Forensic Institutions Research Articles

Influence and challenge of COVID-19 in forensic identification

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the professionals in the field of forensic pathology, forensic sciences in general, and clinical forensic medicine have been performing medicolegal investigation in their communities. The forensic medical personnel who carry out such investigation/identification are facing a great risk of potential infection. Therefore, forensic institutions and forensic examiners should improve their awareness of infection risk and take universal precautions to prevent infection and spread of coronavirus. In addition, forensic experts should abide by the laws when they deal with social unrest and also strengthen research on COVID-19-related medical issues.

Possibilities of improvement of anti-epidemic events at forensic medical institution on the basis of quality management approaches

The article shows the experience of the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medical Expertise of the Ministry of Health of Tatarstan Republic in organizing and ensuring anti-epidemic measures using a quality management system. The comprehensive implementation of anti-epidemic measures in the expert institution dictates the need for regulation of the main provisions by internal documents (standard operative procedures), built on the basis of existing regulatory legal acts. The method of quality management system based on the Shekhard-Deming cycle was applied in practical activities, a process-based approach was used to organize work in organization. The proposed standard operative procedures, together with a model for managing the activities of an epidemiologist, showed high efficiency and allow improving the process of managing epidemiological risks.

Mental health care provided to patients admitted to Brazilian psychiatric institutes: a scoping review.

to identify and map the mental health care offered to patients admitted to forensic psychiatry institutes in Brazil. a scoping review was guided by the JBI Institute Reviewer's Manual. Searches took place in February 2019, in six databases, using descriptors and synonyms. Analysis was performed using simple descriptive statistics. twelve studies were included, which were predominantly dissertations, published in 2014, carried out in the southeastern region of Brazil. Qualitative researches in the field of psychology and law stood out, with emphasis on the speeches of health professionals, and which did not specify the methodology of data analysis. Final considerations: the care provided to interns of the institutions has a punitive character, is based on excessive medicalization and diverges from the current legislation, which makes social reintegration difficult.

Morphometric Analysis of Lumbar Arteries and Relationship with Intervertebral Discs: A study of Surgical Anatomy on Human Fresh Cadavers.

To examine the morphological structure of anterior lumbar spinal region. Fifteen fresh human cadavers were studied in our forensic medicine institution. Within the first 24 hours after death, cadavers were subject to a routine autopsy, by which the intestines were removed and the structures adjacent to the lumbar arteries (LAs) were examined. The following characteristics of the LA were examined and recorded: diameter, number of LA, intervertebral disc, and vertebral corpus relationship, and LA anatomical variations. In 14 of the 15 cadavers (93.3%), the first four LAs originated from the abdominal aorta. In one (6.7%) cadaver, the fourth LA originated from the right aortic trunk together with the median sacral artery (MSA), and this was observed only in the right side. In one cadaver, the first LAs emerged as a common trunk. Twelve cadavers did not have a fifth LA. In one cadaver (6.7%), the fifth LAs emerged as in a pair, distally from the origin of the MSA. Two cadavers (13.3%) had fifth LAs that emerged from the common trunk with the MSA and this occurred only on the right side. LAs which emerged from the right side of the abdominal aorta passed under the inferior vena cava. Of the first four LA, the third LA had the largest vessel diameter, and the first LA had the narrowest vessel diameter. Fifth LAs had one of the narrowest vessel diameters of all LAs. We consider that anatomical study of LAs using fresh cadavers can be useful to ensure safer anterior lumbar spinal surgeries.

Maxillofacial and dental-related injuries from a Brazilian forensic science institute: Victims and perpetrators characteristics and associated risk factors.

