Cheiloscopy in sex estimation: a systematic review.

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to gather evidence to clarify if cheiloscopy can be used in sex estimation and identify the reasons behind the lack of consensus in the scientific community. The systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A bibliographic survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, restricted to articles published between 2010 and 2020. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria, and then the study data were collected. The risk of bias in each study was assessed and applied as additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. The results of the articles eligible for analysis were synthesized using a descriptive approach. In the 41 included studies, several methodological flaws and variations between studies that contribute to the discrepancy in results were identified. The data gathered allowed us to conclude that there is no strong scientific evidence to support the use of cheiloscopy in sex estimation, as there is no specific pattern for each sex, which reduces the criminalistic interest of cheiloscopy in estimating this parameter.

[Forensic dentistry for identity verification. A survey at the state police level]. / Verwendung von forensischer Zahnmedizin zur Identitätsfeststellung. Eine Befragung auf Ebene der Länderpolizei.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, the identification of unknown dead persons is the responsibility of the police. According to INTERPOL standards, primary (e.g., DNA, fingerprints, and teeth) and secondary (e.g., tattoos) characteristics are examined. Forensic dentistry is already used internationally as an efficient method. In this study, the approach of state police in Germany was analyzed. The methods used for identification, the role of forensic dentistry, the cooperation with dentists, and possible optimization approaches are investigated. METHODS: By means of a digital questionnaire, police officers competent in all federal states for the discovery of unknown dead bodies were asked about identification methods and specifically about the use of forensic dentistry. RESULTS: Eighty-five officers from at least 11 federal states participated in the survey. The procedure turned out to be department specific. In 72.6% of the cases, different characteristics are combined in the identification process, most frequently DNA with dental status (37.1%). DNA analysis is used most frequently. Of the respondents, 62.9% agreed that dental identification is used "often." The percentage of identifications using dental status is estimated to be 1.6-8.1%. For forensic dentistry, 19.4% have a fixed point of contact. A digital platform to contact dentists was estimated to be helpful by 56.5%. DISCUSSION: Forensic dentistry is currently still lagging behind DNA analysis, which could change through increasing digitalization if, for example, ante-mortem data are more reliably available and platforms for interdisciplinary exchange are created.

The use of citizen information in criminal investigation through a collaborative technological innovation process to counteract theft from the person in Bogotá / El uso de la información ciudadana en la investigación criminal mediante un proceso de innovación tecnológico colaborativo para contrarrestar el hurto a personas en Bogotá / O uso da informação dos cidadãos na investigação criminal através de um processo colaborativo de inovação tecnológica para combater o roubode pessoas em Bogotá

Theft from the person is one of the highest impact crimes in Bogotá, with a national share of approximately 38 %. This crime brought to the attention of the authorities is referred to by academics as recorded or reported crime and is used by the police for different purposes, particularly for criminal investigation, but with inefficient results in the identification of perpetrators. Therefore, the type of research is qualitative and has the objective of linking the citizen through a process of collaborative technological innovation, with the purpose of collecting, processing and analysing reported or non-reported information (hidden crime) in a timely, anonymous and efficient manner with disruptive technologies prioritized for the project.The methodology used begins with the discovery stage by identifying key actors and building user stories. Then, in the understanding stage, the value proposition is put forth by means of a hypothesis that is validated in a process of experimentation, and finally, in the build stage, a technology watch analysis is carried out and the proposal for the collaborative system between the citizen and the police with a technological approach is put forward. The results are based on the identification and prioritization of five technologies, two actors, three variables and application of six low and medium fidelity prototypes, as well as the acceptance of citizens in collecting and sharing timely information at 87 %; that information focuses on video, audio, photos and localization at 55 %.On the other hand, with the entry into operation of the collaborative system, the researchers indicate that it would optimise investigation by 50 % through the timely identification of the perpetrators. As for the conclusion, the information analyzed and obtained from the results allows to reach, in a first phase, validation of the established hypothesis, but at the same time recognising the importance of including methodologies such as System Dynamics that allow for the systemic analysis of the information established by other actors and its impact on the proposed collaborative system.The use of citizen information in criminal investigation through a collaborative technological innovation process to counteract theft from the person in Bogotá

