Pub Date : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101345
Philip J.H. Dunn , Christopher Brodie , Ethan Strak , James F. Carter
The Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) Network announce the publication of the Third Edition of the Good Practice Guide for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. In the third edition, changes include a new chapter on sampling covering method of sampling a population, sampling for homogeneity testing of a material as well as considerations for measurement uncertainty arising from sampling. The measurement uncertainty section has been revised and expanded to touch on alternative methods to combine uncertainty components together. Methods for measurement of water isotopic composition using equilibration have also been added. Additional detail has been included to expand on topics such as the difference between a reference gas and a working gas, additional tests that might be performed to check instrumental performance and initial data processing such as peak identification amongst others.
{"title":"The Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) network Good Practice Guide for Isotope Ratio Mass spectrometry 3rd edition","authors":"Philip J.H. Dunn , Christopher Brodie , Ethan Strak , James F. Carter","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101345","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101345","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) Network announce the publication of the Third Edition of the <em>Good Practice Guide for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry</em>. In the third edition, changes include a new chapter on sampling covering method of sampling a population, sampling for homogeneity testing of a material as well as considerations for measurement uncertainty arising from sampling. The measurement uncertainty section has been revised and expanded to touch on alternative methods to combine uncertainty components together. Methods for measurement of water isotopic composition using equilibration have also been added. Additional detail has been included to expand on topics such as the difference between a reference gas and a working gas, additional tests that might be performed to check instrumental performance and initial data processing such as peak identification amongst others.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101345"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-12DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101344
Xinggong Liang , Gongji Wang , Han Wang , Zhengyang Zhu , Wanqing Zhang , Yuqian Li , Jianliang Luo , Shuo Wu , Run Chen , Mingyan Deng , Hao Wu , Chen Shen , Gengwang Hu , Kai Zhang , Qinru Sun , Zhenyuan Wang
Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial in forensic investigations but remains challenging due to environmental, individual, and cause-of-death variables. Traditional methods relying on postmortem changes (e.g., livor mortis, rigor mortis) are subjective and limited, especially for late PMI. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational pathology, particularly whole-slide imaging (WSI), enable data-driven PMI estimation by analyzing digital pathology images with high precision and reproducibility. Building on previous successes in using AI to estimate PMI in uninfected conditions, this study extends the method to bacterially infected mouse cadavers (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) under varying temperatures (25 °C, 37 °C, and 4 °C). The results demonstrate the model’s robustness in diverse scenarios, achieving micro- and macro-area under the curve values (AUCs) of at least 0.873 (patch-level) and 0.717 (WSI-level) in training and testing sets, and no less than 0.948 (patch-level) in external validation. By leveraging easily prepared pathological sections and AI algorithms, this approach offers a practical, objective, and scalable solution for PMI estimation, enhancing forensic workflows. The integration of computational pathology with forensic science establishes a new technical benchmark for PMI estimation in both infected and uninfected cases.
