European Network Of Forensic Science Institutes Research Articles

Professional Standards in Questioned Documents Expertises

Criminalistic/forensic expert examination of documents is a segment of criminal technique, i.e. forensic science. In modern countries, these activities are undertaken by highly specialized services that are frequently under the control of various security structures (judiciary, police, immigration services, etc.). In Bosnia and Herzegovina (as well as in the countries of the former Yugoslavia), these jobs have traditionally been associated with police agencies whose actions fall into the sphere of criminal techniques (more recently, forensics). Certain methods of behaving, ways of functioning, as well as processes linked to staff training and ways of acting within individual activities of this sort of expertise, have been formed via the accomplishment of the aforementioned duties. The purpose of this article is to introduce the field of criminal expert examination of questioned documents, namely the knowledge and conditions that a welltrained expert in this field should have. Furthermore, the work demonstrates in greater detail how the necessary insights and knowledge should be gathered. The fundamental reason for this work´s theme is the goal to describe this field from the standpoint of modern science, profession, and established standards that are used around the world. Another motive is the goal to explain the settings of this sector in a scientific and practical manner from the standpoint of international experience. Specifically, the article will examine some of the international standards and procedures for this field of expertise. The preceding study will be based on a survey of comparative literature as well as an examination of the standards and practices of organizations such as: The Scientific Working Group for Forensic Document Examination (SWGDOC), American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE), American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), The American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE), Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners (SWAFDE), Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners (SAFDE) and The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI).

Quality Management in forensic science: A closer inspection

An international survey was conducted on the benefits and limitations of accreditation to ISO17025 in forensic science, and how quality management could be improved to reflect the complexities of the end-to-end process. The survey was in response to growing concern within the forensic science community that the standard ISO17025 (and ISO17020), which is the backbone of forensic science accreditation, does not have sufficient depth and reach to properly address the quality of both the inputs (crime scene traces) and outputs (e.g., opinions in a report) of forensic science. The survey was developed around three themes: (1) fitness for purpose, (2) competences and (3) education & training. It targeted directors and senior managers, including quality managers, of forensic science laboratories/facilities. The survey was developed by the research team and disseminated with the cooperation of the International Forensic Strategic Alliance (IFSA) and six regional Networks: the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), the European Network of Forensic Science institutes (ENFSI), the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Executive Committee (ANZFEC) (formerly SMANZFL), Acadamia Iberoamericana de Criminalistica Estudios Forenses (AICEF), Asian Forensic Sciences Network (AFSN) and Southern Africa Regional Forensic Science Network (SARFS). What emerged for each of the three themes of the survey are areas of concern where the forensic science community should reconsider its approach to quality management if it is to have continuing value and relevance into the future. The results are evaluated and discussed. Briefly, the results include evidence of a lack of fitness for purpose of ISO17025 as a standard for the forensic science continuum, a lack of agreement on what forensic science is and poor levels of recognition of crime scene investigation, many competences, particularly cognitive competences, are not identified, monitored or assessed and the incentive to gain accreditation and maintain continuous improvement is intrinsic rather than customer driven.

The current status of environmental forensic science in the member institutes of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI)

The paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey carried out by The Forensic laboratory of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-FL), aiming to get an overview of the current status of environmental forensic science (EFS) and environmental crimes investigation in the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). A questionnaire was sent out to 71 ENFSI member institutes and the response rate was 44%. The results of the survey indicate that the issue of environmental crime is taken seriously in most participating countries, but a need for improvement in the approach to the issue was identified. Countries define environmental crime differently and have different law structures regarding what kind of actions are considered environmental crimes. The most frequently mentioned actions were waste dumping, pollution, inappropriate handling of chemicals and hazardous waste, oil spills, illicit excavation and wildlife crime and trading.The different roles of the authorities involved in the investigative process seem to be somewhat unclear in several countries. Most institutes participated on some level in the forensic processes related to environmental crime cases. The most common tasks performed in forensic institutes were the analysis of environmental samples and interpretation of the results. Only three institutes had case coordination services related to EFS. Participation in sample collection was rare but a clear developmental need was identified. A majority of the respondents acknowledged a need for increased scientific collaboration and education in the field of EFS.

