Crime Investigation Research Articles

MALDI-MSI: A potential game changer in forensic sciences.

Matrix-assisted laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI MSI) is an analytical technique used for the spatial mapping of drugs, explosives, and organic samples, making it a game-changer in Forensic examination. It detects a wide range of biomolecules in their native state without specific tags, antibodies, labels, and dyes. This review aims to highlight the advancement of MALDI-MSI over time and its impact on Forensic Science due to high-resolution molecular imaging. To foster the development of forensic investigations the utility of MALDI-MSI in six different broad areas, Latent Fingerprinting division,forensic toxicology division,Crime Scene Reconstruction and investigation division, Sex crimes, forensic trichology division, question document analysis, is explored in this review. MALDI-MSI possesses a unique strength of molecular imaging of biomolecules without complex preparation from diverse sample types. In the future, the sensitivity and detection limits of MALDI-MSI can be enhanced and its instrumental size should be reduced to perform on-site investigation.

Exames periciais nas investigações de crimes que envolvem animais: uma revisão

ABSTRACT: In the investigation of crimes involving animals and animal-origin products or by-products, forensic veterinary medicine plays a crucial role through examinations and analyses of evidence related to the cases. In addition to veterinary forensics, other forensic sciences frequently contribute to solving these types of crimes. Drawing on the extensive experience of the Federal Police’s criminal investigations in Brazil and the specialized forensic veterinary and scientific expertise developed at the stricto sensu Graduate level at the University of Brasília, this review provides an updated and comprehensive analysis of the most relevant expert examinations supporting investigations into animal-related crimes, with a focus on the Brazilian context. The review covers key aspects of forensic examinations conducted by criminal experts, including forensic entomology, forensic toxicology, imaging techniques, taxonomic identifications, bird rings, investigations of mistreatment, forensic veterinary pathology, forensic genetics, and isotope ratio analysis. The field of veterinary forensics, with its diverse resources, established techniques, highly trained and continually updated experts, and the latest advancements in criminalistics, is essential for properly addressing judicial demands.

Advent of Forensic Workshop: Crime Scene Creation and Investigation

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Analogy of Profiling Male and Female Serial Killers

This paper explores the similarities and differences in the psychological profiles of male and female serial killers through gender aspects, analyzing causes, motives, and methods of crime. The introduction provides an overview of basic concepts, while the sections on definitions and causes of serial murder discuss incoherent aspects due to the flexibility of conceptual determination which affects the empirical understanding of serial murder, including key risk factors contributing to the development of serial killing behavior. The identification of psychological profiles by analogy separates the characteristics of male and female serial killers, focusing on their motivations, methods, and relationships with victims. The discussion includes a comparative analysis and results of individual studies, highlighting differences in profiling strategies between genders and summarizing findings related to serial murders. The conclusion synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing the importance of a gender-specific approach in profiling serial killers for more effective investigation and prevention of these severe crimes.

Wildlife trade investigations benefit from multivariate stable isotope analyses.

The investigation of wildlife trade and crime has benefitted from advances in technology and scientific development in a variety of fields. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) represents one rapidly developing approach that has considerable potential to contribute to wildlife trade investigation, especially in complementing other methods including morphological, genetic, and elemental approaches. Here, we review recent progress in the application of SIA in wildlife trade research to highlight strengths, shortcomings, and areas for development in the future. SIA has shown success in species identification, determination of geographic provenance, and differentiating between captive-bred and wild individuals. There are also emerging applications of SIA in wildlife trade research including the use of labelling for traceability, more in-depth analyses such as compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), the use of trace metal isotopes, and monitoring the health of individuals (e.g. dietary history and nutritional status). While these applications have shown the utility of SIA in wildlife trade investigations, there are a number of limitations and issues where standardisation of analytical procedures would improve the comparability and interpretation of results. First, there is high variation within many stable isotopes geographically and within tissues - this variation presents opportunities for tracking and monitoring but can also challenge detection of patterns when variation is high. Second, the choice of isotopes and tissues within an organism (and ideally, multiple isotopes and tissues) should be considered carefully as different isotopes and tissue types have variable strengths and weaknesses depending on the research question. Third, validation of SIA methods remains underutilised in the field but is critical for applying SIA broadly to wildlife trade investigations and, particularly, for applications in forensics and in court. Fourth, standards are essential for comparisons across studies. Fifth, while some reference databases exist for the use of SIA in wildlife trade research (e.g. ivory), there are still few comprehensive reference databases available. Development of robust reference databases should be a priority for advancing the use of SIA in wildlife trade research, and ecological study more broadly. Ultimately, further recognition of these primary challenges (and development of solutions) within wildlife SIA research will improve the potential for this technique in tackling the threat of overexploitation to global biodiversity - particularly in concert with the application of other investigative techniques such as genetics and elemental analysis.

