Forensic Literature Research Articles

Vulpes in Fabula: when human becomes prey – case report and overview on animal predation

ABSTRACT Attacks by wild and domestic animals represent a significant public health and social issue with implications for both mortality and morbidity. These incidents contribute to many deaths and hospitalizations each year, with statistical variations depending on the native fauna and cultural practices unique to different countries. The ongoing expansion of urban areas, with the reduction of natural habitats and the increasing frequency of human recreational activities in wild environments, is exacerbating human-wildlife interactions, increasing of such incidents.In forensic pathology, when encountering a body with lesions of animal origin, it is crucial first to exclude any potential homicidal dynamics. Following this, it is equally important to accurately differentiate between antemortem injuries and post-mortem scavenging to ensure a correct interpretation of the cause and manner of death. In this paper, three autopsy cases involving animal attacks are described and analysed in detail. Of particular significance is the final case, where the injuries were attributed to predation by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Such cases are rare and thus represent an underexplored area within forensic literature, making this case especially noteworthy for the scientific community. Discussing these cases provides valuable insights that can enhance diagnostic approaches in similar forensic scenarios.

Forensic Science Research on the Web of Science Database Over 22 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: We reviewed the literature on forensic genetics from 1991 to 2022, emphasizing short tandem repeats. The objectives were to assess the caliber of research and draw attention to issues facing scientists and practitioners.Methods: Except for China, a metrological study was performed on forensic literature from 1991 to 2022 using the Web of Science (WoS).Results: The “journal of forensic sciences” had 380 papers that were the most read out of 2139 publications in the study. Also, “forensic science international: Genetics” had the most citations. Analysis with R software showed that 2001 was the peak publication year. “Journal of forensic sciences” and Budowle B were the most prolific. “Forensic science international: genetics” and Heller MJ received the most citations, and “forensic science”, “STRs”, and “DNA typing” were among the frequently used keywords.Conclusion: The study could help scientists understand the trends of short tandem repeats based on forensic science research by highlighting the top ten research institutions, funding prospects, authors, and high-citation journals to anticipate future research directions.

THE SITUATION OF COMMITTING FRAUD UNDER EXTRAORDINARY LEGAL REGIMES

In the article, based on the analysis of forensic literature, the situation of committing criminal offenses is defined as a system of physical, material and social conditions of the environment chosen by the criminal or objectively surrounding him, in which the criminal offense occurs. It was noted that the quantitative and qualitative composition of the structural elements of the situation of committing criminal offenses depend on the types of criminal offenses. It is noted that fraudsters often adapt to typical factors in a similar environment, as a result of which a typical pattern of criminal activity appears. Regarding the situation and conditions of criminal offenses committed by fraud, it is noted that they are committed under the influence of certain economic, legal, social, political, psychological and other factors that create the basis for the unimpeded implementation of deception and contribute to the concealment of illegal actions. It was emphasized that the effectiveness of the entire investigation in the criminal proceedings as a whole often depends on how the investigator correctly analyzes the spatio-temporal characteristics and conditions in which the fraudsters operated.

Clozapine may consistently protect from suicidal behaviors while other antipsychotics may lack a specific protective effect: a comprehensive VigiBase study interpreted in the context of the prior literature

