2020 lavine@math.umass.edu 

• Ruggiero, Maria C. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 2019 mcruggie@lasd.org

• Schwarz, Matthew T. Schwarz Forensic Enterprises, Inc. 2019 matt@schwarzforensic.com 

• Smith, Ron Ron Smith & Associates, Inc. 2020 ron@ronsmithandassociates.com 

• Speckels, Carl City of Phoenix Crime Laboratory 2017 carl.speckels@phoenix.gov 

• Swofford, Henry J. Defense Forensic Science Center 2020 Henry.j.Swofford.civ@mail.mil 

• Tabassi, Elham National Institute of Standards and Technology 2018 elham.tabassi@nist.gov 

• White, Alice Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 2020 alicevirginiawhite@gmail.com

• Wortman, Thomas M. Defense Forensic Science Center 2018 thomas.m.wortman.civ@mail.mil 

• Zinn, Lisa M. Orange County Sheriff's Crime Laboratory 2019 lzinn@occl.ocgov.com 

46
Scope

The Friction Ridge Subcommittee will 

focus on standards and guidelines related 

to the forensic examination of friction ridge 

detail from the hands and feet. 

47
Roadmap

48

Personnel

Quality Assurance

Testing/Examination

Focus

• Current Strategic Priority:

• Promulgation of standards and guidelines related to the examination, 

interpretation, and reporting of friction ridge evidence
Documents at ASB

ü Guideline for the Articulation of the Decision-Making 

Process Leading to an Expert Opinion of Source 

Identification in Friction Ridge Examinations

ü Standard for Friction Ridge Examination Training

• Document drafts publically available online:

• https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/friction-ridgesubcommittee

49
Documents in progress

• Source Conclusions

• ACE-V Process Map

• Examination Method

• Analysis

• Comparison/Evaluation

• Verification

• Technical Review

• Terminology

• AFIS Best Practices

50
Current Research Needs

• ACE-V Bias

• Assessing the Sufficiency and Strength of Friction Ridge 

Features

• Close Non-Match Assessment

• Examiner Consistency During Friction Ridge Feature Mark-Up

• Friction Ridge Statistical Modeling

• Latent Fingerprint Image Quality Usage

• Research needs publically available online:

• https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research- development-needs

51
Additional Items of Interest

ü OSAC FRS Response to PCAST

ü OSAC FRS Response to the DoJ Proposed Uniform Language 

for Testimony and Reports

ü OSAC FRS Response to the DoJ Forensic Science Discipline 

Reviews

ü Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents (i.e. legacy SWGFAST 

documents)

• Documents publically available online:

• https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/friction-ridgesubcommittee

52
Visit us online!

53

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/friction-ridge-subcommittee
Questions?

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/organization-scientific-areacommittees-osac

Melissa Gische

mrgische@fbi.gov

54
Individualizations, Identifications, and 

Associations, Oh My!

R. Austin Hicklin, Chair

OSAC VSC#5 Source Conclusions

55