A Study on Advancements in Forensic Fingerprints

Forensic fingerprint analysis has evolved significantly, becoming indispensable in crime investigation. Recent research has aimed to improve accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in this field, given fingerprints' unique role in linking individuals to crime scenes. This review synthesizes recent advancements in technology, methodology, and applications, notably AFIS, 3D fingerprint imaging, chemical analysis, and nanotechnology. Employing a systematic approach, the review gathers recent literature from various databases, including peer-reviewed articles and conference papers from the past five years. It identifies common themes, trends, challenges, and future directions, highlighting the impact of technological advancements. AFIS improvements have notably enhanced speed, accuracy, and interoperability, while emerging trends, like 3D fingerprint imaging and chemical analysis, offer additional forensic capabilities. However, challenges, such as data security and algorithm biases, persist, necessitating further research and collaboration. Despite these challenges, advancements in AFIS, 3D imaging, chemical analysis, and nanotechnology provide powerful tools for accurate crime investigation. Continued research and collaboration are vital to overcoming existing challenges and fully leveraging forensic fingerprint analysis in the pursuit of justice.

Прикладные проблемы использования специальных знаний при расследовании преступлений, связанных с незаконным производством и оборотом этилового спирта, алкогольной и спиртосодержащей продукции

The article examines the problems of law enforcement practice of investigative units of internal affairs bodies related to the use of special knowledge in the investigation of crimes on the illegal production and trafficking of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products. Based on the analysis of normative legal acts, materials of scientific research and criminal cases, recommendations are made on sampling seized objects for forensic examinations, features of estimating the value of seized goods and establishing the fact of counterfeit products.

Implementasi Hukum Pidana Bagi Pengedar Obat dan Makanan Illegal Pada Tingkat Penyidikan di Wilayah Hukum Kalimantan Barat (Studi Kasus Balai Besar POM (BBPOM) di Pontianak)

This study is a follow-up study with an expansion of the scope of previous research around the provisions and implementation of binding law enforcement regarding the circulation of illegal Medicines and Food at the investigation level, finding and ensuring authorized institutions in handling the circulation of illegal Medicines and Food in the West Kalimantan jurisdiction review, as well as explaining concrete events, reconditioning, and solutions of the emergence of illegal Medicines and Food circulation in West Kalimantan. This study uses the method of normative-empirical research (applied law research) on the implementation of normative legal provisions (laws) in action on any particular legal events that occur in a society or view the law as a reality, including social reality, the fact of culture and this study is descriptive with the findings of the BBPOM in Pontianak as a Technical Service Unit (UPT) BBPOM in Pontianak has the authority of intelligence and investigation in the field of Medicines and Food Control by the provisions of legislation. BPOM through BBPOM in Pontianak can take steps to prove Forensic Food and Medicines (Forensic Food and Medicine Science) which is a branch of forensic science related to the identification, analysis, and investigation of crimes related to food, beverages, medicines, and supplements when investigating criminal acts of illegal Medicines and Food trafficking. All discussions are based on the regulation (Omnibus Law) Law (Law) Number 17 of 2023 on health repealing Law (Law) Number 36 of 2009 on health.

