Named for Edmond Locard. Posits that whenever a person or object comes into contact with another person or object, an exchange or cross-transfer of material (evidence) occurs, whether something is left behind or taken away. During a sexual assault, a three-way exchange may occur involving the perpetrator, the victim, and the environment (i.e., scene of the crime).
The contents of this glossary is funded in part through a sub-award from RTI as the lead partner for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (2011-DN-BX-K564 and 2016-MU-BK-K110), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies and any services or tools provided).