Abstract
Simple SummaryForensic entomologists are most often tasked with determining when arthropods colonized living or deceased vertebrates. In most cases, this estimation involves humans; however, pets, livestock, and other domesticated animals can also be illegally killed or victims of neglect. Globally, there is no standard format for the case report, and much of the content is based on the personal preferences of the analyst or standards set within a country. The article below proposes a general overview of sections to be considered when drafting a case report.Forensic practitioners analyzing entomological evidence are faced with numerous challenges when presenting their findings to law practitioners, particularly in terms of terminology used to describe insect age, what this means for colonization time of remains, and the limitations to estimates made. Due to varying legal requirements in different countries, there is no standard format for the entomological case report prepared, nor any guidelines as to the sections that are required, optional or unnecessary in a case report. The authors herein propose sections that should be considered when drafting an entomological case report. The criteria under which entomological evidence is analyzed are discussed, as well as the limitations for each criterion. The concept of a global, standardized entomological case report is impossible to achieve due to national legislative differences, but the authors here propose a basic template which can be adapted and changed according to the needs of the practitioner. Furthermore, while the discussion is fairly detailed, capturing all differences between nations could not be accomplished, and those initiating casework for the first time are encouraged to engage other practicing forensic entomologists or professional associations within their own nation or region, to ensure a complete report is generated that meets lab or national requirements, prior to generating a finalized report.
Highlights
In the last ~20 years, developments in the field of forensic entomology have progressed greatly and at pace
Due to such standards being in place in most parts of the world, efforts have been aimed at developing specific guidelines for forensic entomology
Accreditation standards, such as those implemented by the European Association for Forensic Entomology (EAFE) for the sampling and evaluation of entomological traces, and the certification of entomological experts by the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE), as well as the accreditation of laboratories [4], have allowed for entomological evidence to be admitted into courts and analyzed as part of the legal proceedings
Summary
In the last ~20 years, developments in the field of forensic entomology have progressed greatly and at pace. Despite the vast number of references available, one of the many challenges faced in allowing entomological evidence to be admitted into court is an understanding of what exactly forensic entomology entails, what information the arthropod evidence can provide, and the application of such information to the case at hand, in addition to meeting standards for a given legal system, such as the Daubert standard of admissibility in the USA [2] and ISO 17025 (predominantly in the European Union) [3] It should be noted that such recommendations will vary in terms of their applicability depending on the location and agency involved in the investigation
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