Use of special knowledge in the investigation of crimes against the environment

The article is devoted to the actual problem of using special knowledge in the investigation of criminal offenses against the environment. The article examines the necessity and peculiarities of applying such knowledge in the process of uncovering and investigating crimes that harm the environment. The paper analyzes the current state of the problem, considers various types of environmental crimes and their consequences. Special attention is paid to the role of forensic examination and the use of modern technologies in the investigation process. In addition, the possibilities of forensic examinations to establish the truth in the investigation of crimes against the environment are analyzed. The work of scientists aimed at the development of forensic means and methods of investigation of environmental crimes, which contributed to the development of the methodology of investigation of crimes against the environment, improvement of their forensic characteristics, the role of special knowledge in the investigation of such crimes, was studied. Attention is focused on forensic examinations and their types, in particular forensic-ecological. The task of forensic environmental examination is to establish cause-and-effect relationships between the state of human health and its change and the harmful impact of human activity on the surrounding natural environment, as well as the study of violations of environmental safety rules. It is necessary to apply expertise from various fields of science, since the objects of research in the specified cases are extremely diverse. The results of the research can be used to develop new legislative norms and improve the practice of combating environmental crimes in Ukraine and beyond. Thus, the study proves that the effective application of special knowledge in the process of investigating environmental crimes is an important component of the struggle for environmental protection. However, in order to achieve maximum results, it is necessary not only to improve technical means and methods, but also to improve the personnel training system, regulatory and legal support, as well as interdepartmental interaction between various law enforcement subjects. Only a comprehensive approach will allow to significantly increase the effectiveness of the fight against environmental crimes and preserve natural resources for future generations.

Problems of appointment of expertise in the commission of environmental crimes

The article is devoted to the study of the theoretical foundations of forensic expertise, in particular forensic-ecological. The concept of forensic environmental examination and its features are considered. Forensic examination from the point of view of current criminal procedural legislation has been studied. The current legislation in the context of regulating the appointment and conduct of forensic environmental expertise under martial law is analyzed. Attention is focused on the purpose of forensic environmental examination, namely establishing a cause-and- effect relationship between the deterioration of human health and environmental pollution caused by anthropogenic activity. The key legislative acts regulating the conduct of forensic environmental expertise are the Law of Ukraine «On Forensic Expertise», the Order of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine «On Approving the Instructions on the Appointment and Conduct of Forensic Expertise and Expert Research and Scientific Methodological Recommendations on the Preparation and Appointment of Forensic Expertise examinations and expert studies», Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine (hereinafter - CPC of Ukraine). These normative legal acts regulate the legal principles of conducting forensic environmental examination, defining the circle of subjects, their powers and duties, as well as the procedure for carrying out expert research. It was investigated what special knowledge is used in the process of carrying out individual investigative actions and appointing a forensic environmental examination. It is analyzed how this knowledge is applied to the detection and investigation of crimes that harm the environment. It was concluded that thanks to this type of examination, the investigation and the court have the opportunity to obtain new information, which is of crucial importance for establishing the truth in the case, because these data cannot be obtained with the help of other procedural actions. Attention is focused on the possibility of appointing forensic environmental expertise at various stages of criminal proceedings, which ensures a comprehensive and objective investigation of environmental crimes. It was emphasized that in connection with the worsening of the environmental situation in Ukraine, due to the effect of martial law, it became necessary to strengthen environmental control, in particular, to further develop from various points of science - environmental forensic examination.

Mechanism of the prosecutor’s implementation of the function of accusation in proving in the pre-trail investigation of corruption crimes

The scientific article defines the mechanism of implementation by the prosecutor of the function of prosecution in proving corruption crimes in the pre-trial investigation as a complex interacting system of processes that has a normatively defined legal form, phasing and is implemented by the prosecutor to objectively and fully establish the subject of evidence in corruption crimes, bringing the perpetrators to justice and / or applying other measures of a criminal law nature. The purpose of the article is to define the concept and structure of the mechanism of implementation by the prosecutor of the function of prosecution in proving corruption crimes in the pre-trial investigation. It is established that the category «mechanism for the prosecutor to exercise the function of prosecution in proving corruption crimes in the pre-trial investigation» is disclosed through a system of other interrelated and interdependent legal categories and is structured. The structural structure reveals the essential side of the implementation mechanism, reflects the unity and diversity of all its constituent elements. In turn, each of the components of the structure can be considered as a separate legally significant category. It is proved that the characteristics of certain elements of the structure of the mechanism will ensure the formation of a holistic and systematic view of the mechanism of implementation by the prosecutor of the function of prosecution in proving corruption crimes in the pre-trial investigation. According to the analysis of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the Court has determined in its decisions the minimum guarantees to be set out in law in order to avoid violating the rights of the person under the Convention in prosecuting evidence in pre-trial evidence; a list of such guarantees is defined. It is emphasized that the stage is a functional element of the mechanism of implementation by the prosecutor of the function of accusation of proof in pre-trial investigation, which is defined as the procedure for the prosecutor to perform various procedural actions. The structural elements of the mechanism for the prosecutor to exercise the function of accusation in proving corruption crimes in the pre-trial investigation are defined as: the legal form of consolidating the procedure for the prosecutor’s function.