El hurto a personas es uno de los delitos de mayor impacto en temas de seguridad para Bogotá con una participación a nivel nacional del 38 % aproximadamente. Este delito puesto en conocimiento de las autoridades es denominado por académicos como criminalidad registrada o denunciada y es utilizada por la institución policial para diferentes fines, en especial para la investigación criminal, pero con resultados poco eficientes en la identificación de victimarios. Por lo tanto, el tipo de investigación es cualitativa y tiene como objetivo vincular al ciudadano mediante un proceso de innovación tecnológico colaborativo, con el propósito de recolectar, tratar y analizar información denunciada y no denunciada (criminalidad oculta) de manera oportuna, anónima y eficiente con tecnologías disruptivas priorizadas para el proyecto. La metodología empleada inicia con la etapa de descubrir mediante la identificación de actores claves y la construcción de historias de usuario. Luego, en la etapa comprender se plantea la propuesta de valor mediante una hipótesis que se valida en un proceso de experimentación, y por último en la etapa construir, se realiza un análisis de vigilancia tecnológica y se plantea la propuesta del sistema colaborativo entre el ciudadano y la policía con enfoque tecnológico. Los resultados se basan en la identificación y priorización de cinco tecnologías, dos actores, tres variables y aplicación de seis prototipos de baja y mediana fidelidad, así como la aceptación de la ciudadanía en recolectar y compartir información oportuna en un87 %, esa información se centra en videos, audios, fotos y localización con un 55 %. Por otro lado, con la entrada en funcionamiento del sistema colaborativo, los investigadores indican que optimizaría la investigación en un 50 % mediante la identificación oportuna de los victimarios. En cuanto a la conclusión, la información analizada y obtenida de los resultados, permite llegar en una primera fase, a validar la hipótesis establecida, pero a la vez, la importancia de incluir metodologías como la Dinámica de Sistemas que permita el análisis sistémico de la información establecida por otros actores y su impacto en el sistema colaborativo propuesto.

O roubo de pessoas é um dos crimes de maior impacto nas questões de segurança de Bogotá, com uma participação nacional de aproximadamente 38 %. Este crime levado ao conhecimento das autoridades é denominado pelos acadêmicos como crime registrado ou denunciado e é utilizado pela instituição policial para diversos fins, principalmente para investigação criminal, mas com resultados ineficientes na identificação dos autores. Portanto, o tipo de pesquisa é qualitativo e visa vincular os cidadãos por meio de um processo colaborativo de inovação tecnológica, com o objetivo de coletar, tratar e analisar informações denunciadas e não denunciadas (crimes ocultos) de maneira oportuna, anônima e eficiente, priorizando tecnologias disruptivas. para o projeto. A metodologia utilizada começa com a fase de descoberta, identificando os principais atores e construindo histórias de usuários. Depois, na fase de compreensão, é proposta a proposta de valor através de uma hipótese que é validada num processo de experimentação e, finalmente, na fase de construção, é realizada uma análise de vigilância tecnológica e é proposta a proposta de um sistema colaborativo entre cidadãos. e a polícia com foco tecnológico. Os resultados baseiam-se na identificação e priorização de cinco tecnologias, dois atores, três variáveis e aplicação de seis protótipos de baixa e média fidelidade, bem como na aceitação dos cidadãos na recolha e partilha de informação atempada em 87 %, esta informação centra-se em vídeos, áudios, fotos e localização com 55 %. Por outro lado, com a entrada em funcionamento do sistema colaborativo, os investigadores indicam que otimizaria a investigação em 50 % através da identificação atempada dos autores. Quanto à conclusão, a informação analisada e obtida a partir dos resultados permite-nos chegar numa primeira fase à validação da hipótese estabelecida, mas ao mesmo tempo, a importância de incluir metodologias como a Dinâmica de Sistemas que permite a análise sistémica da informação estabelecida por outros atores e seu impacto no sistema colaborativo proposto.

¿Son fiables las ruedas de reconocimiento como prueba de identificación del autor de un delito? Una revisión de meta-análisis y estudios experimentales / Are police line-ups reliable as evidence of perpetrator identification? A review of meta-analyses and experimental studies / As rodas de reconhecimento são confiáveis como prova de identificação do autor do crime? Uma revisão de metanálises e estudos experimentais

La rueda de reconocimiento es una diligencia de investigación policial orientada a identificar al autor de un crimen. Se trata de una práctica relativamente frecuente que puede tener como resultado consolidar sospechas o también descartar líneas de investigación. La rueda de reconocimiento suele estar precedida de la exposición de un álbum de fotos y también es frecuente solicitar al mismo testigo que haga una descripción o un retrato robot del atacante. Existen fundadas sospechas de que la concatenación de estas diligencias policiales de identificación desvirtúa la eficacia de la declaración del testigo presencial para elegir al verdadero culpable, en caso de que esté presente en la rueda. También existen algunas controversias con respecto a la fiabilidad de la rueda de reconocimiento en función de la edad del testigo, del número de personas que la conforman, del procedimiento para llevarla a cabo, entre otras. Con el objetivo de acotar la evidencia empírica en torno a estas cuestiones, se presenta una revisión de estudios meta-analíticos y diversos estudios experimentales, desde los cuales se han podido identificar los procedimientos más adecuados para optimizar la eficacia en la precisión de la declaración de los testigos presenciales de un delito en el contexto de una rueda de reconocimiento.

