A Study of the Impact of the Physical Properties of Blood on the Interpretation of Bloodstain Patterns in Forensic Investigations

Author

Ira S. DuBey, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

2-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Thomas A. Kubic

Committee Members

John A. Reffner

Nicholas Petraco

Janine Cook

Yale Caplan

Subject Categories

Biology

Keywords

Criminalistics, Crime Scene Reconstruction

Abstract

There are many situations when the value of the physical characteristics of blood far outweighs the information gained from DNA analysis of the bloodstain (Brodbeck, 2012; Raymond, Smith and Liesegang, 1996). Analysis of bloodstain patterns at crime scenes or on clothing often provides significant information and serves both as investigate aids and as evidence presented in court. There has been limited work done to evaluate the potential impact of variation in the physical properties of blood on the interpretation of blood spatter patterns. This dissertation will expand on previous work and investigate how changes in the physical properties of blood, specifically those characteristics that influence flight characteristics and the non-Newtonian properties of the blood, may affect the bloodstain patterns and therefore the interpretation of these patterns during crime scene reconstruction. These properties include surface tension, viscosity, and density (Raymond et al, 1996).

Recommended Citation

DuBey, Ira S., "A Study of the Impact of the Physical Properties of Blood on the Interpretation of Bloodstain Patterns in Forensic Investigations" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3049