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Glass And Soil Evidence

Glass and Soil Evidence
Genise Caruso


At a crime scene, investigators are trained to recognize and distinguish what is or what is not evidence. Anything, including the smallest glass fragment, single strand of hair, or bloodstained brass statue, which could possibly lead to a suspect, is considered as evidence. Investigators’ skill level and degree of concrete experience enables them to know what to look for, where to search and how it should be carried out. Serious repercussions would result if any substance or material questionable were discounted. (Saferstein, 2004).
Careful as a criminal may be not to leave evidence behind; miniscule particles of materials are usually transferred unknowingly to or from a victim or scene. This is precisely the type of connection, between victim and suspect, investigators are looking to find. These tiny bits of physical material, that can be transferred from person to person, are known as trace evidence and vital to a case.
Two types of trace evidence are soil and glass. Both are classified as class rather than individual evidence, as they usually can only be linked to a common source, not to one individual, and primarily supplement other evidence, rather than stand on their own. More often than not, trace evidence excludes a suspect, as it typically cannot be tied to any one specific person or place, with absolutely certainty.

Glass as evidence
Due to the variability and quantity of items made from glass, it is extremely critical to perform a thorough search and collection for glass fragments. More often than not, examiners are trying to determine the probability that two pieces are alike, or came from a common source.
The chemical composition of glass from a car’s windshield, headlights, windowpanes, or a drinking glass are all different and can be distinguished through an examiner’s analysis. When most glass breaks, it shatters and typically scatters pieces around a crime scene....