The line-up is a police investigative procedure aimed at identifying the perpetrator of a crime. It is a relatively common practice that can result in consolidating suspicions or ruling out lines of investigation. The identification parade is usually preceded by the exhibition of a photo album and it is also common to ask the same witness to make a description or sketch of the perpetrator. There are strong suspicions that the concatenation of these police identification steps undermines the effectiveness of the eyewitness statement in identifying the real culprit, if present at the line-up. There is also some controversy regarding the reliability of the identification parade, depending on the age of the witness, the number of people involved, the procedure for carrying it out, among others. In order to narrow down the empirical evidence on these issues, a review of meta-analytical studies and various experimental studies is presented, based on which it has been possible to identify the most appropriate procedures to optimise the effectiveness in the accuracy of eyewitness testimony in the context of a line-up.

A roda de reconhecimento é um procedimento de investigação policial que visa identificar o autor de um crime. É uma prática relativamente comum que pode resultar na consolidação de suspeitas ou na exclusão de linhas de investigação. A roda de identificação é geralmente precedida pela exibição de um álbum de fotos e é comum pedir à mesma testemunha que faça uma descrição ou um esboço do autor do crime. Há fortes suspeitas de que a concatenação dessas etapas de identificação policial prejudica a eficácia do depoimento da testemunha ocular na identificação do verdadeiro culpado, se presente nessa fase. Há também alguma controvérsia quanto à confiabilidade da roda de reconhecimento, dependendo da idade da testemunha, do número de pessoas envolvidas, do procedimento para realizá-la, entre outros. A fim de restringir as evidências empíricas sobre essas questões, é apresentada uma revisão de estudos metanalíticos e experimentais, a partir dos quais foi possível identificar os procedimentos mais adequados para otimizar a eficácia na precisão do depoimento de testemunhas oculares no contexto de uma roda de reconhecimento.

Physicians and nurses professional relationship with criminal investigation in dealing with survivors of sexual abuse: a scoping review.

Survivors of sexual abuse and their families seek help from criminal law enforcement agencies and health professionals to obtain justice and health care. Many communities have implemented multi-professional collaborative models so that the victim's well-being is assured and the truth is established. However, there is a general lack of evidence on how to best articulate these teams with the healthcare professionals caring for the survivors.Therefore, this Scoping Review was conducted in order to analyze and to map the barriers and facilitators of the relationship between health professionals and the criminal investigation team in the care of survivors of sexual abuse. The methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute for Scoping Reviews was used, and the Bronstein five dimension model of interprofessional collaboration served as the basis for the analysis of barriers and facilitators. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed studies, primary and secondary sources, text and opinion documents were included. Content analysis was performed on the main findings of the collected studies. Twelve articles were identified and analyzed. Collaboration, communication, hierarchy, skills, confidentiality, and leadership emerged as key themes. Multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) were implemented to coordinate care, but conflicting goals and values among professionals posed challenges. Communication failures and inadequate information sharing hindered collaboration. Neutral leaders who coordinate teams, minimize groupthink, and improve decision-making were found to be valuable. Engaging across disciplinary boundaries and addressing power dynamics were challenging but could be addressed through facilitation and conflict resolution. This review highlights the importance of effective collaboration and interaction within teams and with other professionals in the care of sexual abuse survivors.

Improving forensic perpetrator identification with Super-Recognizers.

About a decade ago, Super-Recognizers (SRs) were first described as individuals with exceptional face identity processing abilities. Since then, various tests have been developed or adapted to assess individuals' abilities and identify SRs. The extant literature suggests that SRs may be beneficial in police tasks requiring individual identification. However, in reality, the performance of SRs has never been examined using authentic forensic material. This not only limits the external validity of test procedures used to identify SRs, but also claims concerning their deployment in policing. Here, we report the first-ever investigation of SRs' ability to identify perpetrators using authentic case material. We report the data of 73 SRs and 45 control participants. These include (a) performance on three challenging tests of face identity processing recommended by Ramon (2021) for SR identification; (b) performance for perpetrator identification using four CCTV sequences depicting five perpetrators and police line-ups created for criminal investigation purposes. Our findings demonstrate that the face identity processing tests used here are valid in measuring such abilities and identifying SRs. Moreover, SRs excel at perpetrator identification relative to control participants, with more correct perpetrator identifications, the better their performance across lab tests. These results provide external validity for the recently proposed diagnostic framework and its tests used for SR identification (Ramon, 2021). This study provides the first empirical evidence that SRs identified using these measures can be beneficial for forensic perpetrator identification. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for law enforcement, whose procedures can be improved via a human-centric approach centered around individuals with superior abilities.