ABSTRACT Background In the United States, clozapine was first approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and then for suicidality in schizophrenia psychoses. Systematic reviews support clozapine’s anti-suicidal effect, but the forensic literature stresses its lethality during overdoses. Research design and methods Clozapine reports to the international pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase) were analyzed for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, intentional overdose, and completed suicides from introduction to 1 January 2024. VigiBase uses the information component (IC) as a disproportionality analysis. Results The clozapine ICs (range: other antipsychotics) were: 1) suicidal ideation IC = 0.570 with IC025 = 0.454 to IC975 = 0.680 (IC = 3.568 for aripiprazole and 1.729 for risperidone), 2) suicide attempt IC = 1.428 with IC025 = 1.323 to IC975 = 1.529 (IC = 4.150 for quetiapine and 2.968 for risperidone), 3) intentional overdose: IC = 0.995 with IC025 = 0.864 to IC975 = 1.120 (IC = 4.080 for quetiapine and 1.957 for aripiprazole), and 4) completed suicide IC = 1.133 with IC025 = 1.026 to IC975 = 1.235 (IC = 4.648 for quetiapine and 2.160 for risperidone). In summary, all clozapine ICs were significantly lower. We found 2391 clozapine-treated patients on the suicidality spectrum (627 cases with suicidal ideation, 752 with suicide attempt, 488 with intentional overdose, and 731 with completed suicide) but many were taking other antipsychotics. The most frequent reporting countries were the United States, the United Kingdom, and Croatia. Conclusion This pharmacovigilance study, with all its inherent limitations, provides independent proof, not overlapping with prior literature, that clozapine may have specific strong anti-suicidal effects that do not appear to be present in other antipsychotics. Further VigiBase studies are needed to compare the lethality of an intentional overdose of clozapine (14.3%) with other antipsychotics.

Test of the minimum supero-inferior femoral neck diameter as a sex predictor in a contemporary documented osteological collection from Portugal

Abstract Adult sex estimation is one of the first and most important steps in forensic examination. While dealing with disturbed burials, the most dimorphic anatomic areas of the skeleton (such as the coxae, the skull and the head of femur and humerus) may be deteriorated or fragmented. In contrast, the minimum supero-inferior femoral neck diameter (SID) is generally much better preserved. The aim of the present research is to identify the discriminatory potential of SID for sex estimation and to test different formulae and mathematical procedures currently available in the forensic literature, on a sample of 295 contemporary individuals from the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection (University of Coimbra, Portugal), in order to identify its relevance for application in Portuguese forensic cases. Results showed that SID is a dimorphic variable, with high frequencies and probabilities of cases correctly estimated (0.82 and 0.83, respectively); statistically significant differences between females and males, and a high association between the metrics and sex, were identified. Posterior probabilities allow reliable estimations for all the measurements, excepting those between 31.0 and 31.5 mm, and the procedures that show the highest accuracy are those proposed by Seidemann et al. (1998), Curate et al. (2016) and Luna et al. (2021), with frequencies and probabilities between 0.82 and 0.83 for both sexes. The validation procedures implemented in this study highlight both the need to test quantitative models generated from diverse contemporary human populations, and the value of SID for obtaining reliable adult sex estimates, as they improve the quality of the biological profiles obtained in forensic contexts. Key points

Facteurs de protection et facteurs de désistance chez les Auteurs d’Infraction à Caractère Sexuel : articulation et clarification

