Crime Scene Examination Research Articles

Optimisation and validation of cost-effective water-based solutions of acid fuchsin for detecting fingermarks in blood

Fingermark impressions in blood are commonly encountered at violent crime scenes and represent a critical trace that can link an individual to the scene. A range of techniques are available for detecting and enhancing bloody impressions; however, many chemical methods involve using hazardous solvents or require alternative light sources to visualise fluorescence. This is particularly challenging for bloody impressions on dark substrates. An alternative treatment is the protein dye known as acid fuchsin (commonly known as ‘Hungarian Red’), which can be visualised under both white light and fluorescence lighting. However, there is limited research available on this method, especially concerning its use in detecting bloody fingermarks on dark surfaces and its fluorescence qualities. To address these knowledge gaps, this study broadly aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acid fuchsin for enhancing bloody fingermarks on a range of common substrates, along with comparing the performance of a formulation made from base components against a commercially-available Hungarian Red reagent. Through a multi-phased experimental approach, results supported an all-in-one treatment that contained 2 % SSA, 0.2 % acid fuchsin, and deionised water as the most effective. This formulation performed as well or better than commercial Hungarian Red, amido black and acid yellow in the validation trial. Enhanced impressions could be visualised under white light on light and dark surfaces, whilst 530 nm excitation provided improved detection via both fluorescence and absorption modes depending on substrate background interference. Moreover, the reagent was applied by spraying directly onto substrates placed at near-vertical angles, with no evidence of any fingermarks being affected by running or inadequate fixing. The ability to enhance and visualise bloody impressions on light and dark surfaces, under white light or excitation, using a single, water-based treatment is highly advantageous to operational crime scene examiners and forensic scientists.

Building on the critical skills framework of top crime scene examiners to recruit high‐caliber crime scene investigation candidates

AbstractCrime scene investigation is challenging and demands highly skilled crime scene examiners. Mistakes occurring during the processing of a crime scene have been associated with higher risk of ineffective investigations where poor quality, missed, or contaminated forensic samples are relied on by police to inform which suspects to charge and can lead to miscarriages of justice and wrongful imprisonments. Hiring new crime scene examiners with the potential to develop into top performers can result in enhanced crime scene investigation and reduce the risk of errors at crime scenes. A series of papers between 2012 and 2023 identified a cluster of seven critical skills and attributes that set top crime scene examiners apart from their lesser performing peers. These seven skills and attributes clusters are as follows: approach to work, life, and stress management; cognitive abilities; communication and interpersonal skills; holistic knowledge base; life and work experience; and professional demeanor. In this perspective paper, we present strategies for developing a recruitment program to target these skill sets which involve the use of appropriate psychometric testing, collaborative team‐based recruitment, team hiring panels, and crime scene observational assessment tasks at interview stage. We also discuss the costs and logistics associated with psychological testing (in Australian dollars). We finish by exploring the potential challenges of attracting younger people (generation Z and Y) to forensic science roles, including crime scene investigation.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Reconstruction Crime Scene Investigation > Education and Formation

About Polish forensic medicine based on archival material described in scientific literature.

The need for medical assessment of murder victims and the establishment of rules for this assessment became the driving force behind the creation of forensic medicine, while the non-medical area of crime assessment, including crime scene examination, became the driving force behind the creation and development of criminalistics. Polish forensic medicine has been developing for over 200 years, and the Kraków Chair of Forensic Medicine is the oldest unit of this type. It is therefore not surprising that the archive which collects protocols of expert and scientific research is quite extensive. This material is a valuable foundation for scientific work including not only numerous publications in national and international journals, but also books. The author of the work selected several books on medical and forensic topics that appeared in recent decades on the Polish publishing market, indicating the value and importance of archival material in the literature of this area of science.