Are lip prints hereditary? A systematic review.

Hereditary lip prints have been studied by several researchers. However, the literature shows no consensus among the scientific community regarding this topic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to gather evidence to clarify whether the surface structure of lip prints is hereditary and, consequently, if a familial relationship between individuals can be established through the analysis of lip prints. The systematic review was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A bibliographic survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, restricted to articles published between 2010 and 2020. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria, and then the study data were collected. The risk of bias of each study was assessed and applied as additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. The results of the articles eligible for analysis were synthesized by a descriptive approach. In the seven included studies, methodological variations, including the definition of similarity, that contribute to the heterogeneity of results were identified. The data gathered allowed to conclude that there is no strong scientific evidence to support the hypothesis of the existence of heredity in the surface structure of lip prints, since it was not proven that similarities between parents and children occur systematically in all families.

Introducing a Rapid DNA Analysis Procedure for Crime Scene Samples Outside of the Laboratory-A Field Experiment.

Technological innovations enable rapid DNA analysis implementation possibilities. Concordantly, rapid DNA devices are being used in practice. However, the effects of implementing rapid DNA technologies in the crime scene investigation procedure have only been evaluated to a limited extent. In this study a field experiment was set up comparing 47 real crime scene cases following a rapid DNA analysis procedure outside of the laboratory (decentral), with 50 cases following the regular DNA analysis procedure at the forensic laboratory. The impact on duration of the investigative process, and on the quality of the analyzed trace results (97 blood and 38 saliva traces) was measured. The results of the study show that the duration of the investigation process has been significantly reduced in cases where the decentral rapid DNA procedure was deployed, compared to cases where the regular procedure was used. Most of the delay in the regular process lies in the procedural steps during the police investigation, not in the DNA analysis, which highlights the importance of an effective work process and having sufficient capacity available. This study also shows that rapid DNA techniques are less sensitive than regular DNA analysis equipment. The device used in this study was only to a limited extent suitable for the analysis of saliva traces secured at the crime scene and can mainly be used for the analysis of visible blood traces with an expected high DNA quantity of a single donor.

Brain fingerprinting field study on major, terrorist crimes supports the brain fingerprinting scientific standards hypothesis: classification concealed information test with P300 and P300-MERMER succeeds; comparison CIT fails.

We conducted (I) 18 event-related potential (ERP) field tests to detect concealed information regarding major terrorist crimes and other real-world crimes and (II) 5 ERP tests regarding participation in a classified counterterrorism operation. This study is a test of the brain fingerprinting scientific standards hypothesis: that a specific set of methods for event-related potential (ERP) concealed information tests (CIT) known as the brain fingerprinting scientific standards provide the sufficient conditions to produce less than 1% error rate and greater than 95% median statistical confidence for individual determinations of whether the tested information is stored in each subject's brain. All previous published results in all laboratories are compatible with this hypothesis. We recorded P300 and P300-MERMER ERP responses to visual text stimuli of three types: targets contain known information, irrelevants contain unknown/irrelevant information, and probes contain the situation-relevant information to be tested, known only to the perpetrator and investigators. Classification CIT produced significantly better results than comparison CIT, independent of classification criteria. Classification CIT had 0% error rate; comparison CIT had 6% error rate. As in previous studies, classification-CIT median statistical confidences were approximately 99%, whereas comparison CIT statistical confidences were no better than chance for information-absent (IA) subjects (who did not know the tested information). Over half of the comparison-CIT IA determinations were invalid due to a less-than-chance computed probability of being correct. Experiment (I) results for median statistical confidence: Classification CIT, IA subjects: 98.6%; information-present (IP) subjects (who know the tested information): 99.9%; comparison CIT, IA subjects: 48.7%; IP subjects: 99.5%. Experiment (II) results (Classification CIT): error rate 0%, median statistical confidence 96.6%. Countermeasures had no effect on the classification CIT. These results, like all previous results in our laboratory and all others, support the brain fingerprinting scientific standards hypothesis and indicate that the classification CIT is a necessary condition for a reliable, accurate, and valid brainwave-based CIT. The comparison CIT, by contrast, produces high error rates and IA statistical confidences no better than chance. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-022-09795-1.

