ABSTRACT
Footwear impression examinations should be made by persons who have received specialized training and are experienced in that discipline. The forensic footwear examiner, testimony regarding footwear impression evidence is routinely offered in courts by many other persons. Even worse is the occasional request to examine an item of evidence while actually in court on the witness stand. Beyond the requirement to have the knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, more specific qualifications of the expert witness for each and every area of forensic science, are not further specified. If the jury feels the expert was not very experienced or knowledgeable, they may apply less weight and significance and can even choose to ignore that expert's testimony. A pretrial conference should always be held between the expert witness and the attorney who will offer that person as a witness. Natural sized photographs are normally readily available since they were prepared and used in the examination.