Living together in heaven: A case report of suicidal pact of loving couple

The loving couple mentally decide to tie the knot to live together in heaven in optimism thinking that to be the real world for them. A loving couple age around 18 year, wanted to live together by fear of being opposed from both the families as they belonging to different caste, the loving couple disappointed to leave the world for heavenly abode. Subsequently tied together with a single ligature material dupatta and hung them from the branch of a tamarind tree. The inspection of spot of occurrence in undisturbed condition, coupled with PM report and chemical analysis from SFSL report could confirm the death of the loving couple was pact of suicidal hanging. This present report highlights the death of loving couple with the crime scene examination. Being a forensic expert, we visited the crime scene to differentiate the suicidal pact and homicidal death.

Crime reconstruction in a hit and run over case masquerading as accidental drowning

In the absence of eye witnesses, crime scene examination along with other corroborative evidence, and a meticulous autopsy, are of prime importance in solving the crime. In this paper, a suspected case of accidental drowning, which on further investigation and medicolegal autopsy, turned out to be a case of homicide, is presented. Further, considering the of the assailants, the importance of knowledge about common methods of concealment of crime may also be reiterated.

An investigation into the use of riverine mesocosms to analyse the effect of flow velocity and recipient textiles on forensic fibre persistence studies

Textile fibre evidence can provide important activity level information in criminal cases. To date, very few studies have investigated fibre persistence on fabrics exposed to aquatic conditions, even though items of evidence and victim’s bodies can regularly be found in aquatic environments. This lack of research on whether fibres (and other trace evidence) persist on evidence submerged in water, has shown to impact practice as it is reported that crime scene examiners do not attempt to recover this evidence, due to the belief that it would not be present. The dynamic nature of aquatic environments mean that the studies are difficult to conduct in situ and variables, such as water flow rate are not possible to control and thought to be difficult to monitor. To address these challenges, artificial streams (also known as mesocosms) were employed in this study to investigate the persistence rate of polyester fibres on different fabric types (Woollen/nylon mix carpet, 100% polyester fleece, and 95% polyester/5% elastane sports vest) for a four week exposure time (1, 8, 24, 48, 120, 168, 264, 336, 504 and 672 hrs). The effect of water flow rate on the persistence of fibres was investigated by conducting the experiment with two flow velocities; 'high' (∼2.75 L/s) or 'low' (∼0.7 L/s). Significant differences between textile type were seen at 504 hrs under low flow conditions and 8, 24, 168 and 264 hrs under high flow conditions. When comparing flow velocities, a significant difference was seen at 1 hr exposure for the fleece textile only, indicating that the two flow rates used in this study do not significantly affect fibre persistence. Initial loss rates were highest for the first hour of submergence for the carpet, fleece and sports vest. Fibre persistence rates were highest on the carpet, followed by fleece and then sports vest. Persistence rates remained mostly constant after 24 hrs for all textiles but with redistribution of fibres between textiles being seen after this exposure time. The use of artificial flumes in this study provided a balance between realistic experimentation and a controlled study; key experimental variables could be continously and safely monitored. This study provides the first fibre persistence data in river type environments and proposes a new method for testing persistence in aquatic environments. This approach is not limited to fibres evidence and could be employed for other evidence such as glass, pollen, fingerprints and DNA.

Identifying the critical skillset of top crime scene examiners: Why this matters and why agencies should develop top performers

AbstractProcessing a crime scene is complex. When scenes are processed well, higher quality specimens can be detected and collected. Inadequately managed scenes increase risk of ineffective investigations and poorer justice outcomes. Government reports from around the world have stated that some crime scene examiners outperform their peers. If processing a crime scene is vital for optimal outcomes, then who should we employ, and train, for this complex and challenging role? What skills do they need? In 2010, the seminal work into the technical and non‐technical skills of top crime scene examiners commenced in Australia. This team used empirical techniques from occupational psychology and business management to identify a cluster of 7 key cognitive, social, leadership skills, and technical/scientific knowledge to develop a profile of top crime scene performers. This work was published in a series of papers between 2012 and 2017. In 2023, the original work was combined with current international empirical findings to build a robust, comprehensive, and more generalizable picture of the holistic skillset of top crime scene examiners. The rationale for developing a skillset is to assist forensic agencies to create targeted recruitment procedures and inform the content of early career training programs for their crime scene teams. With recruitment and training done well, organizations are better placed to attract, develop, and retain personnel with potential to excel in complex roles. When top examiners attend scenes, it is possible the risk of poorer justice outcomes arising from crime scene work could be reduced.This article is categorized under: Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation > Education and Formation Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation > From Traces to Intelligence and Evidence