Developmental validation of the EZ1&2™ DNA Investigator® Kit on the EZ2® Connect Fx

The EZ1&2 DNA Investigator Kit allows automated purification of total DNA from forensic and human identity samples on the EZ2 Connect Fx instrument. Its proven magnetic-bead technology provides high-quality DNA, suitable for direct use in sensitive downstream applications such as quantitative PCR, STR analysis and NGS. The purified DNA obtained is free of proteins, nucleases and inhibitors. In this study, the performance of the EZ1&2 DNA Investigator Kit on the EZ2 Connect Fx was evaluated using typical casework sample types and conditions commonly encountered in forensic and parentage laboratories. Wherever applicable, this validation study followed the recommendations of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the validation guidelines of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM).

Population genetic data for 17 non-CODIS STR loci for the Saudi Arabian population using the SureID®23comp Human Identification Kit

Our previous work focused on validation the SureID 23comp Human Identification Kit (Health Gene Technologies, China), following the minimum criteria for validation recommended by the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) using 500 samples from the population of Saudi Arabia. The kit genotypes 22 STRs, 17 of which are non-CODIS, and Amelogenin. The validation tests showed that it has the potential to increase the power of testing in complex cases.In this paper, the allele frequency data, common forensic parameters for the 17 non-CODIS STR loci are presented. We found the majority of loci had an excess of homozygosity in the data set, which is most likely explained by the relatively high levels of consanguinity in the population of Saudi Arabia.

Fingermark visualisation on compostable polymers – A comparison among different procedures as an outcome of the 2020 collaborative exercise of the ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group

In 2020 the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) undertook a collaborative exercise (CE) with the aim of assessing the ability in developing fingermarks on an item constituted of compostable polymers. The test was prepared and managed by the officially established advisory group. The characteristics of the CE are summarised.Different approaches emerged from the outcomes.Multi-Metal Deposition (MMD) was used as reference method for the assessment of the results. It demonstrated to be the more effective and consistent technique for fingermark visualisation on the specific kind of Mater-Bi® compostable polymer used for the test. Alternative techniques, such as Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD), cyanoacrylate fuming, followed by Basic Yellow 40 dye staining or in its fluorescent forms demonstrated to be effective methods. However, it seems that the operational conditions need to be controlled in order to find the optimal ones. Conversely, data does not support the use of amino acid sensitive techniques.

Calibration of score based likelihood ratio estimation in automated forensic facial image comparison

Forensic facial image comparison lacks a methodological standardization and empirical validation. We aim to address this problem by assessing the potential of machine learning to support the human expert in the courtroom. To yield valid evidence in court, decision making systems for facial image comparison should not only be accurate, they should also provide a calibrated confidence measure. This confidence is best conveyed using a score-based likelihood ratio. In this study we compare the performance of different calibrations for such scores. The score, either a distance or a similarity, is converted to a likelihood ratio using three types of calibration following similar techniques as applied in forensic fields such as speaker comparison and DNA matching, but which have not yet been tested in facial image comparison. The calibration types tested are: naive, quality score based on typicality, and feature-based. As transparency is essential in forensics, we focus on state-of-the-art open software and study their power compared to a state-of-the-art commercial system. With the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Proficiency tests as benchmark, calibration results on three public databases namely Labeled Faces in the Wild, SC Face and ForenFace show that both quality score and feature based calibration outperform naive calibration. Overall, the commercial system outperforms open software when evaluating these Likelihood Ratios. In general, we conclude that calibration implemented before likelihood ratio estimation is recommended. Furthermore, in terms of performance the commercial system is preferred over open software. As open software is more transparent, more research on open software is urged for.

Forensic science activity in globalization context

International forensic science activity in modern realities is becoming increasingly popular and characterized by increasing globalization processes in international relations, creation of a single information space, in which transnational relations of human rights and law enforcement organizations and forensic institutions, as well as individual forensic experts and scientists specializing in forensic science and forensic science activity.
 This article purpose is to consider standardization and accreditation procedures (as the main areas of international cooperation in the field of forensic science activity in the context of globalization) and key tools for recognizing research results and forensic expert conclusions. Emphasis is placed on the fact that application of international standards in the field of forensic science is a priority that contributes to increasing reliability, transparency and confidence in forensic evidence and conclusions made by forensic expert.
 It was emphasized that one of the important factors in improving efficiency of forensic science at the international level is cooperation with the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) whose main activity is to improve information exchange of in forensics and improve of forensic science quality. Certain steps are proposed on the way for ensuring forensic expert independence, improving quality of forensic expert conclusions provided and effectiveness of forensic science activity in general.

