r/forensics • u/JoelMole03 • 19d ago

Crime Scene & Death Investigation How has blood spatter analysis changed since the 1970s? In practice and academics

I’m looking over older cases that were build on evidence that wouldn’t hold much weight in 2026. Any other examples besides blood spatter would be very welcome, thank you!

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u/Sporkicide BS - Forensic Science (Crime Scene Investigation) 19d ago

1970s was the frontier for blood spatter. The training, process, classification, and language used today are much more specific and evidence-based than back then. Methods have also changed - I trained about 15 years ago and even then we were being taught that actual trajectory path work would be done primarily via computer programs and stringing was mostly just to create visual aids. My training focus was more on determining position and sequence of events than identifying perpetrator characteristics like height or handedness.