Novel messenger RNAs for body fluid identification
In forensic investigations, the identification of the cellular or body fluid source of biological evidence can provide crucial probative information for the court. Messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling has become a valuable tool for body fluid and cell type identification due to its high sensitivity and compatibility with DNA analysis. However, using a single marker to determine the somatic origin of a sample can lead to misinterpretation as a result of cross-reactions. While false positives may be avoided through the simultaneous detection of multiple markers per body fluid, this approach is currently limited by the small number...
Source: Science and Justice - October 21, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Patricia P. Albani, Rachel Fleming Source Type: research
Massively parallel sequencing and the emergence of forensic genomics: Defining the policy and legal issues for law enforcement
Use of DNA in forensic science will be significantly influenced by new technology in coming years. Massively parallel sequencing and forensic genomics will hasten the broadening of forensic DNA analysis beyond short tandem repeats for identity towards a wider array of genetic markers, in applications as diverse as predictive phenotyping, ancestry assignment, and full mitochondrial genome analysis. With these new applications come a range of legal and policy implications, as forensic science touches on areas as diverse as ‘big data’, privacy and protected health information. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - October 16, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Nathan Scudder, Dennis McNevin, Sally F. Kelty, Simon J. Walsh, James Robertson Source Type: research
Soil forensics: How far can soil clay analysis distinguish between soil vestiges?
In this study, we hypothesized that soils can be forensically distinguished through the analysis of their clay fraction alone, and that samples of the same soil type can be consistently distinguished according to the distance they were collected from each other. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 29, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: R.S. Corr êa, V.F. Melo, G.G.F. Abreu, M.H. Sousa, J.A. Chaker, J.A. Gomes Source Type: research
Acid alteration of several ignitable liquids of potential use in arsons
Ignitable liquids such as fuels, alcohols and thinners can be used in criminal activities, for instance arsons. Forensic experts require to know their chemical compositions, as well as to understand how different modification effects could impact them, in order to detect, classify and identify them properly in fire debris. The acid alteration/acidification of ignitable liquids is a modification effect that sharply alters the chemical composition, for example, of gasoline and diesel fuel, interfering in the forensic analysis and result interpretation. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 29, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Carlos Mart ín-Alberca, Héctor Carrascosa, Itxaso San Román, Luis Bartolomé, Carmen García-Ruiz Source Type: research
A systematic analysis of misleading evidence in unsafe rulings in England and Wales
Uncertainty is an inherent characteristic of many forensic analysis and interpretation processes. Therefore, advancing the role that the growing forensic knowledge base can play throughout the criminal justice system requires an understanding of how uncertainties are currently being dealt with and whether this is improving over time. This coincides with the significant number of concerns discussed in various government-led reports, highlighting the need for research on the scientific validity of methods, judgements, and presentation methods in court [1 –3]. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 29, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Nadine M. Smit, Ruth M. Morgan, David A. Lagnado Source Type: research
Design, optimisation and preliminary validation of a human specific loop-mediated amplification assay for the rapid detection of human DNA at forensic crime scenes
The identification of samples at a crime scene which require forensic DNA typing has been the focus of recent research interest. We propose a simple, but sensitive analysis system which can be deployed at a crime scene to identify crime scene stains as human or non-human. The proposed system uses the isothermal amplification of DNA in a rapid assay format, which returns results in as little as 30min from sampling. The assay system runs on the Genie II device, a proven in-field detection system which could be deployed at a crime scene. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 27, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: H.J. Hird, M.K. Brown Source Type: research
The meaning of justified subjectivism and its role in the reconciliation of recent disagreements over forensic probabilism
In this paper we reply to recent comments in this Special Issue according to which subjective probability is not considered to be a concept fit for use in forensic evaluation and expert reporting. We identify the source of these criticisms to lie in a misunderstanding of subjective probability as unconstrained subjective probability; a lack of constraint that neither corresponds to the way in which we referred to subjective probability in our previous contributions, nor to the way in which probability assignment is understood by current evaluative guidelines (e.g., of ENFSI). (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 22, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: A. Biedermann, S. Bozza, F. Taroni, C. Aitken Tags: Reply Paper Source Type: research
Response paper to “The likelihood of encapsulating all uncertainty”: The relevance of additional information for the LR
In this response paper, part of the Virtual Special Issue on “Measuring and Reporting the Precision of Forensic Likelihood Ratios”, we further develop our position on likelihood ratios which we described previously in Berger et al. (2016) “The LR does not exist”. Our exposition is inspired by an example given in Martire et al. (2016) “On the likelih ood of encapsulating all uncertainty”, where the consequences of obtaining additional information on the LR were discussed. In their example, two experts use the same data in a different way, and the LRs of these experts change differently when new data are taken in...
Source: Science and Justice - September 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Klaas Slooten, Charles E.H. Berger Tags: Response paper Source Type: research
What should a forensic practitioner's likelihood ratio be? II
In the debate as to whether forensic practitioners should assess and report the precision of the strength of evidence statements that they report to the courts, I remain unconvinced by proponents of the position that only a subjectivist concept of probability is legitimate. I consider this position counterproductive for the goal of having forensic practitioners implement, and courts not only accept but demand, logically correct and scientifically valid evaluation of forensic evidence. In considering what would be the best approach for evaluating strength of evidence, I suggest that the desiderata be (1) to maximise empiric...
Source: Science and Justice - September 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Geoffrey Stewart Morrison Tags: Reply paper Source Type: research
IFC: Editorial Board
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Source: Science and Justice - September 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM1: Events Guide
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Source: Science and Justice - September 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM2: Council Information
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Source: Science and Justice - September 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Aiding the interpretation of forensic gait analysis: Development of a features of gait database
In response to the letter dated 28th May 2017, the authors of the paper entitled ‘Aiding the Interpretation of Forensic Gait Analysis: Development of a Features of Gait Database’ which was published in volume 56, issue 6 in December 2016, would like to clarify a number of points and address the issues raised by the letter's signatories. The substantive content of the letter has been addressed section by section. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - September 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ivan Birch, Claire Gwinnett, Jeremy Walker Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Ink dating part II: Interpretation of results in a legal perspective
This article aimed at developing and evaluating the potential of three interpretation models to date ink entries in a legal perspective: (1) the threshold model comparing analytical results to tabulated values in order to determine the maximal possible age of an ink entry, (2) the trend tests that focusing on the “ageing status” of an ink entry, and (3) the likelihood ratio calculation comparing the probabilities to observe the results under at least two alternative hypotheses. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Agn ès Koenig, Céline Weyermann Source Type: research
Ink dating, part I: Statistical distribution of selected ageing parameters in a ballpoint inks reference population
The development of ink dating methods requires an important amount of work in order to be reliably applicable in practice. Major tasks include the definition of ageing parameters to monitor ink ageing. An adequate parameter should ideally fulfil the following criteria: it should evolve as a function of time in a monotonic way, be measurable in a majority of ink entries, be as accurate and reproducible as possible, and finally it should not be influenced too much by transfer and storage conditions. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 24, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Agn ès Koenig, Céline Weyermann Source Type: research