Development of a Dundee Ground Truth imaging protocol for recording indoor crime scenes to facilitate virtual reality reconstruction

Early and accurate visualisation of a crime scene is highly desirable such that a rapid, agile, and informed decision-making process can be undertaken by an investigative team. We present a new standard operating procedure for imaging an indoor scene using DSLR cameras conventionally used by crime scene investigators and examiners. The standard operating procedure (SOP) enables the systematic photography of indoor spaces in such a way that the Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique can be implemented, allowing the scene to be recreated in Virtual Reality (VR). To demonstrate the method’s validity, we compare two VR-rendered representations of an example scene using (a) photographs taken by an experienced crime scene examiner using a conventional photographic method and (b) photographs taken by a novice photographer following the developed SOP.

Forensic Photography Concepts and Applications for Better Crime Scene Examination

"A picture is worth a thousand words," and crime scene photography is a case in point. All crime scenes begin with photography, which is done with the almost priority. The most efficient and straight forward way for an investigating officer to depict a crime scene is through photographs and criminal sketches. By documenting the original site and surroundings, crime scene photography serves to offer a true and accurate record of the crime scene and tangible evidence that was present. Regardless of how well a detective can orally describe a crime scene pictures can convey the same information more clearly and effectively because they freeze time and capture the evidence. A trial's forensic photography is an essential component. Additionally, crime scene images are frequently used as the basis for the decision.

Crime Scene Examination of Murder and Suicide Case

Information was received in the control room of Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi, for crime scene examinations of two dead bodies found in the room. A team of Forensic Experts visited the scene of crime and found various clue materials to establish the nature of the case. The crime was took place in the room of ahouse situated at the ground floor of the building. There was one female dead body found lying on the floor in front of the entry door and one male body was found hanging on the ceiling fan. There are many methods for committing suicide like poisoning, hanging, drowning etc. Hanging is a frequent suicide method because it anticipated a certain, rapid and painless death. Cut throats can be homicidal, suicidal or accidental. Homicidal cut-throats are a well-recognized method of killing while suicidal cut throats are less commonly reported and accidental cut throats are rare. The present study was carried out to ascertain whether it was a case of suicide or a murder by examining the scene of crime. Various evidences of forensic interested were collected and were thoroughly examined information from the investigation officer was also gathered. From the study it was concluded that female was murdered by a sharp edge weapon by her husband and then he has attempted suicide by hanging himself.

A Guide to Forensic Photography: An Indispensable Tool in Modern Forensic Medicine Practice and Medicolegal Cases

Forensic photography has become an important tool in the medicolegal system, so as to it give a complete picture for investigating crime scenes. It is the easiest and effectual way to capture the crime scene, in a way what could’ve happened that even the most illustrative and descriptive words could not do. However, appropriate selection and implementation of the proper photography and computer equipment combined with effective training and correct workflow patterns is required for incorporating photography into the field of forensic practice with proper documentation. This paper highlights basic aspects to gain clear and focused photographs both in living individuals and Medicolegal Postmortem examination. The paper contains the propositions for a draft protocol for Forensic Photography in Crime Scene Examination, Medicolegal examination, postmortem examination and examination of exhibits. The authors aim to make a guiding document by virtue of their experience so as to guide the young Forensic Medicine experts/ Forensic Scientists.