Current directions in the development of the general criminalistic through the prism of modern technologies

The article examines some current trends in the development of the general theory of criminalistics in line with the integration and differentiation of scientific knowledge, considering trends in global digitalization and integration of modern technologies in the field of crime investigation. An analysis of current definitions of the subject of criminology given by leading forensic scientists from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and other countries has been carried out, which shows that most of them, one way or another, are consistent with the definition of the subject of science by R. S. Belkin. A comparative analysis of digital criminalistic (V. B. Vekhov and S. V. Zuev), by which the authors understand a particular theory of criminalistics, includes a general part very similar to the general provisions of the theory of information and computer support for criminalistic activities developed by us and a special part that relates first to the development of information and computer support for criminalistic equipment and technology. The ways of developing the theory of criminalistic trace science are outlined, in which, considering new forensic technologies, the relationships between the scene of the incident, the victim, the method of crime and the criminal should be connected through various mechanisms of trace formation. The methods of computer crimes and the concept of constructing information and computer criminalistic models of computer crimes based on the theory of information and computer support for criminalistic activities are considered. The basis was chosen to be correlations between combinations of IT-technologies used to carry out computer crimes, the trace pattern in the form of digital footprints and the level of competence in IT-technologies of the criminal and the victim.

Factors influencing Swedish citizens’ willingness to provide their mobile phones to forensic examination

The willingness of victims to report crimes is declining, which leads to an increase in the dark figure of crime and undermines effective crime control. One possible reason is that victims are reluctant to report crimes if they are required to submit their digital devices for forensic examination. Today, a mobile phone holds vast amounts of information that may be valuable for police forensics experts, showing that victims’ phones could be critical in crime investigations. This interview study has investigated the factors that influence Swedish citizens’ willingness to report crimes when reporting involves surrendering their own mobile phones for forensic analysis. The study also uncovered factors that increase their willingness to report crimes under the same circumstances. The gathered data was subjected to a qualitative analysis with thematic coding, resulting in four distinct themes with 12 categories distributed among them. The analysis reveals that the primary factors affecting Swedish citizens’ willingness to report crimes are privacy concerns, with participants feeling uneasy about others accessing their private data, and anxiety over being separated from their mobile phones. Furthermore, the study yields that the most significant factors for increasing the willingness to report crimes are enhanced information and transparency from the police. Participants suggested that better understanding of the process, and increased openness would increase their willingness to report.

Keystroke Dynamics: Prospects for Comprehensive Law Regulation

The rapid digitalization of all spheres of society leads to the appearance of large volumes of typed texts, as well as the formation of the task of determining the performers of such texts. In this regard, it is necessary to develop applied research on keystroke dynamics, including through the prism of jurisprudence. Author of the article identifies sector of public relations related to ensuring the rights of citizens to personal and family secrets, the secrecy of correspondence; protection and processing of biometric personal data; state registration of persons based on their keystroke dynamics; disclosure and investigation of crimes in which typed texts are the subject of encroachment or the means of committing an illegal act; procedural proof of the involvement or non-involvement of a particular person with the creation of a typed text; as well as with the control of labor discipline and ensuring safety of production processes. In all these areas the beneficial fruits of processing keystroke dynamics is potentially high, that, however, is accompanied by significant risks of protecting information that is harmful to human persons. In this regard, author proposes models of regulatory regulation of all these areas in order to maintain a balance of public and private interests. The author's goal was to justify that the prompt resolution of the problematic issues raised would improve the effectiveness of law enforcement, protect the rights of citizens, and ensure the national security of the state. For this purpose, methods of logical definition of concepts, modeling, questioning, analysis and analogy, as well as systemic legal method were used. Conclusions were formulated about the prospects of both voluntary and mandatory state registration of users of computer devices and the Internet on the basis of their keystroke dynamics at the expense of the resources of the Center for Biometric Technologies. With the help of information from this database, as well as through investigative actions and operational search measures, it is possible to introduce keystroke dynamics into the field of forensic identification of the typist. To do this, it will be necessary to conduct a computer-technical examination, the results of that may be used as the basis for procedural evidence. Automated processing of information about keystroke dynamic can be used to monitor compliance with the work and rest regime by employees, independently fulfill their employer's orders, and prevent accidents at the workplace. Based on the totality of all the considered aspects, it is concluded there is a need for a deep understanding of keystroke dynamics in various fields of jurisprudence. It permits to form a regulatory system for the integrated regulation of public relations related to the processing of this phenomenon.