Sexual homicide and the forensic process: The decision-making process of collecting and analyzing traces and its implication for crime solving.

The focus of the current study is to examine the collection and analysis of traces that are related to crime scene behaviors in sexual homicide cases as well as the factors influencing the solving of these crimes. Using 230 sexual homicide cases from the SHielD database, we computed two neural network models based on the multi-layer perceptron algorithm. First, we determined whether certain crime scene characteristics predicted the collection and analysis of traces (dependent variable for Model 1). Not surprisingly, the results indicate that trace collection and analysis were more likely to occur in sexual homicide cases with crime scene behaviors exhibiting the highest risk for trace transfer (e.g. close interactions with the victim) as well as the best conditions for trace persistence (e.g. body is found indoors). Situational and physical aspects of the crime scene are thus taken into account when deciding on the collection and analysis of traces. Second, we examined the situations in which the collection and analysis of traces contributes to crime solving (dependent variable for Model 2). The results suggest that the collection and analysis of traces does not necessarily predict the resolution of the case. Specifically, the analyses show that the collection and analysis of traces is useful for crime solving when: (1) the offenders' behaviors increase the opportunities for leaving traces at the crime scene, and (2) when the environmental and temporal aspects are favorable to the collection of traces. The impact of trace collection and analysis on case resolution is thus depending on the context of the case. Furthermore, the subsequent steps, such as the result of the trace analysis, the introduction into a database, the obtention of a result from this comparison, etc. might also affect case resolution, and thus interfere in the link between trace collection and analysis and case resolution.

Percepción de la utilidad de los registros dentales como método de identificación humana en profesiones de alto riesgo: el caso de las personas investigadoras del OIJ / Perception of the usefulness of dental records as a method of human identification in high-risk professions: the case of the OIJ investigators

Resumen Introducción: Las personas que laboran en investigación criminal se exponen a un alto riesgo de sufrir lesiones o fallecer durante operaciones contra el crimen organizado que pueden provocar condiciones que dificulten su identificación por métodos convencionales. La presente investigación fue realizada en las personas investigadoras del Organismo de Investigación Judicial para establecer la percepción de la utilidad de los registros dentales como método de identificación y elaborar un formato único de información odontológica antemortem. Materiales y métodos: Un cuestionario piloto fue diseñado y aplicado a 10 personas para ser calibrado y validado. Posteriormente se generó un cuestionario electrónico final en la plataforma Google Forms que fue enviado vía correo electrónico institucional a la totalidad de personas investigadoras constituida por 1200 individuos, de los cuales 807 respondieron en el período del 21 de junio al 20 de julio de 2021. Los resultados fueron analizados mediante las distribuciones de frecuencia, cruce de variables, comparación de medias con base en el análisis de variancia. El nivel mínimo de confianza para las comparaciones fue del 95%. Resultados: El cuestionario fue realizado por 807 personas, 79% hombres y 21% mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 37,8 años (IC95%: 37,3 - 38,48) sin que se encontrara diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,419). El 80% labora en la Región Central del país, 78% indica que visitaron al odontólogo hace un año o menos y el 69% refiere que en algún momento les han tomado una radiografía panorámica, un 89% dice tener tratamientos dentales como coronas, puentes o implantes; y el 88% considera de gran utilidad los registros dentales como método de identificación, y lo ubican en tercer lugar de conocimiento (95,5%) al compararlo con ADN (99,6%) y dactiloscopia (98,7%). Conclusiones: Las personas investigadoras del Organismo de Investigación Judicial consideran que los registros odontológicos son útiles en la identificación de seres humanos y cuentan con información antemortem útil para dicho efecto.

Abstract Introduction: People who work in criminal investigations are exposed to a high risk of suffering injuries or dying during operations against organized crime that can cause conditions that make identification difficult by conventional methods. This research was carried out in the investigators of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (Judicial Investigation Agency) to establish the perception of the usefulness of dental records as a method of identification and to elaborate a unique format of dental information antemortem. Materials and methods: A pilot questionnaire was designed and applied to 10 people to be calibrated and validated. Subsequently, a final electronic questionnaire was generated on the Google Forms platform that was sent via institutional email to all the investigators consisting of 1200 individuals, of which 807 responded in the period of the June 21 to July 20, 2021. The results were analyzed by frequency distributions, crossing of variables, comparison of means based on the analysis of variance. The minimum confidence level for comparisons was 95%. Results: The questionnaire was conducted by 807 people, 79% men and 21% women. The mean age was 37.8 years (95% CI: 37.3 - 38.48) with no statistically significant difference (p=0.419), 80% work in the Central Region of the country, 78% indicate that they visited the dentist a year or less ago and 69% report that at some point they have taken a panoramic X-ray, 89% say they have dental treatments such as crowns, bridges or implants; and 88% consider dental records as a method of identification very useful, and place it in third place in knowledge (95.5%) when compared with DNA (99.6%) and dactyloscopy (98.7%). Conclusions: The investigators of the Judicial Investigation Agency consider that dental records are useful in the identification of human beings and have useful antemortem information for this purpose.