The Role of the Council of Europe in the International Cooperation between Russian and European Forensic Organizations

The globalization processes in Europe have allowed international crime to become more global and diversified. The appliance of various forms of forensic knowledge and expertise plays an essential role in current judicial proceedings. Among multiple European cooperation formats, the Council of Europe holds a special place as an international organization that promotes cooperation among its members in standards of the rule of law, human rights, democratic development, and cultural interaction. The year 2021 marks a quarter of a century since the Russian Federation’s participation in the Council of Europe. The authors perceive this date’s significance through the interaction of Russian and European forensic organizations within the framework of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). It was Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe that allowed the lead forensic institutions of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice to join ENFSI and actively participate in its work for many years. The article observes the chronology of the key ENFSI events highlighting its evolvement as the lead pan-European forensic expert organization, the basic principles of which were predetermined by the Council of Europe. As an illustrative example of previous cooperation in solving challenging expert problems is proposed the international program initiated by the Russian party and implemented by ENFSI in 2005–2008 to validate complex methods to identify the products containing platinum group metals produced by mining and metallurgical companies. Subsequently, the consolidated position of European and Russian forensic experts at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum venue in 2013–2015 served as a powerful impetus for practical development of standardization and accreditation issues in forensic science in Russia. Current problematics of cooperation is mainly devoted to the issues of ensuring the quality of forensic examination, reliability of its conclusions, consolidation of expert databases. The authors also note some interaction problems between forensic organizations resulting from different legal systems, cultural traditions, and scientific schools.

On the 65th birthday of Pavel Leonidovich Ivanov

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Pavel Leonidovich Ivanov celebrated his 65th birthday on July 27, 2020. He is known as an internationally recognized scientist, an outstanding forensic geneticist, renowned both in Russia and in other countries, Deputy Director for High-Tech Research of the Russian Center for Forensic Science of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, an expert of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a member of the International Society of Forensic Genetics and the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), a full member of the World Academy of Science for Complex Safety, and an author of more than 300 scientific papers.

Fingermark visualisation on thermal paper – A comparison among different procedures as an outcome of the 2018 collaborative exercise of the ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group

In 2018 the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) undertook a collaborative exercise (CE) with the aim of assessing the ability in developing fingermarks on an item constituted of a thermal layer. The test was prepared and managed by the officially established advisory group. The characteristics of the CE are summarised.Different approaches emerged from the outcomes showing on average valid results. What is evident from data is that the preliminary inspection is highly advisable especially for the thermal side exploiting specific combinations of wavelengths and filters. In general, better performances were achieved by laboratories using multiple processing techniques. Conversely, few laboratories were capable to reach the expected results with only one step process. Finally, data does not support the use of cyanoacrylate, powders, and iodine on this specific substrate.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTES (ENFSI) AND FORENSIC INSTITUTIONS OF UKRAINE

The article deals with the main aspects of the activities of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), which is the largest European network of forensic institutions and, at the same time, one of the most significant. The main structural components of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) are analyzed. In particular, there are highlighted the main tasks and goals that the Board and the ENFSI Secretariat, expert working groups, standing committees set for the achievement of aims. The purpose of this article was to show the main internal directions of the work of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), in particular, what are the work of expert groups, the standing committees, their interaction between themselves and expert-working groups. There are also highlighted basic principles of ENFSI standing committees within the framework with the European Commission. It is also drawn attention to the main projects of the ENFSI standing committees, which are so-called Monopoly projects and which are funded by the European Commission. The article reveals not only the internal interaction of ENFSI, but also the external work of the network: in the International Forensic Expert Alliance (IFSA), interaction with Interpol and Europol. Interpol, being the most developed international organization in the fight against crime, pays significant attention to interaction and cooperation with forensic institutions. For these purposes, Interpol organizes and conducts international symposia on the entire range of forensic examinations, including forensic. The cooperation between ENFSI and Europol is no less fruitful, since Europol has extensive experience in hosting pan-European databases. Due to the interaction between ENFSI and Europol, it has been launched the Expert Platform (EPE) which offers a set of common functions customized to the needs of each expert community. Forensic institutions of Ukraine are closely involved in international cooperation in the field of forensics. In particular, the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, is a member of ENFSI, is actively involved in international activities, including participating in the work of working groups within the framework of ENFSI, as well as international symposia, seminars and projects.