Forensic literature has witnessed a plethora of risk assessment tools, emphasizing on factors increasing recidivism risk. Thus, assessment and care practices of individuals who have offended have gradually evolved when professionals no longer ask what doesn’t work (Nothing works) but what does work (What works) with them. From this positivist forensic psychology perspective, the inclusion of so-called positive factors such as protective or desistance factors is an important issue. A strengths-based approach to risk assessment encourages a more balanced assessment by involving factors mediating, moderating, or even canceling out this risk, specifically protective factors. Despite a strong interest in them, there are many conceptual shortcomings that hinder their use. The existence of these factors is still assumed. While the importance of their integration in assessment is established, their lack of validity hinders it. Hence, the Structured Assessment of PROtective Factors (SAPROF) has been developed to measure exclusively protective factors. The SAPROF assesses internal factors (e.g., intelligence, secure attachment, etc.), motivational factors (e.g., work, leisure activities, etc.), and external factors (e.g., social network, intimate relationship, etc.). An additional version for Individual who have Committed Sexual Offenses (ICSO) has also been developed. The first study consists of a systematized literature review comprising six studies focusing on protective factors identified among ICSOs and the validity of their operational assessment using SAPROF. Main results suggest a poor prediction of the SAPROF. A section of narrative literature focuses on desistance. Desistance paradigm suggests that professionals would be better equipped to deal with individuals who have committed offenses if they were also allowed to guide them and listen to what they think is best for them, rather than insisting that our solutions are best. The principle of What works is therefore complemented by the Why works and How works approaches to rehabilitation by putting offenders back at the heart of the process. As a universal and complex process, desistance involves changes in identity related to exiting the criminal pathway. Therefore, it is a highly individualised and subjective process, whom definitional and operational modalities are still unclear. As with protective factors, narrative literature identifies external and internal factors that might influence the reintegration process. While some desistance factors seem to be common to protective factors such as employment, quality of relationships, or treatment, some non-operational factors are highlighted as narrative discourses or knifing off concept. The second study investigates desistance factors identified through discourses of six male ICSOs on probation or conditional release based on iterative thematic content analysis. Main results highlight a predominance of positive factors relating to desistance, specifically positive interpersonal relationships (external) and cognitive transformations marked by reflective processes linked to offenses (internal). For negative factors hindering their desistance process, ICSOs emphasize internal factors such as access to illicit substances and financial difficulties. To conclude, despite increasing attention, empirical and conceptual definitions are lacking, particularly regarding protective factors and related words. Less is known about how protective factors support desistance from sexual offending. The results of these two complementary studies will be discussed considering the literature, laying the foundations for future research necessary for conceptual and operational clarification of protective and desistance factors.

The Forensic Perspective of Infectious Endocarditis: A Retrospective Study With Recommendations for the Future.

Increasing rates of infectious endocarditis (IE) are well-described in the United States and worldwide, yet forensic literature regarding IE is sparse. Autopsy databases may help identify subsets of patients at increased risk of mortality. We reviewed all deaths due to IE in our office between 2010 and 2022 (with full autopsy performed) and found 29. The average age was 44 years. Manners of death included natural (69%), accident (28%), and homicide (3%). For all accidental deaths, acute intoxication was included in either part I or II. The aortic valve was most affected (62%), followed by tricuspid (28%) and mitral (24%). Seventy-six percent of affected valves were native, and 24% were prosthetic. Common risk factors included intravenous drug use (48%) and chronic ethanolism (21%). No sustained increase in deaths due to IE was identified. These data show marked differences from clinical literature, including a lower average age and higher incidence of substance use disorders, and it is unlikely selection bias is the sole reason. There was inconsistency in death certification, most notably by not including pertinent IE risk factors. Improving consistency and quality of IE death certification will aid in detecting regional trends and assist multi-institutional collaboration efforts.

Gender Identity in Forensic Death Investigation: A Narrative Review and Suggested Guidelines for Documenting and Reporting.

In the current body of forensic literature, there is little guidance available regarding death investigations of transgender, intersex, and gender diverse individuals. An increase in the prevalence of gender diverse identifying people and the frequency in which these individuals experience a premature death makes it more likely these deaths will fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner's office. The inability to navigate these diverse cases due to a lack of training, education, and support may leave forensic professionals without the tools needed to accurately represent these deaths.This narrative review is intended to provide the foundational knowledge needed by forensic death investigators when investigating gender identity in death, including suggested guidelines for a more effective and empathetic death investigation. A better understanding of the implications and applications of this information when included in reports will bolster the quality and quantity of the data reported and collected. This will lead to more accurate monitoring and reporting of violent, suicidal, and homicidal deaths of transgender, intersex, and other gender diverse individuals, and a higher identification rate of unidentified remains with gender diverse markers.

