Who do you call when you find a footprint at a crime scene? A Forensic Podiatrist, of course!

A small but growing trend in the realm of criminal justice and scientific crossover is forensic podiatry.  Forensic podiatry deals with the evidence found at a crime scene that is related to the foot.  This may include things like footprints found at the scene or the wear pattern of the sock liner of the shoe. 

One of the most prominent forensic podiatrists is Dr. Michael Nirenberg.  An article written by Dr. Nirenberg in 1989 stresses the importance of forensic podiatry.  In “Forensic Methods and the Podiatric Physician”, Dr. Nirenberg compares forensic podiatry to the fields of forensic odontology (the handling and evaluation of forensic dental evidence) and forensic anthropology (the handling and evaluation of forensic bone evidence).

Following the publication of Dr. Nirenberg’s journal, the American Society of Forensic Podiatry was formed.  This group serves to organize podiatric physicians who are involved in forensic podiatry, and promote the use of podiatric forensics in legal cases.  The group also serves as a means of communication between forensic podiatrists to share information and research. 

Some of the information that a forensic podiatrist may gather as evidence in a case includes the podiatry records of people involved, footprints, shoe gear that may be left at the scene of a crime, and in some cases, even a gait analysis from a security camera can be used!  However, the most valuable and easily administered evidence in past criminal cases that forensic podiatrists have contributed to comes from a comparison of the wear patterns of the inside of shoes.  The way that a person wears a shoe down, especially on the inside of the shoe in the sock liner, is unique to the individual.  Furthermore, this wear pattern is seen in most shoes that a person will wear.

Forensic podiatry is a fascinating field that is slowly but surely gaining attention.  Some predict that one day forensic podiatry will be as common as any other form of forensics, and the information collected from forensic podiatrists will be ubiquitous in the world of criminal justice.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com