{"title":"Artificial intelligence-assisted estimation of postmortem intervals in bacterially infected cadavers using pathological imaging across variable temperature conditions","authors":"Xinggong Liang , Gongji Wang , Han Wang , Zhengyang Zhu , Wanqing Zhang , Yuqian Li , Jianliang Luo , Shuo Wu , Run Chen , Mingyan Deng , Hao Wu , Chen Shen , Gengwang Hu , Kai Zhang , Qinru Sun , Zhenyuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial in forensic investigations but remains challenging due to environmental, individual, and cause-of-death variables. Traditional methods relying on postmortem changes (e.g., livor mortis, rigor mortis) are subjective and limited, especially for late PMI. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational pathology, particularly whole-slide imaging (WSI), enable data-driven PMI estimation by analyzing digital pathology images with high precision and reproducibility. Building on previous successes in using AI to estimate PMI in uninfected conditions, this study extends the method to bacterially infected mouse cadavers (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) under varying temperatures (25 °C, 37 °C, and 4 °C). The results demonstrate the model’s robustness in diverse scenarios, achieving micro- and macro-area under the curve values (AUCs) of at least 0.873 (patch-level) and 0.717 (WSI-level) in training and testing sets, and no less than 0.948 (patch-level) in external validation. By leveraging easily prepared pathological sections and AI algorithms, this approach offers a practical, objective, and scalable solution for PMI estimation, enhancing forensic workflows. The integration of computational pathology with forensic science establishes a new technical benchmark for PMI estimation in both infected and uninfected cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101344"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-04DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101343
Bok-Chan Go , Jiwon Shin , Sungwook Hong
It is known that the physical and chemical properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS) surfaces are altered upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light; however, the implications for latent fingermark visualization have not been fully explored. In this study, EPS surfaces were exposed to UV light (253.7 nm) either before or after fingermark deposition and subsequently treated with five visualization techniques: Dazzle yellow, cyanoacrylate fuming (CA) followed by fluorescent dye staining, Lumicyano, small particle reagent (SPR), and Nile red. When illuminated with a blue or green forensic light source, photoluminescence was observed exclusively on UV-exposed surfaces, allowing clear differentiation between UV-exposed and unexposed EPS. Experimental results indicated that Nile red produced the highest-quality fingermarks on unexposed EPS surfaces, while Dazzle yellow and Nile red were most effective for UV-exposed surfaces. In contrast, CA followed by rhodamine 6G staining (CA/R6G) and Lumicyano methods exhibited markedly reduced performance on UV-exposed EPS due to photochemically induced surface alterations. These findings highlight the importance of assessing UV exposure prior to fingermark development and suggest appropriate visualization methods based on surface condition.
{"title":"Effects of ultraviolet exposure on latent fingermark visualization on expanded polystyrene surfaces","authors":"Bok-Chan Go , Jiwon Shin , Sungwook Hong","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is known that the physical and chemical properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS) surfaces are altered upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light; however, the implications for latent fingermark visualization have not been fully explored. In this study, EPS surfaces were exposed to UV light (253.7 nm) either before or after fingermark deposition and subsequently treated with five visualization techniques: Dazzle yellow, cyanoacrylate fuming (CA) followed by fluorescent dye staining, Lumicyano, small particle reagent (SPR), and Nile red. When illuminated with a blue or green forensic light source, photoluminescence was observed exclusively on UV-exposed surfaces, allowing clear differentiation between UV-exposed and unexposed EPS. Experimental results indicated that Nile red produced the highest-quality fingermarks on unexposed EPS surfaces, while Dazzle yellow and Nile red were most effective for UV-exposed surfaces. In contrast, CA followed by rhodamine 6G staining (CA/R6G) and Lumicyano methods exhibited markedly reduced performance on UV-exposed EPS due to photochemically induced surface alterations. These findings highlight the importance of assessing UV exposure prior to fingermark development and suggest appropriate visualization methods based on surface condition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101343"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-04DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101340
Karl Ebejer
{"title":"Letter to the editor: “A preliminary survey of ethnic diversity and experience of discrimination in forensic science in the UK”","authors":"Karl Ebejer","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101340","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101337
Arvid Sjölander , Gustav Lindkvist
The use of probability theory and statistical reasoning in legal contexts is controversial, with several well-known thought experiments highlighting perceived paradoxes. One example is the small town murder problem, recently discussed by de Zoete et al., who argued that the perceived paradoxes arise from a failure to properly distinguish between hypotheses and evidence, and can be resolved using Bayesian networks. While we agree with their general conclusions, we contend that their analysis of the small town murder problem overlooks a central issue and underutilizes the full potential of Bayesian modeling. In this note, we propose an alternative analysis of the problem, drawing on well-known results on conditioning on a common effect of two factors.