Proteomics for forensic identification of saliva and vomit in a case of alleged rape.

In crime investigations, the unambiguous identification of biological traces can be decisive for framing the events. In this study, we applied proteomics to analyze scant amounts of biological residues in the context of an alleged rape case, focusing on the detection of traces of vomit. We used high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and two distinct proteomic workflows to identify proteins and possible proteolytic peptides in biological residues from clothing, bedding, and car upholstery from the alleged crime scene. Specifically, a fragment of pillowcase contained a protein pattern indicative of human saliva and a complex panel of peptides resulting from extensive hydrolysis of salivary proteins. The presence of partly digested proteins from bovine meat, wheat, and eggs, along with salivary and gastric enzymes, demonstrated the presence of vomit on the alleged victim's trousers, also providing insights into the recently consumed meal. A drop of cow's milk on the seat of the suspect's car was likely irrelevant to the criminal act. Other fabric samples showed only common contaminants, excluding significant biological traces or food-derived proteins. These findings support the judicial decision regarding consent to sexual intercourse, for which DNA individualization lacks evidentiary power, and establish a reference for annotating saliva and vomit traces in forensic investigations.

Implementation of the Law on the Role of Prosecutors as Corruption Crime Investigation Officers

Corruption is a reality of human conduct in social interactions, considered to be deviating and endangering society and the state. The research conducted is normative-legal, that is, research that uses law as a basis for solving the problems posed, and empirical-legal research through the conduct of interviews. The data used is secondary data and the data collection methods used in this study are library surveys and field surveys. The analysis of data used is qualitative data. Based on the findings, it is believed that the Anti-Corruption Commission can only investigate cases of corruption offenses that have affected state apparatus and have resulted in state financial losses of at least billion rupiah, for this reason the role of prosecutors as investigators in criminal cases is required. Corruption that does not meet the requirements for investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Legal and Non-Judicial Constraints Are Limiting Factors in Corruption Crimes Investigations

Forensic Botany: The Growing Discipline Revolutionizing Plant Science and Criminal Investigations

Introduction: Forensic botany is the study of plants in legal cases. It's a fast-growing field. Changing criminal investigations and plant research. Forensic botanists analyze plant parts. These include seeds, pollen, leaves, and wood. They give vital evidence. It can establish timelines, connect suspects to murder scenes, and locate secret graves. This field is multidisciplinary. It offers new tools for crime investigation. It fuses botanical knowledge with modern forensic procedures. Forensic botany's advancement has a big impact. It affects our understanding of nature and the law. Aim and objectives: This study aimed to observe the forensic botany growing discipline revolutionizing plant science and criminal investigations. Materials: This Observational Study outline offers a thorough method for forensic botany, facilitating accurate identification of plants and making a major contribution to criminal investigations. The all-encompassing method highlights the interdisciplinary nature of this developing discipline by fusing cutting-edge molecular and chemical investigations with conventional botanical procedures. Results: This page provides details on a number of fields. subfields within forensic botany. The several fields of forensic botany. The right order for forensic evidence the identification of evidence at the criminal scene must come first. The second, and no less crucial, need is that the evidence be thoroughly recorded. In order to retain the integrity of the evidence, collecting and preservation must be maintained. As with any sort of evidence, investigators are attempting to create links or linkages between the suspect, victim, scene, and particular things. The study's overall findings support the usefulness of forensic botany as a tool in criminal investigations. It provides a scientific basis for linking suspects to crime scenes, reconstructing events, and uncovering vital evidence. Conclusion: The study's results highlight a potential link. It's between forensic botany and criminal investigations. The use of plant evidence to support forensic death investigations is known as forensic botany. Plants can give useful information. By analyzing plant evidence, forensic investigators can find key information. It can help solve cases and catch criminals.