BackgroundTrauma due to external causes represents one of the greatest challenges for public health services in different regions around the world. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of facial trauma, associated risk factors, and classification of body injuries in individuals who underwent forensic examination in a Brazilian center. Material and MethodsData were collected at the Ceará State Forensic Medicine unit in a 12-year period. Sociodemographic data related to the etiological agent and lesions resulting from the bodily injury were recorded. ResultsAmong 1,031 physical injury exams, physical aggression (p<0.001), male victims aged between 21 and 30 years (p<0.001), salaried workers (p<0.001), and soft tissue and dentoalveolar injuries were significant findings. Regarding aggression, domestic violence was prevalent (p<0.001), perpetrated by the victim’s partner (p<0.001), using a blunt instrument during the aggression (p<0.001), and directly associated with soft tissue injury (p<0.001). In traffic accidents, the most common type was motorcycle accident (p<0.001), on weekdays (p=0.036), at nighttime (p=0.134), showing a significant association with bone fractures (p=0.001). Conclusions Oral and maxillofacial injuries obtained from a Brazilian forensic science center were significantly associated with sociodemographic and etiological factors. Key words:Forensic dentistry, facial trauma, violence, public health.

Facing COVID-19: Forensic doctors of public security departments should improve infected cadaver identification and personal protection procedures

Because of the nature of the human identification system, forensic doctors working in public security departments are responsible for cadaver examination and conducting crime scene investigations. These processes contain inherent risks, which often include various injury, poisoning hazards, and probable exposure risks with virus such as COVID-19. This paper discusses the occupational protections used for forensic doctors, such as crime scene corpse identification, autopsy building construction, risk assessment, and protective measures. Finally, we suggest the introduction of relevant rules and regulations that could guarantee the stability and safety of crime scene investigations and cadaver examinations. These measures may be helpful for forensic institutes and doctors working in public security departments.

IN REGARD TO NEED FOR WORKING OUT THE CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERT ENSURING OF JUSTICE IN UKRAINE

The article focuses on the necessity of working out the of development expert ensuring of justice in Ukraine. The modern system of guideline documents of the state policy in the sphere of expert ensuring of justice has been analyzed, which allowed concluding that there is no separate document in applicable legislation devoted to the issues of development of forensic activities in Ukraine. It has been defined that some issues of the development of forensic activities in Ukraine are regulated by guideline documents of the state policy of law enforcement, state border and other bodies under the authority of which the state specialized agencies operate. It is noted that in some cases the strategic activity directions of the state specialized institutions are defined by so-called «transition book». When analyzing the approaches of scientists to the problem of defining the hierarchy of the documents of a program kind, it was established that the concept is the most appropriate document for defining the main directions of the development of the sphere of expert ensuring of justice for a corresponding period. The subjects of forensic activities have been investigated and it is emphasized that the system of the state specialized institutions can be supplemented with a new subject – Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Examination of the National Bureau of Investigation. It has been established that besides forensic activities, the state specialized institutions can carry out educational, scientific, international activities, etc. The main documents, which regulate the development of forensic activities the European Union countries, have been analyzed. It has been proved that taking into account the best practices of the European Union countries when preparing guideline documents of the state policy will ensure the unification of approaches in the sphere of expert ensuring of justice and facilitate a successful entry of Ukrainian forensic institutions into European forensic science area.

Forensic activity in the modern criminal process

The article examines the concept of « forensic activity » , its elements, essence, purpose and procedural grounds for the appointment of examinations in criminal proceedings, the subjects of their conduct in modern criminal proceedings. For the first time at the legislative level, the term « forensic activity » is used in the Law of Ukraine « On Forensic Science » . It means « activities to ensure the justice of Ukraine by an independent, qualified and objective examination ». Most scholars define forensic activity as a system of actions aimed at appointing and conducting an examination in order to establish the facts of a particular criminal case, ie forensic practice. Forensic activities also include the organization of forensic institutions in general and their structural units, their scientific and methodological and information support, selection and training of forensic personnel. Thus, forensic activity covers not only the process of expert research, but also elements of expert support – scientific and methodological, legal, logistical, informational, organizational, personnel, reflects the involvement of other resources. It is believed that one of the most qualified and effective procedural forms of using special knowledge in criminal proceedings is the appointment of forensic examinations. The essence of the appointment of the examination is that the parties to the criminal proceedings and the court try to establish factual data that are essential for the investigation of the offense by using special knowledge used by the expert in the examination and can’t be obtained otherwise. The modern view of scientists on the classification of examinations, provides for their division into identification and non-identification – diagnostic, classification and situational. The organization of forensic examination consists of certain stages: preparatory, working and final. According to the latest legislative amendments to the CPC of Ukraine, the parties to criminal proceedings have the right to elect any state institution of forensic examination, or an expert that ensures the principle of procedural independence in decision-making. Therefore, the subjects of expert activity can be legal entities and individuals who organize and directly perform various types of research. Mandatory requirement for the subjects of direct research is the availability of relevant scientific knowledge in a certain field (special knowledge). Thus, during the trial, two or more opinions on the same issues may be presented as evidence at the same time, which were performed by experts from different expert institutions and agencies, both on behalf of the prosecution and the defense. In summary, it should be noted that forensic activity is a comprehensive, complete, objective and comprehensive process of research of objects, resulting in the formation and provision of scientifically sound conclusions about their properties, the possibility of the existence of certain facts and phenomena. As well as other issues that can be resolved using the expertise of experts in the investigation of criminal offenses.

