Reading Assignment for Section 4.1

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 4.1: Fiber Evidence.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore the process of fiber transfer and its significance in forensic investigations, understanding how fibers move between suspects, victims, and crime scenes. You’ll learn to identify and differentiate between natural and man-made fibers, and understand the forensic implications of identifying specific fiber types. Additionally, you’ll analyze the role of color in fiber evidence and how it enhances forensic value. Finally, you’ll evaluate how fiber quantity, location, and fabric construction contribute to investigations and discuss the challenges of identifying fabric sources and the impact of a fiber’s rarity on its significance in a criminal case.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 4.1

• SLO 1: Explain the process of fiber transfer and its significance in forensic investigations, including the factors that influence the transfer and retention of textile fibers between suspects, victims, and crime scenes.
• SLO 2: Identify and differentiate between natural and man-made fibers in forensic analysis, and describe the forensic implications of identifying specific fiber types in the context of a criminal investigation.
• SLO 3: Analyze the role of color in fiber evidence, discussing how variations in color application and changes over time enhance the forensic value of fiber evidence.
• SLO 4: Evaluate the importance of fiber quantity, location, and fabric construction in forensic analysis, and assess how these factors contribute to establishing connections between suspects, victims, and crime scenes.
• SLO 5: Discuss the challenges and methodologies involved in fabric source identification, and explain how the rarity or commonality of a fiber affects the significance of its association with a crime scene.