Cordillera Career Development College

College of Criminal Justice Education

CHAPTER VII
CASTING & MOLDING

Chapter Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you are expected to:
1. Identify other means of preserving evidences through casting and molding
2. Discuss the measures needed for the preservation of other forms of evidences
that needs casting or molding

The impression of a footprint at a crime scene might be evidence linking a suspect to the
scene. But to learn if the imprint is evidence, it must be examined and compared with other
evidence. And to be useful evidence, it must be able to be retained for submission, if needed in
court. Impressions of most footprints, tire prints and the like are fragile. Their evidence value
can be destroyed by time elements or on the process of being collected. They must be preserved
in their original state to be useful. This is done by making casts and molds.

Cast and molds can be used for _______________. And more importantly, they can be
sent to the crime laboratory to be examined. It is the presence of marks will allow the examiner
to make a positive or negative identification.

Casting and molding refers to the method of extracting an impression using a cast-like
_______________ inside a mold to recover the pattern for laboratory analysis.

CASTING PROCEDURE
I. Photography
Before anything is removed, added or changed impression discovered at the crime scene
should be photograph to make a ______________ of the evidence. Photograph may also be
used as a ________________. To be of evident value, photograph of an impression should be
identified clearly with an imprint and reproduction of the print.

II. Measurement
After the impressions have been photograph its location should be established in relation
to other permanent objects at the crime scene. The impression should be measured carefully.

III. Preservation
When shoeprints, tire tracks, tool marks and other evidentiary indentation or impressions
are discovered at a scene, the cast should be made immediately as quickly as possible to protect
them from ____________.

A. Mixing of the Plaster of Paris

The plaster of Paris mixture may done by either of two methods, both which require
sifting of the dry plaster of Paris slowly into water while the mixture is stirred.

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 Cordillera Career Development College
College of Criminal Justice Education
a. A preparation of _________ of plaster of Paris to ________ of water will result into a
mixture having a consistency of heavy cream which pour easily and set readily. The
mixture should be _______ thoroughly until no lumps of dry plaster of Paris are
presents.

b. The other method is to ________ the plaster of Paris into water _______ stirring
until the ______________ is reached.

B. Pouring of the Mixture

The plaster of Paris mixture should be poured promptly into the impression from as
low level as possible beginning with the least detail area. The fall of the plaster of Paris
should be done evenly into the impression to prevent the formation of the _______. The
plaster of Paris should be stirred during the pouring operation.

C. Reinforcement and Settling

Cast should be reinforced to produce a completed cast sufficient _________ and
_________ to permit normal handling and shipping. After the reinforcement have been
added to the first layer, add the rest of the plaster of Paris mixture. The plaster should be
allowed to ________ completely before any attempt is made to remove from the impression.
Settling usually requires approximately _____________.

D. The Use of Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is placed around the imprint, it _______ the plaster of Paris mixture
to a _____________ area and it raises the level of plaster mixture to produce the desired
__________ of the finished cast.

IV. Markings For Identification

Before the cast is completely set or hardened it should be marked for _____________.
This is done by ____________ the investigator or examiners initial, time & date of casting, the
case number and other identifying information.

V. Removal of Debris & Washing

The impression should be examined for the presence of_________________ that may
cover important portions of the impressions. In order to remove excess foreign materials the
cast is _______ in a pan or _____ pressure steam of hose or faucet. Great care should be
exercise both in washing and brushing the cast to ________ the softening, rounding or
obscuring of sharp edges or fine details.

COMMON IMPRESSIONS CASTED

I. Cast of Footprints/Shoe Prints
Shoes create impressions which can be extremely informative to forensic investigators.

Kinds of Shoe Prints:

A. Patent Shoe Prints:

B. Plastic Shoe Prints:

C. Latent Shoe Prints:

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 Cordillera Career Development College
College of Criminal Justice Education
II. Cast of Tire Marks
Tire tracks refer to the impressions left by tires on the surface onto which a vehicle drove.

Types of Tire Track Examinations:

A. Comparative Examination:

B. Investigative Examination:

The characteristics of impression evidence that could facilitate a comparative examination

consist of three elements:

A. Wear Patterns:

B. Design Characteristics:

C. Accidental Characteristics:

III. Casting of Bite Marks

Human bite marks can be an important source of forensic evidence. Teeth are the
________ weapons used by man.

Bites are found in a number of situations:

a. On the victim in case of assault, rape and murder
b. On the perpetrator of an assault, rape and murder
c. In case of ___________

Tooth marks at the scene:

a. Bite marks can also be found _____________ found at the crime scene.
b. Bites marks on _________ such as, cheese, chocolate or even apples should be
documented.
c. Bite marks on food exhibits found on crime scene should be ______ and kept
refrigerated and tested for ____________.

IV. Cast of a Human Body

 Purpose: Body casts capture detail as small as fingerprints, folds, dimples, and the lines
that define life and one's unique history

Body is usually covered with alginate-organic products which go on like a paste and
quickly solidify into a rubbery semi solid. Alginate is a naturally occurring anionic polymer
typically obtained from brown seaweed/algae, and has been extensively investigated and used
for many biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, low toxicity, relatively low cost, and
mild gelation.

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