A retrospective look on the use of DNA evidence in a sexual assault investigation in the Philippines

@#In 1998, biological samples were collected from the body of a 17-year old female rape-homicide victim within 24 hours post-contact. In the absence of a sexual assault investigation kit, locally available medical supplies were used to collect biological samples. The victim’s family filed a case naming the victim’s uncle as the assailant. More than a year into the trial, samples from the victim and the accused were tested for DNA. The vaginal smears yielded DNA profiles originating from at least two persons, with one DNA source being male. Upon discovery, the victim’s age, the state of her body, and medicolegal examination results supported the allegation of sexual assault rather than consensual sex. This paper described the DNA testing conducted for this rape with homicide case. The prosecution used the DNA test results to support the charges against the accused, who was eventually convicted and sentenced to death in 2001. Upon automatic review in 2004, the Philippine Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and dismissed the defense’s claim that DNA testing violated the defendant’s right against self-incrimination. The defendant’s death conviction was commuted to life imprisonment when the Death Penalty was suspended via Republic Act No. 9346 in 2006. The case described here is considered one of the DNA landmark cases cited in the Philippine Rule on DNA Evidence of 2007.

Identification of different body fluids through novel deep blue autofluorescence.

Identification of different body fluids at crime scene is imperative to know about its source and the type of crime committed. Non-invasive fluorimetric techniques for the identification of body fluids rely upon the aromatic amino acids, which are not always prevalent in many proteins. Novel fluorescence technique, known as deep blue autofluorescence (dbAF), is independent of aromatic amino acids fluorescence, and can differentiate different body fluids. Contributed mainly by carbonyl group of amino acids, this auto fluorescence shows emission in deep blue (~400-600 nm) region after exciting at the edge of the long wavelength UV range (~360--380 nm). The present study demonstrate the first ever report of deep blue autofluorescence in the identification of different body fluids like, urine, saliva, blood, semen and vaginal sample. dbAF of human body fluids were observed to be distinct from the body fluids of dog, and thus provides a prospective alternative to differentiate human and non-human body fluids. We also demonstrated that dbAF decreases over the time window of 7 days, however it was not completely diminished and still detects the different body fluids. Since all body fluids are inherently fluorescent, present technique could be a novel approach for the identification of various body fluids at crime scene during forensic investigation.

A novel approach to 3D modelling ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data - A case study of a cemetery and applications for criminal investigation.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an established geophysical technique used extensively for the accurate reconstruction of the shallow (<10 m) subsurface. Reconstructions have largely been completed and presented as 2D vertical and horizontal planes, leaving limited visualization of subsurface 3D shapes and their spatial relationships. With technological advancements, particularly the availability and integration of various software platforms, 3D modelling of GPR data is now emerging as the new standard. However, despite these developments, there remains an inadequate examination and testing of these techniques, particularly in determining if their application is beneficial and warranted. In this study we conducted a GPR grid survey on a churchyard cemetery to generate and evaluate 2D and 3D-modelled reconstructions of the cemetery burial sites. Data collection and processing was completed using a Sensors and Software Incorporated pulseEKKO™ Pro SmartCart GPR system and EKKO_Project™ software, respectively. The modelling component was achieved using Schlumberger's Petrel™ E & P software platform, which is tailored to the petroleum industry. The subsurface patterns present in the 2D and 3D models closely matched the cemetery plot plan, validating our data collection, processing, and modelling methods. Both models were adequate for 2D horizontal visualization of reflection patterns at any specific depth. The 3D model was used to identify the presence of a companion burial plot (stacked caskets) and possible leachate plumes below and encircling burial sites, both of which were not evident in the 2D model, highlighting the benefits of 3D modelling when discerning subsurface objects. We expect our findings to be of value to similar GPR studies, with particular significance to geoforensic studies and criminal investigations.

Beyond bagging and tagging - An empirical investigation into the roles, designations and responsibilities of crime scene practitioners.