Signs of how the Sydney Declaration article is received in the forensic science literature

The Sydney Declaration is an initiative led by an informal group of forensic scientists with diverse backgrounds. It offers a vision of forensic science based on the trace, as a vestige of a past event related to security or a possible law violation. An article published in Forensic Science International (FSI) introduces to this view [1]. Our investigation delves into how the forensic science literature has received this article (the SD article), nearly two years after its publication. One of the main challenges of this exploratory study was to define the appropriate scope of forensic scientific literature, within which the SD article must be located. In general, the publishing domain is quickly evolving, with many competing players, while still being structured around standard academic disciplines. The forensic literature, meanwhile, is scattered and poorly connected. This reflects the fragmentation of practice and research in forensic science, and the difficulty of situating a scientific activity in such a way as to bring out its forensic substance. Nonetheless, the SD article fills a gap. By deciphering the critical concept of trace, it highlights how pivotal forensic science is in addressing societal challenges. Scholarly literature expresses clear quantitative interest in the SD article. It has received significant qualitative citations on multiple levels and dimensions, in a highly relevant manner and in accordance with its aim of providing a forensic foundation for various debates that have been conducted separately, notably over the last fifteen years.

Classification performance of the Sella-Tunis et al. (2017) sex estimation method in Czech population: different posterior probability threshold approaches.

In this study we tested classification performance of a sex estimation method from the mandible originally developed by Sella-Tunis et al. (2017) on a heterogeneous Israeli population. Mandibular linear dimensions were measured on 60 CT scans derived from the Czech living population. Classification performance of Israeli discriminant functions (DFs-IL) was analyzed in comparison with calculated Czech discriminant functions (DFs-CZ) while different posterior probability thresholds (currently discussed in the forensic literature) were employed. Our results comprehensively illustrate sensitivity of different discriminant functions to population differences in body size and degree of sexual dimorphism. We demonstrate that the error rate may be biased when presented per posterior probability threshold. DF-IL 1 showed least sensitivity to population origin and fulfilled criteria of sufficient classification performance when applied on the Czech sample with a minimum posterior probability threshold of 0.88 reaching overall accuracy ≥ 95%, zero sex bias, and 80% of classified individuals. The last parameter was higher in DF-CZ 1 which was the main difference between those two DFs suggesting relatively low dependance on population origin. As the use of population-specific methods is often prevented by complicated assessment of population origin, DF-IL 1 is a candidate for a sufficiently robust method that could be reliably applied outside the reference sample, and thus, its classification performance deserves further testing on more population samples.

Survivability of IED components, suitcases, their contents and luggage containers in suitcase bombs

One of the most striking attacks on a commercial passenger airliner was the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 (PA103) on 21 December 1988. Shortly after departure, the Boeing 747 “Clipper Maid of the Seas” broke apart over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. All 259 passengers and crew were killed, along with 11 residents of Lockerbie. The bombing of flight PA103 is still subject to controversy. The origin of a crucial piece of evidence, a fragment of circuit board, is highly questioned. One of the reasons for this ongoing controversy is probably that circumstantial evidence, that led to the conviction of a Libyan, is not supported by other evidence. Almost nothing is published in the forensic literature regarding the survivability of components that make up an improvised explosive device (IED). To gain insight into the survivability of IED components, suitcases, their contents, and luggage containers, a series of controlled experiments were carried out in which suitcase bombs, positioned in different configurations in aluminium LD3 luggage containers, were detonated. From the results, it could be seen that the major part of the suitcases, their contents and the LD3 containers survived the explosion. Also, almost all components of the IED itself survived the explosion to a greater or lesser extent.

Bone color changes and interpretation of the temperature/duration of fire exposure to human remains in the forensic context

AbstractIn both the archeological and forensic literature, experimental data have been used to equate the color of burned bone with the temperature to which it was exposed. While this may be applicable in the tightly controlled oxidizing environment of a furnace or crematorium, it is not representative of the more realistic dynamic conditions of fire events involving structures, vehicles, outdoors, and so forth, that are encountered in forensic anthropology casework. In this piece, we review the literature at the cross section of bone color and temperature and compare it to our own observations from experimental burns. We generate a cautionary path forward for future research as well as interpretation in applied contexts. Implying temperature based on burned bone color ignores other significant variables that are related to the degradation of the bone's organic matrix like, the amounts and types of fuels, duration, fluctuations of temperature, oxygen level of the environment, byproducts of combustion, and other variables unique to each scene. Research results on bone color and temperature derived from controlled environments using non‐fleshed bone samples, are not applicable for use in forensic casework involving burned human remains from fleshed bodies. We argue that to do so distracts from other contributing variables and information that can be derived from the analysis of fire patterns on burned human remains and burned bones. Finally, we caution about using bone color alone to estimate temperatures of the fire, which makes incorrect assumptions about fire behavior and could jeopardize court testimony if this method is used as a standard. We raise three issues if a direct correlation between temperature and bone color are used in court: (1) other important factors are ignored, (2) a universal unvaried exposure of the body is assumed, and (3) the expert risks impeachment given conflicting data on the correlation.This article is categorized under: Forensic Medicine > Death Scene Investigation Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment

Analysis of Cannabis and its Products in the Context Forensic Science

Legalization of low-tetrahydrocannabinol-high-cannabidiol cannabis plants is gaining momentum due to growing demand for these products. In some countries, the testing of cannabis and products containing it is a legal requirement: cannabis is identified, the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol and their precursor acids is assessed. Current research requires more sensitive and reliable analytical methods for accurate identification and quantification of cannabis components. This article purpose is to review the latest advances in the scientific literature on the isolation and analysis of cannabis and cannabis-containing products in the context of forensic science. Research methods included analysis of information on this topic using search engines, including Google, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Search requests took into account scientific, analytical and statistical reports in the field of forensic research. Since the forensic expert must be well-versed in modern trends in the analysis of prohibited substances and use the latest data from the analytical and forensic literature in his work, such information will help them choose research methods, taking into account the actual resources and equipment of forensic laboratories. According to the article purpose, advantages and disadvantages of existing methods of extraction and analysis of objects containing cannabis for identification, quantification, profiling and age estimation of cannabis are considered.

2-Fluorodeschloroketamine consumption: About two deaths and a case of self-mutilation.

2-Fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS), close to the ketamine structure. Few cases of 2-FDCK intake are described in the forensic literature, especially concerning death cases. We report here a case of self-mutilation (Case 1) and two forensic deaths linked to 2-FDCK consumption. The second case involved a man found dead in the street, having been stabbed. The third case was a man found dead following a suspected overdose and in an advanced state of putrefaction. For all three cases, biological fluids such as blood and urine were analyzed, as was hair for the two fatal cases. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify 2-FDCK and its main metabolites in different matrices. Biological fluids and hair were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry after decontamination and extraction. Seized products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and assayed, when possible, by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. 2-FDCK was detected and quantified in the peripheral blood of Cases 1, 2 and 3 (457, 758 and 5885 µg/L, respectively), as were its main metabolites nor-2-FDCK, dihydro-nor-2-FDCK and dihydro-2-FDCK. In the 1 cm long hair of Cases 2 and 3, 2-FDCK was also detected (approximately 4149 and 79824 pg/mg, respectively). Deschloroketamine (DCK) was found in the biological fluids of Cases 1, 2 and 3 (10, 8 and 350 µg/L, respectively), as well as in hair of Cases 2 and 3 (65 and around 8119 pg/mg, respectively). In Case 3, as a small bag containing DCK powder was seized from his home, we can assume that DCK was taken. On the contrary, to our knowledge, it has not been established that Case 2 took DCK alone, so we can assume that it may be the first case to report DCK from 2-FDCK metabolism in fluids as well as in hair.

The Early Iron Age elite grave from the Kapiteljska njiva barrow cemetery (Novo mesto, Slovenia): an approach to dental profiling through non-invasive and minimally-invasive techniques.