The order of the investigators as an object of study in conducting forensic medical examinations according to «medical» cases

The article is devoted to the problem of studying the orders of investigators on the appointment of forensic examinations in «medical» cases. The results of own research of the content of orders in the aspect of their filling with the circumstances of the case and the data necessary for the rational interaction of experts with the investigation team at the organizational stage of the examination are presented. The ways of improving the methods of carrying out examinations of this type in order to reduce the number of repeated and additional examinations, as well as interrogations of experts, and reduce the burden on state forensic institutions are proposed.

Організаційно-правові засади державного управління у сфері юстиції України

Розглянуто теоретичні підходи до розуміння сутності організаційно-правових засад державного управління у сфері юстиції України. Представлено авторське трактування сутності управління у сфері юстиції. Розглянуто особливі риси юстиції у контексті здійснення управлінських дій та подано їх характеристику. Обґрунтовано, що здійснення управлінських дій у сфері юстиції передбачає виконання їх органами, які уповноважені від імені держави реалізовувати відповідні функції, зважаючи на багатооб’єктність у цій галузі управління, та представлено перелік об’єктів юстиції. Розглянуто взаємозв’язок організаційного та правового аспектів у контексті державного управління у сфері юстиції. Запропоновано пріоритетні напрями розвитку української юстиції на перспективу.

ON LEGALIZATION OF THE GUIDING ROLE OF THE INVESTIGATION IN ORGANIZING AND CARRYING OUT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS

The Federal Law On Amendments to the Federal Law On State Forensic Expert Activities in the Russian Federation and the Federal Law On the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation are analyzed and the inexpediency of creating forensic expert institutions in the Investigative Committee is established. The authors come to this conclusion by analyzing the history of the formation of the Federal Expert Service in Russia and listing the arguments given by scientists to justify the need of removing forensic expertise from departmental subordination. Authors suppose that there is no state agency responsible for prosecution in criminal proceedings, let alone the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is unable to ensure the forensic experts independence. And even the judicial experts, being subordinate to the prosecution, are unlikely to remain independent, objective and impartial, carrying out the investigation tasks. In this case, the analogy with forensic institutions that were created in due time and are now preserved in the structure of law enforcement ministries and departments is not relevant since these institutions coexist with the bodies of preliminary investigation, but they are not subordinate to them organizationally or administratively.

PECULIARITIES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE FIELD OF FORENSIC SCIENCE ACTIVITIES (BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF UKRAINE)

Author establishes the main function forms of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in the management of forensic science activities (general and specialized) and differentiated the directions of improving expert justice provision on the basis of normative legal act analysis, scientific publications, statistical data. One of the most important areas for improving forensic science is the effectiveness increase of public administration. Multidimensionality and magnitude of this issue determined the need for its comprehensive study taking into account the multidimensional nature of scientific research. Performance estimate of public administration in Ukraine and identifying directions for its enhancement is a topical research issue requiring solution. Overcoming problems of scientific management optimization of the infrastructure of forensic activities, ensuring practical implementation of its legal and methodological bases is important in management improving of this activity type. In order to solve these problems, the following are necessary: organizational forms optimization of management by state bodies of forensic science institutions and nongovernment expert structures; unification of the scientific, methodological and information base of forensic science institutions, research work management and coordination in the field of forensic science; improving methodology and procedures for the certification of professional forensic experts; organizing basic training for specialists in the field of forensic activities of humanitarian, natural and technical profiles; improving the methodological and preventive work of forensic science institutions and optimizing use of forensic science by investigators and courts.