Police Involvement in Corruption Crime Investigations

Various rules and regulations enacted to replace prior legislation have not ensured success in combating corruption in Indonesia. The existence of several laws governing the authority and obligations of each law enforcement officer, such as the police, prosecutors, judges, and the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK), has resulted in ambiguity in their authority or over-lapping authority granted by the state, creating a false perception. For example, the police as investigators believe they are authorized to investigate corruption cases in addition to prosecutors and the KPK. This research focuses on two issues. The first is what is the role of the police in in-vestigating corruption cases? And the second question is what procedures do the police carry out in investigating corruption crimes? The findings show that there has been no cooperation in the form of laws and regulations between police investigators and other law enforcement agencies such as the Prosecutor's Office and the KPK, so it is urgent that a law be enacted that clearly and in detail regulates the authority, cooperation, and coordination in investigating corruption, so that it becomes more effective and can be implemented.

Big data and machine learning in digital forensics: Predictive technology for proactive crime prevention

The integration of big data analytics and machine learning [ML] has transformed digital forensics, enabling predictive technologies that proactively prevent cybercrimes and enhance crime investigation processes. As cyber threats grow in scale and complexity, traditional forensic methods face limitations in scalability, efficiency, and accuracy. Big data platforms, such as Hadoop and Spark, combined with advanced ML techniques, offer revolutionary approaches to address these challenges. By analysing vast datasets—including network traces, file metadata, and logs—big data enables the identification of hidden patterns and trends in criminal activities. Simultaneously, ML models, such as supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms, facilitate anomaly detection, predictive risk assessment, and real-time analysis. This article explores how the synergy of big data and ML advances digital forensics by automating large-scale forensic processes, identifying potential cyber threats, and predicting high-risk scenarios. It also discusses the integration of predictive technologies into forensic frameworks, examining the role of automation and real-time analytics in strengthening investigations. The challenges of implementing big data and ML, including issues of data quality, ethical concerns, and legal compliance, are critically analysed. Finally, the article highlights future trends, such as the role of quantum computing and explainable AI, in shaping the future of digital forensics. By providing a comprehensive overview of the field, this study emphasizes the transformative potential of big data and ML in proactive crime prevention, offering insights for researchers, regulators, and industry stakeholders.

JUVENILE VICTIMS OF CRIMES AGAINST SEXUAL INVIOLABILITY COMMITTED IN THE FAMILY (VICTIMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONALITY AND THEIR USE IN THE INVESTIGATION)

The article examines the content of the age structure of criminal victimization of minors victims of crimes against sexual integrity in the family . The necessity of identifying the causes and characteristics of juvenile victims of crimes in the categories of cases under consideration is argued in order to solve certain tactical tasks and select special tactical techniques when conducting investigative actions .Based on scientific knowledge in the field of criminology and victimology, the author conducts a comprehensive analysis of the psychological characteristics of victim behavior of juvenile victims, considering victimological characteristics in accordance with their age parameters, in relation to the mechanism of the crime, in the interaction of the dyad “juvenile victim - criminal” .The research uses general scientific methods of dialectical epistemology in combination with private scientific methods: comparative method and method of multifactor analysis, a systematic, integrated and differentiated approach is carried out . The empirical basis of the research is the materials of investigative and judicial practice, as well as the author’s own experience of investigative actions .As a result of the research work, the author comes to the conclusion that the identification and differentiation of the age characteristics of juvenile victims, the typification of victim behavior and victim potential of families of the so-called risk group is of applied importance: it allows making optimal tactical decisions during the investigation of crimes against the sexual integrity of minors committed in the family, and is also used for the development of measures to prevent victimization in children and adolescents .