The examination of human hairs in the forensic laboratory is typically conducted through the use of a light microscope. This examination usually involves a two-step process—the examination of crime scene hairs and then the comparison of crime scene hair with hair from suspects. The purpose for conducting this examination is to determine whether an individual could have been at the crime scene. By making a match between the suspects hair and hair found at the crime scene investigators have evidence that indicates that the suspect could have been at the site of the crime.

This evidence by itself is not enough to determine absolutely that a person was indeed at the site. The hair could have been carried there by other elements, such as wind, rain or someone else that had come in contact with the suspect.

Examining hair. For this investigation there was very little hair collected from the crime scene, so it is important that the evidence is preserved and not destroyed during the investigation. Take the crime scene hair samples and place on a piece of paper. Examine the hair under the low power of the stero-microscope, look for color, smooth or rough surface, thicknes of hair strand, Use the Hair Scale meqasurement chart, and determine how much of the space the hair takes between 2 dots (see diagram Look at the evidence under the high power microscoppe for additional detail. Complete the data table on page 30 in the evidence row.

Now take the suspect samples, one at a time and complete the data table, comparing the suspect samples to the crime scene samples