Forensic physical fits in the trace evidence discipline: A review

Abstract

Physical fit examinations have long played a critical role in forensic science, particularly in the trace evidence, toolmark, and questioned documents disciplines. Specifically, in trace evidence, physical fits arise in various instances such as separated pieces of duct tape, torn textile fragments, and fractured polymeric items to name a few. The case report and research basis for forensic physical fit dates to the late 1700s and varies by material type. Three main areas of physical fit appear within the literature: case reports, fractography studies, and quantitative assessment of a fracture fit. A strong foundation within the discipline lies in case reports, articles demonstrating occurrences of physical fit the authors have experienced in their laboratories. Fractography research offers information about the fracturing mechanism of a given material for purposes of identifying a potential breaking source. Also, fractography studies demonstrate variation in fracture morphology per material types, with a qualitative basis for comparison and reporting. The current shift in the research appears to be more quantitative or performance-based, assessing the error rates associated with physical fit examinations, the application of likelihood ratios as a means to determine evidential weight, probabilistic interpretations of large sample sets, and the implementation of automatic edge-detection algorithms to support the examiner’s expert opinion. This review aims to establish the current state of physical fit research through what has been accomplished, the limitations faced due to the unpredictable nature of casework, and the future directions of the discipline. In addition, current practice in the field is evaluated through a review of standard operating procedures.