ABOUT CLASSIFICATION ISSUES OF FORENSIC CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING EXAMINATIONS

Analysis of forensic science practice indicates that object range and number of performed construction and engineering researches are constantly increasing. Considering relevance of this kind of forensic science as for the investigation of criminal proceedings and for other types of legal proceedings, the basic provisions related to the theoretical base formation of forensic construction and engendering examinations in its classification aspect are considered. Currently, the lists of types of forensic examinations and forensic expert area of specializations are valid in Ukraine. According to these lists qualification of a forensic expert is assigned to experts of forensic science institutions the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, as well as to specialists who do not work in state specialized institutions. These Lists are annexes to the Regulation: On Qualification Commissions and Certification of Forensic Experts approved by the No. 301/5 order of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine dated 03.03.2015. According to the specified document, as separate types of forensic examinations, forensic construction engineering, forensic land lot evaluation forensic building evaluation, forensic building evaluation and forensic road examination on corresponding types of expert areas of specialization are recorded. The subject of forensic construction engineering examination and land lot evaluation should be considered factual data and circumstances of the case (production) established on the basis of specialized expertise in construction field having evidentiary value for any type of legal proceedings while research on relevant construction objects: real estate, building materials, structures and related technical documentation. Thus, technical content of construction engineering examinations and forensic land lot evaluations involves forensic construction engineering implementation by examining relevant engineering sites analyzing technical documentation within the subject and tasks of the specified categories of examinations by the relevant subject by applying the appropriate system of research methods. These features distinguish them in independent kinds of forensic science.

THEORETICAL BASES OF EXPERT PREVENTION: CONCEPT AND TASKS

The article analyzes conceptual foundations, views and ideas concerning the essence of expert prevention. The relationship between the concepts of «prevention» and «prevention», which is in contact with each other, is investigated, because one of the main problems of the criminal investigation of the phenomenon of expert prevention is the ambiguity of both scientific understanding and the practical application of the corresponding conceptual-categorical apparatus. It is emphasized that the essence of expert prevention is the influence of the relevant subjects on crime through the use of special professional knowledge. That is, to the subject of forensic examination, should include studies of circumstances on the basis of which can be and should be developed scientific, organizational and technical measures of preventive nature. Proven that among the tasks of preventive nature, which can be solved by the staff of judicial-expert institutions, the development of aimed at forecasting in criminalistic aspects of circumstances contributing to the commission of crimes, taking into account the possibilities of certain types of expert research, should occupy an important place.&#x0D; It is proved that the preventive activities of forensic institutions of Ukraine should be carried out: in the production of examinations in specific criminal, administrative or civil cases; by summarizing expert, as well as forensic investigative practices; in the process of research on expert prevention; by providing on the basis of special knowledge of scientific and practical assistance to government agencies and public organizations in identifying circumstances conducive to the commission of crimes.&#x0D; In order to improve the quality of expert-preventive activities, the staff of the forensic institutions of Ukraine should pay maximum attention to the promotion of preventive activities among representatives of law enforcement and law enforcement agencies.&#x0D; On the basis of the analysis, the author’s definition of expert prevention is given: the activity of a forensic expert based on the laws and by-laws of normative legal acts, aimed at revealing the circumstances contributing to the commission of a crime, and the development of measures for their elimination with the use of special knowledge.

'We try' - how nurses work with patient participation in forensic psychiatric care.