{"title":"Competing explanations in Bayesian networks — The small town murder problem revisited","authors":"Arvid Sjölander , Gustav Lindkvist","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of probability theory and statistical reasoning in legal contexts is controversial, with several well-known thought experiments highlighting perceived paradoxes. One example is the small town murder problem, recently discussed by de Zoete et al., who argued that the perceived paradoxes arise from a failure to properly distinguish between hypotheses and evidence, and can be resolved using Bayesian networks. While we agree with their general conclusions, we contend that their analysis of the small town murder problem overlooks a central issue and underutilizes the full potential of Bayesian modeling. In this note, we propose an alternative analysis of the problem, drawing on well-known results on conditioning on a common effect of two factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101341
Saule A. Mussabekova , Nunzianda Frascione , Laura B. Assylbayeva
This systematic review examines the forensic value of condom residue detection in biological samples, particularly in sexual assault investigations where DNA evidence is absent. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Google Scholar), two trial registers (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP), and four grey literature sources (PQDT, WorldCat, OATD, F1000). Studies published in English from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2025, were screened using predefined PICO(S) criteria. Eight eligible studies involving human matrices were included. The analytical techniques assessed included DRIFTS-FTIR, ATR-FTIR, Py-GC/MS, GC–MS, and sfPESI-MS. DRIFTS-FTIR demonstrated strong spectral resolution for detecting PDMS-based silicone lubricants, while ATR-FTIR achieved 100 % classification accuracy under controlled laboratory conditions. The combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques (e.g., ATR-FTIR + GC–MS) yielded more reliable and confirmatory results. The risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool for experimental studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for case reports. Key limitations included small sample sizes, variability in collection protocols, and the lack of validated field methods. Overall, the findings highlight the need for methodological integration and standardisation in forensic lubricant trace analysis. PROSPERO registration: CRD420251004301. No external funding was received.
{"title":"Forensic significance of condom traces in sexual assault investigations: A systematic review","authors":"Saule A. Mussabekova , Nunzianda Frascione , Laura B. Assylbayeva","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic review examines the forensic value of condom residue detection in biological samples, particularly in sexual assault investigations where DNA evidence is absent. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Google Scholar), two trial registers (<span><span>ClinicalTrials.gov</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>, WHO ICTRP), and four grey literature sources (PQDT, WorldCat, OATD, F1000). Studies published in English from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2025, were screened using predefined PICO(S) criteria. Eight eligible studies involving human matrices were included. The analytical techniques assessed included DRIFTS-FTIR, ATR-FTIR, Py-GC/MS, GC–MS, and sfPESI-MS. DRIFTS-FTIR demonstrated strong spectral resolution for detecting PDMS-based silicone lubricants, while ATR-FTIR achieved 100 % classification accuracy under controlled laboratory conditions. The combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques (e.g., ATR-FTIR + GC–MS) yielded more reliable and confirmatory results. The risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool for experimental studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for case reports. Key limitations included small sample sizes, variability in collection protocols, and the lack of validated field methods. Overall, the findings highlight the need for methodological integration and standardisation in forensic lubricant trace analysis. PROSPERO registration: CRD420251004301. No external funding was received.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101341"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-23DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101336
Janet Stacey , Stephanie Opperman , James M. Curran , Sally Ann Harbison
This article examines the current state and challenges surrounding the global adoption of evaluative reporting of forensic findings given activity-level propositions. Evaluative reporting provides a structured and objective assessment of findings that can be used in judicial proceedings. The assessment of findings given activity-level propositions addresses ‘how’ and ‘when’ questions about the presence of forensic evidence. This is often the question of interest to the fact-finder. Practitioners are finding that they face such questions on the witness stand with increasing frequency. Despite its importance, widespread adoption has been hampered by several barriers. This article explores various concerns raised by the forensic community in different jurisdictions. This includes reticence toward suggested methodologies, concern about a lack of robust and impartial data to inform probabilities, regional differences in regulatory frameworks and methodology, and the availability of training and resources to implement evaluations given activity-level propositions. Suggestions are made for overcoming these barriers and fostering greater global integration of activity-level evaluative reporting. By addressing these barriers, the credibility and utility of forensic evaluations (of evidence considering activity-level propositions) in both legal and investigative contexts can be improved internationally.
