From unknown to known: Identification of the remains at the mausoleum of fosse Ardeatine
During the Second World War, on 24th March 1944, 335 Italians were massacred near Rome by the occupying forces of Nazi Germany. Four months later forensic examination led to the identification of 323 out of 335 victims. After approximately 60 years, the identification of the remaining unidentified twelve victims began with anthropological and genetic analysis carried out by a team of Italian forensic experts. Anthropological analysis was performed in field in order to confirm the sex of each victim and verify the presence of only one individual in each grave for a correct sampling. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 26, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Elena Pilli, Silvia Boccone, Alessandro Agostino, Antonino Virgili, Giancarlo D'Errico, Martina Lari, Cesare Rapone, Filippo Barni, Jacopo Moggi Cecchi, Andrea Berti, David Caramelli Tags: Case review Source Type: research
Fingermark visualisation on metal surfaces: An initial investigation of the influence of surface condition on process effectiveness
Fingermark recovery from metal surfaces is an area of operational interest, both from the association of metals with weapons used in violent crime and from the increasing incidence in metal theft. This paper reports a feasibility study into the effectiveness of a range of fingermark visualisation processes in developing fingermarks on clean metals (brass, bronze and stainless steel), and on the same metals after prolonged exposure to an outdoor environment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate how the surface type and condition could influence the development of fingermarks for each of the processes u...
Source: Science and Justice - May 17, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: M. Pitera, V.G. Sears, S.M. Bleay, S. Park Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
Impact of aging on fingerprint ridge density: Anthropometry and forensic implications in sex inference
In this study, a sample of 213 adults of both sexes from a Spanish native population of different age ranges —18–30 years old (“junior” group) and 50–66 years old (“senior” group)—was used. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 15, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Angeles S ánchez-Andrés, José Antonio Barea, Noemí Rivaldería, Concepción Alonso-Rodríguez, Esperanza Gutiérrez-Redomero Source Type: research
Decision support for using mobile Rapid DNA analysis at the crime scene
Mobile Rapid DNA technology is close to being incorporated into crime scene investigations, with the potential to identify a perpetrator within hours. However, the use of these techniques entails the risk of losing the sample and potential evidence, because the device not only consumes the inserted sample, it is also is less sensitive than traditional technologies used in forensic laboratories. Scene of Crime Officers (SoCOs) therefore will face a ‘time/success rate trade-off’ issue when making a decision to apply this technology. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 14, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: A.A. Mapes, R.D. Stoel, C.J. de Poot, P. Vergeer, M. Huyck Source Type: research
Regulation: What is there not to like?
At the heart of current debate in forensic science delivery in England and Wales is the roll-out of regulation, under the auspices of the Home Office Forensic Science Regulator, and a further anticipated move to make compliance a statutory expectation. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 11, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Martin Paul Evison Source Type: research
Forensic DNA retention: Public perspective studies in the United Kingdom and around the world
This review analysed public perspective studies on forensic DNA retention in the United Kingdom and around the world. The studies generally show strong public support for the long-term or indefinite retention of DNA from convicts and suspects. There is considerable support for the retention of DNA from all or some arrestees and potentially the entire population. This was predicated upon the belief that forensic DNA databases have crime-solving abilities, which the public rate highly. In the UK, it was found that the current Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 regime is broadly representative of the recommendations of the surve...
Source: Science and Justice - May 11, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aaron Opoku Amankwaa Tags: Review Source Type: research
The United Kingdom and Ireland association of forensic toxicologists forensic toxicology laboratory guidelines (2018)
In 2010, the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists (UKIAFT) created forensic toxicology laboratory guidelines. This represents a revision of those guidelines as a result of the changing toxicological and technical landscape. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 9, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Simon P. Elliott, Duncan W.S. Stephen, Sue Paterson Source Type: research
Are DNA data a valid source to study the spatial behavior of unknown offenders?
Studying the spatial behaviour of unknown offenders (i.e. undetected offenders) is difficult, because police recorded crime data do not contain information about these offenders. Recently, forensic DNA data has been used to study unknown offenders. However, DNA data are only a subset of the crimes committed by unknown offenders stored in police recorded crime data. To establish the suitability of DNA data for studying the spatial offending behaviour of unknown offenders, we examine the concentration and spatial similarity of detected but unsolved crimes in police recorded crime data (N = 181,483) and DNA data (N =...
Source: Science and Justice - May 7, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sabine De Moor, Christophe Vandeviver, Tom Vander Beken Source Type: research
Is Australia ready for fentanyl?
On the 14th December 2016, a South Australian couple were arrested in Port Vincent. Inside their home, hidden in the kitchen, state and federal investigators found three grams of the synthetic opioid, fentanyl [1]. Only four months earlier, in August 2016, South Australian authorities issued a public health warning after a spike in heroin related deaths during July [2]. These arrests in Port Vincent were the first open source reporting of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF) being seized on the streets in Australia. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 4, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hugh E. McKeown, Trevor J. Rook, James R. Pearson, Oliver A.H. Jones Tags: Review Source Type: research
“I couldn't find it your honour, it mustn't be there!” – Tool errors, tool limitations and user error in digital forensics
The field of digital forensics maintains significant reliance on the software it uses to acquire and investigate forms of digital evidence. Without these tools, analysis of digital devices would often not be possible. Despite such levels of reliance, techniques for validating digital forensic software are sparse and research is limited in both volume and depth. As practitioners pursue the goal of producing robust evidence, they face the onerous task of both ensuring the accuracy of their tools and, their effective use. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 28, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Graeme Horsman Source Type: research
Reply to letter to the editor: Response to “A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence”
We would like to respond to the recent letter [1] that provided a response to our paper “Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence” [2]. We concur with a number of the points raised in the letter, not least the importance of education and improving the understanding of evidence evaluation, particul arly when it comes to lay jurors. We suggest that this serves to highlight future research opportunities and challenges associated with the communication and presentation of evidence more generally. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 27, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: James French, Eleanor Arscott, Ruth Morgan, Georgina Meakin Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
IFC: Editorial Board
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 26, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM1: Events Guide
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 26, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM2: Council Information
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 26, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
A preliminary assessment of the effect of PreCR ™ DNA repair treatment on mixture ratios in two person mixtures
In this study, DNA extracted from known buccal samples was combined into two component mixture samples. These were subjected to UV exposure prior to their amplification with the Promega PowerPlex ® 16HS amplification kit, and subsequent capillary electrophoresis on the ABI 3130xl instrument. Damaged samples were subjected to enzymatic repair treatment and retested to assess the amount of repair. Data showed that there is fidelity associated with the application with profile concordance afte r its use, and a corresponding increase in the amount of recovered alleles post damage. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 25, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: David San Pietro, Franco Tagliaro, Michael S. Adamowicz Source Type: research