Patients in secure forensic psychiatric care have reduced autonomy because of the constraints imposed on them by compulsion laws. Thus, it is vital that nurses enable patient participation whenever possible. Patient participation, and it's clinical use in forensic psychiatric care, is an understudied field. To describe nurses' experiences of their work with patient participation in forensic psychiatric care. Managers at different secure forensic psychiatric institutions in the south of Sweden approved the study, and oral consent was retrieved from informants. Interviews guided by a semi-structured interview guide were conducted with nine nurses from five different forensic psychiatric institutions and analysed with content analysis. Nurses describe diverse understandings and abilities in an inflexible setting. This indicates that what participation is, and how to achieve it, is not the same for nurses as for patients. Moreover, patients have different abilities to participate, and the secure setting in itself is perceived as hindering participatory work. Still, participation is described as a crucial part of work that requires a caring relationship. Furthermore, nurses pronounce potentially excluding attitudes and strategies that may obstruct patient participation for all, and at the same time, they have a belief that improvement is possible. Compulsory forensic psychiatric care is a complex care context that requires constant efforts from nurses to balance patients' rights and needs with mandatory care. The very nature of this caring context appears to be a major obstacle when promoting patient participation. Nevertheless, nurses express that they do aim for patient participation, 'they try'. From a patient's perspective, trying is not sufficient and a need for improvement is evident. The results can be of clinical interest in similar secure forensic psychiatric nursing settings, and a point of departure in future development of care striving for increased patient participation for all.

Out-of-Hospital Tissue Donation: Multidisciplinary Donor Circuit in a Forensic Institute

ObjectiveWe aimed to implement an out-of-hospital system of generating donors that increases donation and answers the growing demand for tissue for therapeutic purposes. MaterialThe Catalan Health Service issued the 4/2015 instruction promoting the integration of the donation network through collaboration with the Donor Center of Catalonia (DCC). The creation of DCC facilitated the signing of an agreement between The Blood and Tissue Bank, the Department of Justice of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Emergency Medical System, and the Hospital Clínic Barcelona for the procurement of tissues in the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia (IMLCFC), where the autopsies of all judicial deaths in the province of Barcelona are performed. MethodsThe Emergency Medical System informed the DCC of those instances that ended with the code “deceased.” DCC assessed the possible donor on arrival at the IMLCFC, checked the medical history through the shared clinical record, and obtained family consent by telephone interview. If consent was obtained, then judicial authorization was sought. ResultsIn 2016, 152 donors of corneas were obtained (9.7% of the annual amount in Catalonia), 149 in 2017 (9.4% of the annual amount), and 133 donations in 2018. At the end of 2017, we started multitissue retrieval and obtained in 2018 a total of 76 donors. ConclusionsOut-of-hospital tissue donation in a forensic institute is possible. In less than 3 years, IMLCFC has become the third largest eye tissue contributor among the Catalan tissue donation network and the first contributor in musculoskeletal tissues in 2018.

Factors Influencing the Initiation Time of Forensic Psychiatric Assessment of Criminal Cases in Hunan Province.

Objective To discuss the related factors influencing the initiation time of forensic psychiatric assessment by analysis of the initiation time of forensic psychiatric assessment of criminal cases in Hunan Province. Methods Related data in assessment files of criminal cases accepted by 8 forensic psychiatric assessment institutions in Hunan Province from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016 were extracted. The Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the initiation time of forensic psychiatric assessment. After using property score matching （PSM） to control the influence of confounding factors, the efficiency of public security organs to initiate assessments of suspects with （without） mental disorders and with （without） responsibilities were compared. Results A total of 4 346 cases were included. The Logistic regression analysis suggested that the factors independently related to the initiation time of assessment include： cause of assessment, nationality of the assessed, history of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, history of crimes, history of drug abuse, and status of alcohol consumption before the crime （all P<0.05）. The initiation time of assessment of suspects diagnosed with mental disorder was shorter than those with none （P<0.05）; the initiation time of assessment of suspects without criminal responsibility was shorter than those with responsibility （P<0.05）. After using PSM to control confounding factors, the differences above still existed. Conclusion The cause of assessment, nationality of the assessed, history of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, history of crimes, history of drug abuse, and status of alcohol consumption before the crime are factors that influence the efficiency of public security organs to initiate forensic psychiatric assessments. Under the current assessment initiation mode, forensic psychiatric assessment of suspects who have mental disorders, especially those with no responsibility may be given priority to initiate.

Forensic Valuation of Intellectual Property

Valuation of objects of intellectual property can be important when considering civil disputes, criminal cases of copyright and related rights infringements, criminal bankruptcies, cases of administrative offenses (violations of copyright and related rights, inventor’s and patent rights). At present, there is no generally accepted and accessible methodology of forensic valuation of intellectual property items.The main aspects of the forensic valuation of intellectual property are reviewed. It is shown that when assessing the value of intellectual property special knowledge should be applied in the field of forensic merchandising expertise, forensic economics, as well as other kinds and types of forensic expertise according to the characteristics of the intellectual property in question: forensic trace evidence analysis, computer forensics, forensic linguistics, forensic materials analysis, etc. It is necessary to develop and implement a new type of forensic examination in the forensic institutions of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation - forensic examination of intellectual property which will also include the value assessment of such objects.