Kapiteljska njiva is a prehistoric cemetery located in the town of Novo mesto in southern Slovenia. There is a long history of archaeological research at this site, as the first investigations date back to the end of the 19th century. In 2004, an Early Iron Age barrow XVI was investigated. The oldest surviving grave in the barrow is the central grave, numbered XVI/34, which according to its position and the richness of the grave goods, belongs to a woman of higher status. Most likely, she was the first member or initiator of a family that continued to bury its dead in the barrow for the next 300 years. There were no preserved skeletal elements; however, in the head part of the grave, remains of human teeth, mostly the tooth crowns and the shells of enamel from the tooth crowns, were found among the scattered amber beads of a necklace. Moreover, these tooth remains are one of the few human biological materials (mostly fragments of skull and long limb bones) unearthed in this cemetery, reflecting the influence of acidic soil from the burial site. This study aimed to create a dental profile of the deceased in a similar way as during a forensic investigation. The remains were examined macroscopically and stereo-microscopically. The morphological traits were scored following the ASUDAS protocol. Ancestry was estimated by entering these scores into a beta version of the web-based application rASUDAS. Brothwell's system was used for age at death estimation from occlusal attrition. Identification of sex was based on the analysis of sex-specific amelogenin isoforms in dental enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). The present study reveals that the dental remains from Kapiteljska njiva belong to the permanent dentition of a single individual and that only the right upper central incisor and third molar are completely absent. The remains of teeth exhibit a simple external morphology, characterised by the absence of morphological dental traits, with a notable exception of the two-rooted left lower canine. The probability of assigning this individual to the Western Eurasian ancestry group is 98%. According to the degree of dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of molars, the estimated age range is 17-25 years. Another line of evidence comes from the observation that the first signs of approximal attrition are present in lower third molars but absent in the only preserved upper counterpart, indicating that the age at which the lower third molars entered into occlusion represents a proxy of the individual's age at death. Data on the chronology of the lower third molar development and eruption in present-day European populations from forensic literature (Brkić et al. 2011; Olze et al. 2008; Selmanagić et al. 2013) and The London Atlas confirm the above age-range estimate. Caution is, however, needed in the interpretation of results, because reference data are not based on the population of the individual's origin. Proteomic analysis classified the individual as a female, which is in line with the archaeological evidence. No pathological lesions or indicators of systemic stress were identified; however, the absence of approximal attrition facets in upper anterior teeth indicates interdental spacing. The results of dental profiling are discussed in the context of historical background, today's clinical knowledge, and epidemiological data.

Detached from Sympathy, Unconscious of Trauma: The Impact of the Forensic Virtues of Impartiality and Detachment on Rape Examinations in Britain 1924-1978.

This article asks why British mainstream forensic literature and practice did not acknowledge the long-term mental consequences of rape for victims and their need for a sympathetic approach before the 1970s. I argue that this was not simply out of ignorance, considering that in the period 1924-1978 there already were some medical practitioners-women doctors, psychiatrists and gynaecologists-who expressed concern for these matters. However, the forensic expert witnesses, who were influential in the field, considered the virtue of sympathy and the practices of care that women doctors promoted to be incompatible with the judicial virtue of impartiality. To avoid any suggestion of partiality, which would damage their authority in the adversarial courtroom, these men instead employed the epistemic virtue of emotional detachment. This led them to adopt a sceptical attitude towards rape victims and drew their attention away from the psychological care women and children might require.

Harmonizing the forensic nomenclature for STR loci D6S474 and DYS612

The autosomal STR D6S474 and the Y-chromosomal STR DYS612 have been reported in multiple ways in the forensic literature, with differences in both the bracketed repeat structures and counting of numerical length-based capillary electrophoresis (CE) alleles. These issues often come to light when STR loci are introduced in commercial assays and results compared with historical publications of allele frequency data, or multiple assays are characterized with reference materials. We review the forensic literature and other relevant information, and provide suggestions for the future treatment of each STR.