This study proposes a comprehensive, scalable guide which police forces may use to advertise and recruit crime scene staff on a universal standard, as opposed to setting force-specific requirements. It also investigates the validity of staff descriptors such as 'examiner', 'SOCO', 'analyst' and 'investigator' and whether such classifications warrant continued existence. Using published crime scene job postings and internal human resource documentation from thirty-five (35) United Kingdom police forces, scene staff qualification requirements and their assigned responsibilities were collated. The main functions of scene practitioners were found to involve six (6) key aspects: (1) operational support; (2) police organisation and forensic intelligence support; (3) administrative support; (4) community support; (5) organisational support; and (6) investigative support. The study found a major misconception in the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of crime scene practitioners as merely evidence collectors with purely evidence-based functions. The data indicated that the duties were significantly more dynamic, requiring critical thinking. Forces consistently emphasized the need for an ability to adapt to unknown scenarios, react with an open mind and problem-solve using reasoning and thought. Scene staff were expected to be victim based, their approach geared towards assisting victims to cope with crime, advising them as to the next steps forward, and consoling witnesses. Key discoveries were made about the role of scene staff as community support actors, and that role-fulfilment involved not just scientific knowledge but also legal and investigative comprehension. Insights were gained on the move towards professionalisation of crime scene staff and the associated obstacles. Evidence of widespread and jurisdiction-wide discrepancy in definitions, roles and responsibilities, police status (whether they were officers or civilians) and classification of scene practitioners under official staffing data, prompted recommendations on unification of standards and redefinition of staff roles and their vocational boundaries.

La técnica de perfilación criminológica: conocimiento, características y utilidad en Colombia / The Criminal Profiling Technique: Knowledge, Characteristics and Usefulness in Colombia / A técnica do perfil criminológico: conhecimento, característica e utilidade na Colômbia

Resumen La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo indagar sobre el conocimiento, las características y la utilidad de la técnica de perfilación criminológica dentro de una muestra de actores judiciales en Colombia, quienes, por sus funciones profesionales en la investigación criminal, se encontraban en posibilidad de aplicar la técnica. La metodología incluyó la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas a 155 funcionarios pertenecientes a las principales instituciones de administración de justicia colombiana (Fiscalía, Policía Nacional, Defensoría del Pueblo, Instituto Nacional Penitenciario y Carcelario, y miembros de la rama judicial). Entre los resultados se encuentra que los actores judiciales consideran útil la técnica por la noción de cientificidad que tienen sobre ella. Asimismo, aunque se percibe útil, es poco usada debido al desconocimiento general derivado del poco entrenamiento recibido para su ejecución. Estos resultados se discuten frente a la historia reciente del estudio en materia criminológica en el país, la formación de sus profesionales y las brechas entre la investigación académica y su uso en la práctica de investigación criminal. Se concluye que la técnica en el contexto colombiano está aún en desarrollo, actualmente cuenta con algunas guías y protocolos al interior de cada institución y requiere de mayores ejercicios de evaluación de impacto y análisis exhaustivos de su relevancia y cientificidad.

Abstract This research study's objective was to explore the knowledge, characteristics and usefulness of the criminal profiling technique within a sample of judicial actors in Colombia who, due to their professional functions in criminal investigations, could possibly apply the technique. The methodology included performing semi-structured interviews on 155 officials belonging to Colombia's main institutions for the administration of justice (Prosecutor's Office, National Police, Ombudsman's Office, National Penitentiary and Prison Institute, and members of the judicial branch). Among the results, it was observed that judicial actors consider the technique useful due to the scientific notion they have regarding it. Furthermore, although it is perceived as being useful, it is seldom used because of a general lack of knowledge derived from scant training for its execution. These results are discussed in light of the recent criminological study carried out in the country, its professionals' education and the gaps in academic research and its use in criminal investigations. It was concluded that the technique is still being developed in the Colombian context. It currently have some guides and protocols within each institution, and requires more impact assessments and comprehensive analyses regarding its relevance and scientific nature.

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi indagar sobre o conhecimento, as características e a utilidade da técnica de perfil criminológico dentro de uma amostra de atores judiciais na Colômbia que, devido às suas funções profissionais na investigação criminal, são capazes de aplicar a técnica. A metodologia incluiu a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 155 funcionários pertencentes às principais instituições de administração de justiça colombiana (Procuradoria, Polícia Nacional, Defensoria do povo, Instituto Nacional Penitenciário e Carcerário, e membros do poder judiciário). Entre os resultados, encontra-se que os atores judiciais consideram a técnica útil devido à noção de cientificidade que possuem sobre ela. Da mesma forma, embora seja percebida como útil, é pouco utilizada por causa do desconhecimento geral derivado do pouco treinamento recebido para sua execução. Esses resultados são discutidos à luz da história recente do estudo da criminologia no país, da formação de seus profissionais e as brechas entre a pesquisa acadêmica e sua utilização na prática da investigação criminal. Conclui-se que a técnica, no contexto colombiano, ainda está em desenvolvimento. Atualmente possui alguns guias e protocolos dentro de cada instituição e requer maiores exercícios de avaliação de impacto e análise exaustiva de sua relevância e cientificidade.