Methodological approaches to calculation of the main validation parameters of forensic techniques

Validation of the forensic methods (FM) is one of the main procedures for the standardization of forensic activities used to verify the reliability of the obtained results of the studies. This procedure is widely adopted in the organizations of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), which also includes the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (RFCFS). Two types of FM can be distinguished in metrological aspects: forensic method of measurements (FMM) and forensic methods of testing (FMT). We have shown earlier that unlike the developed methodological approaches to the FMM validation which gained practical application in the RFCFS laboratories, the FMT validation procedures give rise to many questions which are widely discussed in the scientific literature. The most significant difficulties in FM validation are attributed to selection of the validation parameters, development of the validation experiment and performance of statistical calculations. We propose methodological approaches to the statistical assessment of the FMM and FMT parameters to be used in practice of forensic experts. Moreover, we present a number of recommendations on the validation procedure, list of the validation parameters, and consider specific schemes of the experiments to be used for assessing of the quality indicators of FMM and FMT. The results of multiple determination of the controlled index in the referenced samples and standard additives are presented to assess the suitability of the FMM using common formulas for calculation of the statistical parameters. Case study of the FMT validation procedure «Microscopic Examination of Textile Fibers» is considered. The expediency of using probabilistic estimate of the share of false test results, as well as calculation of the likelihood ratio in assessing the reliability of forensic methods of testing and competence of the experts is demonstrated.

Evaluation of ninhydrin as a fingermark visualisation method – A comparison between different procedures as an outcome of the 2017 collaborative exercise of the ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group

In 2017 the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) undertook a collaborative exercise (CE) with the aim of assessing the use of ninhydrin as a fingermark development technique in the laboratory. The test was prepared and managed by the officially established advisory group. The characteristics of the CE are summarised. The results indicate that ninhydrin is a robust methodology. Unexpected negative outcomes have been outlined and discussed, followed by an overview of the knowledge that has been gained.

An evaluation of the SureID 23comp Human Identification Kit for kinship testing

Short tandem repeat (STR) profiling has been routinely used in kinship testing since the introduction of commercial kits in the mid-1990s. While 15 to 23 STR loci normally give definitive results in simple kinship testing, additional loci are sometimes required to resolve complex cases. The SureID 23comp Human Identification Kit, recently released by Health Gene Technologies (China), multiplexes amelogenin and 22 autosomal STRs, 17 of which are non-CODIS STRs. This enables the profiling of 38–40 loci when used in conjunction with widely used commercial kits. In this study, the kit was evaluated for kinship applications as a supplementary STR kit following the minimum criteria for validation recommended by the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) using 500 samples. Performance was comparable with other commercial kits demonstrating: repeatability and reproducibility; precision (maximum s.d. 0.1048 nt); accuracy, all alleles were within ±0.41 nt compared to the actual sizes; heterozygous peak balances at all loci >68%; stutter ratios ranged from 3.8% to 16.15%; full profiles were generated with 125 pg DNA (95.12% of alleles at 62 pg),; and we found 100% concordance over 5 common STRs with the GlobalFiler kit.

Validation study and forensic applications of investigator 24plex QS Kit

The Investigator 24plex QS Kit (Qiagen) is used for multiplex PCR in forensic human identity and paternity testing. The PCR simultaneously amplifies 22 polymorphic STR markers: the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) core loci, the European Standard Set (ESS) loci, SE33, DYS391 and Amelogenin. The Investigator 24plex QS Kit is specifically designed for rapid and reliable generation of DNA profiles from blood, buccal swabs, and forensic stains. The kit utilizes QIAGEN’s fast-cycling PCR technology, allowing amplification in around 60 min and provides highly robust results with inhibitor-resistant chemistry. The Investigator 24plex QS Kit Primer Mix contains two innovative internal PCR controls (Quality Sensor QS1 and QS2), which are amplified simultaneously with the polymorphic STR markers, to yield helpful information about the efficiency of the PCR and the presence of PCR inhibitors. The Investigator 24plex QS Kit User Guide describes instrument setup and sample preparation of PCR products using the Applied Biosystems 3500 Series Data Collection Software and the GeneMapper ID-X Software, but an internal validation is always needed.In this study, we report the successful analysis of amplicons obtained with Investigator 24plex QS Kit on the 3500 Genetic Analyzer. We performed internal validation studies following the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) guidelines, testing several critical areas of kit performance such as sensibility, sensitivity, DNA mixtures and inhibited samples.