Plastic bag suffocation and codeine overdose: An unusual case of complex suicide and review of the literature

The term “planned complex suicide” refers to cases where two or more suicide methods are applied simultaneously. Plastic bag suffocation is a suicidal method commonly combined with self-poisoning by inhalation of volatile compounds or pharmacological substances at poisoning dosage. A 67-year-old woman was found dead on the couch. The head was wrapped in a plastic bag knotted at the front of the neck. No signs of struggle were present on the scene. In the fireplace, there were two blisters of acetaminophen/codeine phosphate tablets. Postmortem examination showed congestion of the face and the neck and pulmonary edema with patchy emphysema. There was no evidence of physical duress. Toxic levels of codeine were detected in the blood. The death was related to a complex suicide involving codeine overdose and asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation. The hypoxic/cardioinhibitory effects of plastic bag suffocation combined to codeine-induced deep reduction of respiratory rate, making the suicide hypothesis the more likely scenario. In order to assess what elements contribute to postmortem diagnosis in complex suicides with plastic bag suffocation, a review of the forensic literature published between 2002 and 2022 was performed. This article emphasizes the complexity of diagnosing deaths involving plastic bag suffocation in suicides, particularly when combined with other methods like inert gas inhalation or drug intake. It underscores the importance of comprehensive toxicological analyses, careful scene examination, and histological studies, not forgetting a thorough comparative analysis of the existing literature, to accurately determine the cause and manner of death in such cases.

Criminalistic Characteristics of Crimes: Terminological Aspect

The article concentrates on the criminalistic characteristics of crimes as one of the key concepts of the criminalistic methodology of crime investigation from the point of view of the terminology used to designate it and its correspondence to the content of the concept. The article considers the evolution of views and approaches that have developed in science regarding the role of criminalistic characteristics of crimes in the structure of newly devised private methods, its content and structure. At the same time the article notes both substantial aspects of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes admitted by most scientists, and aspects that cause dispute. The analysis of the structure of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes and the main approaches developed on this issue in legal literature is carried out. The main elements proposed for inclusion into the structure of the forensic characteristics are considered and evaluated. Attention is focused on the need for further research on the issues of criminalistic characteristics of crimes and the possible development areas are proposed. One of such development areas is devising uniform criteria for building the structure of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes. In this connection, the article provides an overview of the author positions existing in this regard in forensic literature, where elements of the corpus delicti, circumstances to be proved in a criminal case, etc. are seen as a criterion. The reasons for the significant divergence of the positions of scientists towards the content and structure of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes are analyzed. One of the main reasons is different understanding by the authors of the essence and role of the criminalistic characteristics of crimes in the structure of the investigation methodology conditioned among other things by the employed terminology – "criminalistic characteristics of crimes", which does not accurately reflect the essence of the designated concept. In this connection, the analysis of the terminology with regard to etymology has been carried out and proposals for its further application in forensic methodology have been formed.

The concept and significance of forensic characteristics of the unlawful seizure of enterprise, institution or organisation property

The unlawful seizure of property of an enterprise, institution or organisation is a fairly common criminal offence in the field of business activity. This criminal offence causes economic losses to both business entities and the state as a whole, reduces the level of economic security and, as a result, the level of investment, discredits the work of government agencies, undermines the authority of the state at the international level, etc. In order to overcome and prevent economic risks, it is necessary to develop a methodology for investigating a criminal offence under Article 206-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
 The purpose of the study is to define the concept of “forensic characteristic of unlawful seizure of enterprise, institution or organisation property”, to clarify the role of such forensic characteristic in the methodology of investigation of this criminal offence, and also to establish the sources of information for the purpose of forming a forensic characteristic. To achieve the stated purpose of the study, a thorough analysis of the scientific forensic literature, the results of investigative and judicial practice has been carried out.
 In the process of summarising the views of scholars, the article establishes that the main, basic, initial element of the forensic methodology is the forensic characteristic of the criminal offence under study. Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, it has been established that the forensic characteristic of unlawful seizure of property of an enterprise, institution or organisation should be considered an information model of this criminal offence which consists of a set of generalized information about its interrelated forensically significant features.
 With regard to the importance of forming a forensic characteristic, two directions of its use have been distinguished i.e., theoretical and practical.
 The article analyses the sources of obtaining the information necessary for forming a forensic characteristic of the unlawful seizure of property of an enterprise, institution or organisation, and as a result of this analysis, two main sources of information are identified: documents and persons.