{"title":"Current state and barriers to global adoption of forensic evaluative reporting of findings given activity-level propositions","authors":"Janet Stacey , Stephanie Opperman , James M. Curran , Sally Ann Harbison","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article examines the current state and challenges surrounding the global adoption of evaluative reporting of forensic findings given activity-level propositions. Evaluative reporting provides a structured and objective assessment of findings that can be used in judicial proceedings. The assessment of findings given activity-level propositions addresses ‘how’ and ‘when’ questions about the presence of forensic evidence. This is often the question of interest to the fact-finder. Practitioners are finding that they face such questions on the witness stand with increasing frequency. Despite its importance, widespread adoption has been hampered by several barriers. This article explores various concerns raised by the forensic community in different jurisdictions. This includes reticence toward suggested methodologies, concern about a lack of robust and impartial data to inform probabilities, regional differences in regulatory frameworks and methodology, and the availability of training and resources to implement evaluations given activity-level propositions. Suggestions are made for overcoming these barriers and fostering greater global integration of activity-level evaluative reporting. By addressing these barriers, the credibility and utility of forensic evaluations (of evidence considering activity-level propositions) in both legal and investigative contexts can be improved internationally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101336"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-21DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101339
Michael Joseph Dino , Patrick Tracy Balbin , Chloe Margalaux R. Villafuerte , Mayelle S. Magat-Pangilinan , John David , Princess Alyssa Tee , Lothes Samante , Vincent Acena , Michael Salinas , Emily Daquioag , Banjelyn Lazaro
The use of extended reality (XR), an umbrella term encompassing alternative reality technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, has become increasingly prevalent in various fields of literature over the last few decades. However, there is a limited understanding of XR utilization and integration in forensic science. This integrative review synthesized existing evidence on how XR is being utilized in forensic science. We performed literature searches in four databases and identified 21 articles published between 2010 and 2023 for final analysis. Bibliometric information indicates that most publications (81 %) were published between 2019 and 2023, predominantly in European regions (67 %), in non-forensic journals. Methodologically, qualitative approaches (67 %) were common in evaluating XR usability. Its applications are clustered into either practice (57 %) or education (43 %) domains. Virtual reality (67 %) was more prevalent in XR environments than augmented or mixed realities. Head-mounted devices are the main XR system used in forensic science. While XR offers promising practical and educational applications in forensic science, these findings underscore the need for more robust evidence and the development of transparent, repeatable, and standardized protocols that align with decision-making and accountability in forensic science.
{"title":"Extended reality in forensic sciences: An integrative review","authors":"Michael Joseph Dino , Patrick Tracy Balbin , Chloe Margalaux R. Villafuerte , Mayelle S. Magat-Pangilinan , John David , Princess Alyssa Tee , Lothes Samante , Vincent Acena , Michael Salinas , Emily Daquioag , Banjelyn Lazaro","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of extended reality (XR), an umbrella term encompassing alternative reality technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, has become increasingly prevalent in various fields of literature over the last few decades. However, there is a limited understanding of XR utilization and integration in forensic science. This integrative review synthesized existing evidence on how XR is being utilized in forensic science. We performed literature searches in four databases and identified 21 articles published between 2010 and 2023 for final analysis. Bibliometric information indicates that most publications (81 %) were published between 2019 and 2023, predominantly in European regions (67 %), in non-forensic journals. Methodologically, qualitative approaches (67 %) were common in evaluating XR usability. Its applications are clustered into either practice (57 %) or education (43 %) domains. Virtual reality (67 %) was more prevalent in XR environments than augmented or mixed realities. Head-mounted devices are the main XR system used in forensic science. While XR offers promising practical and educational applications in forensic science, these findings underscore the need for more robust evidence and the development of transparent, repeatable, and standardized protocols that align with decision-making and accountability in forensic science.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101339"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101338