Forensic entomology in research and practice: an overview of forensic experts' perceptions and scientific output in Brazil.

Given the growing demands for standardization of procedures for collection, preservation, and identification of insect specimens, this study aimed to identify how forensic entomology is used in Brazil and the perceptions of professionals involved in this process. We conducted: (1) bibliometric survey of the scientific production of forensic specialists from 2001 to 2020; (2) questionnaire applied to forensic professionals to verify their perceptions about the use of entomological evidence in practice. An increase in publications on Forensic Entomology was noticed in the last 5years, mainly in the South and Northeast regions. Of the 82 respondents to the questionnaire, 62.8% deal with cadavers at least once a week, but 89.0% of the professionals who examine cadavers weekly find less than 10.0% colonized by insect larvae. Using entomological evidence to estimate PMI was mentioned by only 36.6% of the professionals. Most respondents stated no procedures related to collecting, handling, or identifying necrophagous insects in their daily practice. Regarding the chain of custody, 64.6% said they were aware of the changes in the regulations involving the collection and maintenance of forensic evidence. We emphasize the importance of collaboration between scientists at universities and crime scene examiners. Although the use of entomological evidence in criminal investigations in Brazil is still scarce, a growing interest in this area can be detected among forensic experts.

The potential for investigator-mediated contamination to occur during routine search activities.

The sensitivity and discrimination power of modern DNA profiling systems means that very small amounts of DNA from an individual can be detected on an item leading to large inclusionary statistics for that person. The sensitivity of these systems has significant benefits in the investigation of crime but also can be highly sensitive to contamination of exhibits or crime scenes. It becomes critical to distinguish between deposition during commission of a crime or deposition via some other method unrelated to the crime. This study investigates methodologies used in crime scene examination and the potential for them to cause non-crime-related transfer of DNA. Factors assessed include the source of DNA, the handling time, the amount of movement during contact, and the substrate type. The amount of movement and the number of transfer steps are the most critical in determining whether, and how much, DNA is transferred. This study provides information for crime scene examiners and also scientists assessing transfer scenarios.

Crime Scene Examination of Children Abuse Case

Crime Scene Examination of Children Abuse Case

An autopsy study of suicidal hanging

Hanging is the most preferred method of Suicide. Individuals are known to use different Ligature material and suspend completely or partially. hence, it is important to understand the Parameters involved in it. Large number of Suicidal death are reported. To Understand Suicidal Hanging by studying different parameters involved in it like Ligature Material, Type of Knot. Sex and Age Group, involved, kind of Suspension and Position of knot. A total of 634 cases were studied . Crime scene examination was done only in those cases where their were Suspicion on the Suspension Deaths. Rest of the cases the crime scene photographs and investigating officer records were the inputs. Only Suicidal Hanging were Considered for the Study. Suicidal Hanging contributed to 6.5% of the Total Cases. The Ropes[27%%] and Stole [36%]Contributed to the Most Preferred Ligature Material and Shoe Lace contribute[0.5%] to the least preferred Material for Self Suspension. Complete Suspension was observed in 62% of cases. The Majority of the Victims were Females contributing to 62% of the Deaths. The Major Age Group[50.76%] Involved was between 21-30years and the Uneffected Age group were those in the Extremes of Life i.e 1-10 and 61-70years. A Slip Knot was used on 97.73% of suspensions. In 78% of Suspension the Position of the Knot was situated over the [Typical Hanging]Nape of Neck. Married Victims Contributed to 37.45% of cases. The different Parameters of Suicidal Hanging are necessary to understand the Suicidal Nature of Hanging.