Lighting up forensic science by aggregation-induced emission: A review.

Forensic science requires a fast, sensitive, and anti-interfering imaging tool for on-site investigation and bio-analysis. The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon exhibits remarkable luminescence properties (large Stokes shift, diverse molecular structures, and high photo-stability), which can provide a viable solution for on-site analysis, while at the same time overcoming the problem of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Based on the outstanding performance in chemical analysis and bio-sensing, AIE materials have great prospects in the field of forensic science. Therefore, the application of AIE in forensic science has been summarized for the first time in this article. After a brief introduction to the concept and development of AIE, its applications in the determination of toxic or hazardous substances, based on data on poisoning deaths, has been summarized. Subsequently, besides the bio-imaging function, other applications of AIE in analyzing markers related to forensic genetics, forensic pathology, (focusing on the corpse) and clinical forensics (focusing on the living) have been discussed. In addition, applications of AIE molecules in criminal investigations, including recognition of fingerprints and blood stains, detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents, and anti-counterfeiting have also been presented. It is hoped that this review will light up the future of forensic science by stimulating more research work on the suitability of AIE materials in advancing forensic science.

Population data and genetic characteristics of 12 X-STR loci using the Investigator® Argus X-12 Quality Sensor kit for the Kedayan population of Borneo in Malaysia.

DNA profiling of X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STR) has exceptional value in criminal investigations, especially for complex kinship and incest cases. In this study, Investigator® Argus X-12 Quality Sensor (QS) kits were successfully used to characterize 12 X-STR loci in 199 unrelated healthy Kedayan individuals living in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia. The LG1 haplogroup (DXS8378 - DXS10135 - DXS10148) has the largest HD (0.9799) as compared with all other closely linked haplotype groups examined (LG2; DXS7132-DXS10074-DXS10079, LG3; DXS10103-DXS10101-HPRTB and LG4; DXS10134-DXS7423-DXS10146). Data from statistical analysis showed that high combined of PDM, PDF, MEC_Krüger, MEC_Kishida, MEC_Desmarais, and MEC_Desmarais_duo values (0.999999994405922, 0.99999999999999, 0.999990463834938, 0.999999975914808, 0.999999975985006, and 0.999996491927194, respectively) in the Kedayan. In a two-dimensional scaling (MDS) plot and dendrogram constructed using allele frequencies at the 12 X-STR loci, Kedayan appear to be most closely related to their other Austronesian populations including the Malays and Filipinos as compared with other reference population groups. Findings from the present study thus demonstrate high genetic variability across the 12 tested X-STR loci and can be used for population studies and forensic applications.

Familial DNA analysis and criminal investigation: Usage, downsides and privacy concerns.

Since the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) capability in forensic investigation, it has been an important part of the criminal justice system. In most criminal cases DNA profile originating from evidence sample collected from the crime scene is compared with the DNA profile from the reference sample. However, when a reference sample is not available for comparison, familial DNA analysis can provide important investigation leads in a criminal investigation process by identifying an individual. Moreover, this analysis is also proving effective in the identification of ethnicity and ancestry of an individual. A number of different methodologies and software are being used for familial DNA analysis. This review describes the importance of familial DNA analysis, methodologies used for familial DNA searching and identification, and its advantages in forensic. Moreover, ethical, legal and social issues associated with familial DNA analysis have also been discussed along with future directions for the proper implementation of this technology.

Getting the Perpetrator Incorporated and Prioritized in Homicide Investigations: The Development and Evaluation of a Case-Specific Element Library (C-SEL).

Homicide investigators in the digital era have access to an increasing amount of data and the processing of all persons of interest and pieces of evidence has become nearly impossible. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a case-specific element library (C-SEL) that can be used to incorporate and prioritize persons of interest in homicide investigations. In a survey, 107 experts in the field of criminal investigation assigned an initial score to the elements. Each element was extended with underlying factors that can be used to adjust the initial score based on the relevance and credibility of the source. A case study was conducted using three Dutch real-world cases to evaluate the methodology. The results look promising and are better than four methodologies currently used in practice.