Standardization of file recovery classification and authentication

Digital forensics can no longer tolerate software that cannot be relied upon to perform specific functions such as file recovery. Indistinct and non-standardized results increase the risk of misinterpretation by digital forensic practitioners, and hinder automated correlation of file recovery results in forensic analysis and tool testing. Treating file recovery results in a clear, distinct manner helps reduce the risk of misunderstandings, incorrect assertions and, ultimately, miscarriages of justice. The root of this problem is a lack of clearly defined software requirements, which compels users and tool testers to make educated guesses and assumptions about how digital forensic tools work. To address this problem, this work applies the core forensic processes of classification, authentication and evaluation to file recovery. Specifically, this work defines a vocabulary for software developers, testers and practitioners to classify, authenticate, evaluate and present results of file recovery operations. This vocabulary can be used by software developers to normalize how file recovery is treated, improving clarity, testability and interoperability of results, and reducing the risk or mistakes in digital investigations. This work also proposes an inaugural set of requirements for applying this vocabulary to file recovery results, providing a foundation for further development by the digital forensic community. This work demonstrates how this vocabulary can be implemented using DFXML, and presents a normalized representation of file recovery results using the Cyber-investigation Analysis Standard Expression (CASE). To demonstrate the more generalized utility of this vocabulary, it is applied to recovery results from versioning file systems and SQLite databases. The formalized vocabulary and forensic methods developed in this work support tool validation as called for in the international standard ISO/IEC 27041 and required for accreditation under the international standard ISO 17025. This work also demonstrates how the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Guideline for Evaluative Reporting can be applied to express the results of file recovery classification, authentication and evaluation.

Typical Mistakes in Forensic Handwriting Analysis of Copies of Handwritten Entries

The growing volume of forensic handwriting examinations of handwritten requisites copies entails the need to determine the range of the most typical mistakes made by experts in examination of these objects. The article gives examples of the most common mistakes in expert reports, the origin of some is analyzed. The system of internal and external forms of peer review of the ENFSI (The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) experts’ conclusions is reviewed. To avoid most of mistakes described in the article the author proposes to follow relevant methodological references, to pay close attention to the quality of the examined object, to adhere strictly to all intermediate stages of examination. Also, to use internal and external peer review of conclusions as a form of control more effectively. The information contained in the article can be of practical interest when both reviewing conclusions in state expert institutions and preparing a value judgement regarding an expert/specialist conclusion.

An introductory guide to evaluative reporting in forensic science

ABSTRACTEvaluative reporting provides a balanced approach to evidence interpretation. The use of evaluative reporting in forensic DNA analysis is common practice and well understood in Australia and New Zealand. However, it is less common and perhaps less understood in the pattern and trace evidence areas. Recent publications, such as the 2015 ‘European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Guideline for Evaluative Reporting in Forensic Science’, have prompted discussion in Australia and New Zealand about the benefits and risks of expanding its application in forensic science. To aid discussions and build a common understanding of evaluative reporting, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency National Institute of Forensic Science (ANZPAA NIFS) convened a project working group to create ‘An introductory guide to evaluative reporting’. The guide covers terminology and uses examples to illustrate the concepts. It also provides advice on the implementation of evaluative reporting in forensic science disciplines. This article provides an overview of the project, and the methodology and thinking behind the development of the guide and its associated fact sheet and process poster.

Evaluation of InnoQuant® HY and InnoTyper® 21 kits in the DNA analysis of rootless hair samples

Forensic laboratories frequently receive biological samples from crime scene investigations with limited DNA in terms of quantity and quality. Hair shafts are a common type of evidence constituting an ideal sample for DNA testing. Nevertheless, the majority of these hairs are rootless. In an attempt to facilitate the analyses of such samples, new DNA quantification (InnoQuant® HY) and amplification (InnoTyper® 21) kits were developed, using mobile elements as molecular markers. The main advantage of the InnoTyper® 21 kit is its ability to amplify short DNA fragments (60–125 bp), overcoing the difficulties in the amplification of samples with low DNA quantity and/or quality. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to evaluate the efficiency of these two kits in rootless hair samples.In this study, the InnoQuant® HY kit revealed that nearly 94% of the samples presented moderate to high DNA degradation, allowing the selection of the most suitable amplification protocol to be applied. The InnoTyper® 21 kit revealed that nearly 95% of the samples presented amplification peaks in its genetic profiles (GP). However, 60% of these samples did not present a good enough quality to be reported according to the Best Practice Manuals (BPMs), guidelines and documents published by the DNA Working Group of European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). Moreover, in approximately 23% of the amplified samples, GPs with enough quality to be reported were retrieved, 10% of which exhibiting a complete GP. The use of this kit allowed obtaining results which could not be produced by the kits routinely used at forensic laboratories.These results demonstrated that InnoQuant® HY and InnoTyper® 21 kits are reliable alternatives for the analysis of nuclear DNA in challenging samples such as rootless hair shafts.