A review of Forensic Entomology literature in the Northeastern United States

ABSTRACTA comprehensive review of forensic entomology literature in the northeastern portion of the United States was conducted searching the earliest possible publication date through early 2020. Thirteen states and the capital were included in this region and yielded 172 publications. As a region, the main areas of the publications were arrival and decomposition, myiasis, and papers yielding information pertaining to biodiversity. However, there was a large fluctuation in total publications by state with Maryland producing over 30 publications, and Delaware and Vermont each producing one. Within this region only 15 publications from seven states were found concerning development, showing a severe deficiency in this category. Additional work is needed in this geographic area of the United States in most categories of work related to forensic entomology research.This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > Interpretation of Biological Evidence Forensic Anthropology > Time Since Death Estimation Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination

A review of Forensic Entomology literature in the Mountain Prairie region of the United States

AbstractA comprehensive review of literature in forensic entomology from the Mountain Prairie region of the United States was conducted. Eight states are included in this region, which provided 129 total publications. The main focus areas of published studies were arrival and decomposition, molecular/genetic, and biodiversity. While some states have produced a great deal of research and information pertaining to forensic entomology, others have produced very little. Within this region, there are very few reports of forensic entomology casework, which is crucial in this growing field. Additional work is needed in this area of the United States in many of the research areas related to forensic entomology.This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > Forensic Entomology Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination

A comparison between visible wavelength hyperspectral imaging and digital photography for the detection and identification of bloodstained footwear marks

One of the first challenges that crime scene examiners have is determining if a substance is blood before performing analysis. Conventional methods of detecting blood involve the use of chemicals and different wavelengths of light in tandem with digital photography. However, these methods are destructive or provide false positives. Visible wavelength hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a noncontact blood detection method that has been proven to provide accurate and reliable results. A novel application of this technique has been used for the detection and positive identification of bloodstained footwear marks, of different dilutions ranging from undiluted to 1:50 with distilled water, and on a range of substrates, and colors. Comparisons between HSI and conventional digital photography were made using a grading scale and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-tests. The HSI technique was able to detect a statistically significant greater amount of tread detail on white tiles, laminate, carpet, and blue tiles compared with the digital photography technique, which was only superior on black tiles. Critically, the HSI technique was also able to determine that the footwear marks were made in blood. These results show that HSI will be useful in forensic investigations, where it is known that the perpetrator has walked through the victim's blood and left a trail of footwear marks at the crime scene. Even if the perpetrator had time to clean up afterward resulting in diluted stains, HSI would still be able to detect bloodstained footwear marks with a greater amount of detail compared with digital photography.

Forensic Photography: Concepts and Applications for better crime scene examination

Forensic Photography is the fair and accurate recording of a scene or object, of legal interest, by a camera. “Photography is a valuable tool for recording the crime scene and explaining the evidence to others”. The objective of forensic photography is to record an event, a scene, or an object correctly. It is always better to go for a good digital camera with an interchangeable lens. The physical size and quality of the image sensor along with the corresponding optics play a much bigger role in image quality than megapixels alone. Basic idea about exposure, depth of field and framing a shot is important to take a proper photograph. Photography is an important tool in most forensic examinations. Equipping all medico-legal units with necessary photographic equipment and providing a trained photographer is a very important action regarding the development of the field.

Stress and support in the workplace: The perspective of forensic examiners

Abstract Research regarding stress in the workplace and its potential impact upon forensic expert decision-making and wellbeing is scarce. In this study, 41 forensic examiners were surveyed about the sources of their stress, the support they receive, and the potential influence of stress on their decisions. Stress from managers, supervisors and case backlogs were identified as significant factors that contributed to stress in the workplace. Neither the type of case nor working in high-profile cases were reported to be major sources of stress. Crime scene examiners reported feeling higher levels of stress from personal reasons and from the nature of their cases than analytical examiners. Female examiners reported feeling more stressed than male examiners from both general stressors and workplace stressors. Examiners in the 11–15 years of experience group felt more pressure as a result of circumstances at work than examiners in the 7–10 years group. The level of management support was not associated with either the feelings of general stress or stress in the workplace. Examiners varied in their perceptions of whether stress affected their judgements: 39% felt that their judgments were influenced by stress, while 22% did not and 39% were unsure.