Prevalence of traumatic orofacial and dental injury in unidentified bodies—Data from a forensic medicine institute in Brazil

Orofacial trauma and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are serious public health problems due to their high prevalence, severe morbidity, high costs of treatment, and long-term sequelae. However, the extent of the problem may be underestimated since trauma analysis, from a forensic odontology perspective, is not widely represented in the scientific literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of traumatic orofacial injuries (TOI) and TDI in unidentified bodies and their association with the cause of death. A retrospective analysis was conducted of dental and autopsy reports of unidentified bodies admitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Belo Horizonte (IFM-BH), Brazil, between 2015 and 2016. The final sample was made up of 536 bodies.Demographic data, the location where the body was found, cause of death, and the presence and type of orofacial trauma were collected. The mean of the estimated age of the bodies was 38yearsand the median was 35 years. Mostof the bodies were from males (87.5%) and werefound downtown in the city of Belo Horizonte (60.4%). Violence was the most common cause of death (64%), generally by gunshot (48.7%). Bodies with an estimated age ≤35years were eight times more likely to have died from violent causes. TOI was registered in 50.9% of the reports. TDI was observed in 10.8% of the bodies. Victims of violent death were seven times more likely to present TOI. Such association was not observed when the presence of TDI was considered. There is a positive association between TOI and violent death in unidentified bodies.

Absconsion from forensic psychiatric institutions

Background: Absconding from mental health units is referred to as a patient leaving without permission and can have significant consequences for the patient, family, community, and institution. The varying definitions of absconsion involve breaching security of an inpatient unit, accessing grounds or community without permission, gaining liberty during escorted leave or being absent for longer than permitted from authorized or trial leave. While considerable literature exists on absconsion from acute psychiatric units, there is a paucity of literature specific to forensic absconsions, despite inherent differences between patients and systems. Forensic patients are offenders who are found unfit to stand trial, or not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder. The literature indicates the absconding rate within the forensic population is expected to be low, based on the fact that the level of security in forensic units is higher than general psychiatric units. Despite the rates being considered low, the outcomes of absconding in this population can potentially be serious, thus the exploration of factors surrounding these incidents is essential. Purpose: To review the literature regarding absconsion from forensic psychiatric institutions. This review will identify potential risk factors and motivations of forensic patients that have absconded. Methods: Electronic database and hand searches were conducted to locate articles pertaining to absconding specific to forensic psychiatric institutions published from 1969-present. Search terms included “abscond”, “escape”, “AWOL”, “runaway”, “psychiatric inpatient”, “forensic institution”, &amp; variants. All full-text articles meeting inclusion &amp; exclusion criteria were appraised for qualitative themes, limitations, and assessed for risk of bias using appropriate CASP Checklists. The review is structured following the PRISMA checklist and framework. Results: A total of 19 articles meeting literature review criteria were identified. The majority of the articles were of retrospective case-control design (n=12). Three systematic reviews were found on absconsion that included analyses from both forensic and general psychiatric populations. Definitions for absconding were omitted or varied making comparisons between studies difficult. Much research compared demographic, static and dynamic factors. History of previous absconsion, scores on validated risk-of-violence assessment tools, substance-use disorder, acute mental state, and socio-environmental factors were consistently noted as risk-factors. Four distinct motivations for absconding emerged: goal-directed, frustration/boredom, symptomatic, and accidental. Overall, the literature suggested forensic absconsion was a rare event of short duration with low risk to the public and few re-offending incidents. Conclusions: There is a paucity of literature on forensic absconsions. A consistent definition of absconsion and use of standardized reporting protocols across forensic programs would be beneficial in order to be able to compare data on absconding events. Also, prospective studies should be undertaken to better understand the motivations and dynamic risk factors of forensic patients who have absconded and would help inform a forensic absconsion risk assessment protocol.