The bibliographies (here and here) contain citations to published articles on bite mark analysis. If you need access to these articles, contact Sarah Rackley Olson.
Reports and Publications
Cases Where DNA Revealed that Bite Mark Analysis Led to Wrongful Arrests and Convictions
Article by the Innocence Project identifying concerns with bite mark analysis and discussing five cases where individuals were convicted based largely on bite mark analysis, only to be proven innocent through DNA years later.
Cases Where DNA Revealed that Bite Mark Analysis Led to Wrongful Arrests and ConvictionsRead More
American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) Reference Manual
As of 2016, the ABFO Standards and Guidelines no longer permit conclusions of “exact match” or that a perpetrator made a mark without a doubt. This marks a significant change in the field. The strongest conclusion permissible now is that a person is “not excluded as having made the bitemark.” See p. 94 and 102. …
American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) Reference ManualRead More
Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias in Fire Investigation
This 2012 report by Paul Bieber of the Arson Research Project finds that cognitive bias is found in the field of fire investigation. Makes recommendations for how to minimize these biases.
Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias in Fire InvestigationRead More
Habeas Relief From Bad Science: Does Federal Habeas Corpus Provide Relief for Prisoners Possibly Convicted on Misunderstood Fire Science?
by Marc Price Wolf, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology (2009). Describes the shift in methodology and foundational principles that the field of fire investigation has undergone recently and discusses how habeas corpus relief can be utilized in arson cases.
Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?
This New Yorker article by David Grann provides and in depth investigation of the flaws in the Cameron Todd Willingham case.
Forensic Fire Scene Examination – What it Tells Us, and What it Doesn’t
This article by Paul Bieber appeared in the 2013 CACJ publication. Bieber looks at the reliability of fire investigation and the validity of techniques including identification of the area or areas of origin.
Forensic Fire Scene Examination – What it Tells Us, and What it Doesn’tRead More
USFA Fire Burn Pattern Tests
This 1997 study by FEMA and the US Fire Administration found that ventilation and flashover may change or move patterns making correct interpretation of the pattern more difficult. Flashover was found in a majority of test fires and did obscure patterns including patterns from ignitable liquids.
Scientific Protocols for Fire Investigation
2006 book by John Lentini on appropriate techniques for fire scene investigations and chemical analysis of fire debris. Highlights frequent errors in fire investigation, the history of fire investigation and how the profession has evolved.
Thermal Properties Database
2012 DOJ publication by Arnaud Trouve’ and Thomas Minnich. This publication explains the Burning Item Database which describes the burning characteristics of common household and office items.
Spontaneous Ignition in Fire Investigation
2012 DOJ publication by James G. Quintiere, Justin T. Warden, Stephen M. Tamburello, and Thomas E. Minnich that addresses the principles of spontaneous ignition and its potential role as the cause and origin of a fire.
Reducing Uncertainty of Quantifying the Burning Rate of Upholstered Furniture
2012 DOJ publication by Marc L. Janssens that investigates how to estimate the burning rate of upholstered furniture and how to express the uncertainty of this prediction.
Reducing Uncertainty of Quantifying the Burning Rate of Upholstered FurnitureRead More
NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, 2017 ed.
The National Fire Protection Association publishes this manual which is the standard of care in fire investigation. This guide can be viewed for free on the NFPA website which is an excellent way to become familiar with the standards; however, if you wish to download or print it, you must purchase a copy. Email Sarah Rackley Olson if …
NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, 2017 ed.Read More
Fire and Arson Scene Evidence: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel
2000 NIJ publication written and approved by the Technical Working Group on Fire/Arson Scene Investigation. Includes recommendations about preserving the scene, interviewing witnesses, documentation, and evidence processing.
Fire and Arson Scene Evidence: A Guide for Public Safety PersonnelRead More
A Guide for Investigating Fire and Arson
This 2009 NIJ publication describes recommended practices for the collection and preservation of evidence at fire scenes. This guide may provide areas of cross examination in cases where the recommended policies were not followed.