Locard's Exchange Principle

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Edmond Locard, founder of the Institute of Criminalistics, developed what has become known as Locard’s Exchange Principle. This states that “every contact leaves a trace”, indicating that a criminal will leave a substance of some sort and take away substances during the commission of a serious crime. Trace evidence often refers to samples of a substance, such as paint chips, hairs, fibers, and textile fabrics. Crime scenes will commonly contain trace evidence, often caused by the criminal unconsciously coming into contact with surfaces and leaving behind or picking up trace materials within an area. In 1831, Leuch was the first person to note that amylase activity in the human saliva, which is a major factor for trace evidence. In 1901, German immunologist, Paul Uhlenhuth practiced a part of trace evidence by developing the precipitin test for species. In 1910, Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert, published "Le poil de l'homme et des animaux", also translated as "The hair of man and animals", which was one the first comprehensive hair study successfully written. This includes numerous microscopic studies of hairs from most animals. As a result, during one of the first lawful cases ever involving hairs, Rosella Rousseau was made confess to murder in 1910. In 1945, Frank Lunquist developed the acid phosphatase test for semen, which helps find the DNA of a possible criminal. In 1950, Max Frei-Sulzer developed the tape lift method of collecting trace evidence to make things such as hairs or fibers more portable for investigators. Lastly, in the 1960’s, Maurice Muller adapted the Ouchterlony antibody- antigen diffusion test for precipitin testing to determine species of different animal types, which relates to the feather testing ...

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...n, a robe lying on the floor nearby the dead body had bullet holes in them. It was believed that the Lazarus used the robe to muffle the shots. On March 9, 2012, Lazarus was pronounced guilty of first degree murder. Lazarus was sentenced to twenty-seven years in prison on May 11th. She will be eligible for parole in a minimum of twenty-two years.
In conclusion, trace evidence has been and still is a major factor when solving crimes. History of trace evidence has shown the appreciation of advanced technology and just how much easier it is to find a true criminal. Trace evidence is one of the major studies that help prove a suspect’s wrongness with hair follicles, saliva, bodily fluids, fabrics, and much more. Today, trace evidence is still truly helping many investigators find the murderer of most crimes, even though it sometimes takes thirty- two years to solve.

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