Carlos Antonio Vicentin Junior , Raíssa Bastos Vieira , Pércio Almeida Fistarol Filho , Lehi Sudy dos Santos , Melina Calmon Silva , Michele Avila dos Santos , Carlos Eduardo Palhares Machado
Trace evidence plays a critical role in forensic reconstructions, especially when involving microscopic materials transferred during projectile impacts. This study investigated the adherence of blue jeans fibers to 9 mm caliber projectiles, evaluating six projectile collection methods—PVC tube filled with cotton, PVC tube filled with cotton waste, water tank, ballistic vest plates (Kevlar®), combination of cardboard and ballistic plates, and motorcycle tire combined with ballistic plates—and comparing two ammunition types: hollow-point (HP) and full metal jacket (FMJ). Digital microscopy enabled high-resolution, non-destructive analysis of fiber adherence. HP projectiles retained blue jeans fibers in 94.4 % of cases, significantly more than FMJ projectiles (22.2 %), with a highly significant association. Fiber presence was most frequently observed at the projectile tip and within the HP cavity. Barriers using cotton provided optimal conditions for fiber preservation and minimal visual contamination, whereas water tanks caused fragmentation in HP projectiles and the other materials resulted in considerable deformation and visual contamination, hindering analysis. These findings confirm the superior capacity of HP projectiles to retain microtraces and establish cotton-filled PVC tubes as an effective method for ballistic evidence recovery. Therefore, the use of hollow-point projectiles combined with the cotton-filled PVC tube collection technique is recommended for ballistic tests involving textile microtrace analysis. The study also emphasizes that the absence of visible fibers should not be interpreted as a lack of fabric interaction.
{"title":"Firearm projectile collection techniques: A comparative study on the retention of textile fibers adhered during projectile perforation of denim fabric","authors":"Carlos Antonio Vicentin Junior , Raíssa Bastos Vieira , Pércio Almeida Fistarol Filho , Lehi Sudy dos Santos , Melina Calmon Silva , Michele Avila dos Santos , Carlos Eduardo Palhares Machado","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trace evidence plays a critical role in forensic reconstructions, especially when involving microscopic materials transferred during projectile impacts. This study investigated the adherence of blue jeans fibers to 9 mm caliber projectiles, evaluating six projectile collection methods—PVC tube filled with cotton, PVC tube filled with cotton waste, water tank, ballistic vest plates (Kevlar®), combination of cardboard and ballistic plates, and motorcycle tire combined with ballistic plates—and comparing two ammunition types: hollow-point (HP) and full metal jacket (FMJ). Digital microscopy enabled high-resolution, non-destructive analysis of fiber adherence. HP projectiles retained blue jeans fibers in 94.4 % of cases, significantly more than FMJ projectiles (22.2 %), with a highly significant association. Fiber presence was most frequently observed at the projectile tip and within the HP cavity. Barriers using cotton provided optimal conditions for fiber preservation and minimal visual contamination, whereas water tanks caused fragmentation in HP projectiles and the other materials resulted in considerable deformation and visual contamination, hindering analysis. These findings confirm the superior capacity of HP projectiles to retain microtraces and establish cotton-filled PVC tubes as an effective method for ballistic evidence recovery. Therefore, the use of hollow-point projectiles combined with the cotton-filled PVC tube collection technique is recommended for ballistic tests involving textile microtrace analysis. The study also emphasizes that the absence of visible fibers should not be interpreted as a lack of fabric interaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101338"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145106998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101335
Bai-En Guo , Yao Shen , Zhi-Fei Zhou , Xing Liu , Yu-Xin Wei , Lei Yang
Gun violence continues to be a significant global issue, causing countless innocent lives to be lost each year. This study explores deep learning for automated fired bullet marking classification. To address inconsistent results from examiners’ subjective same-source judgment, we automate classification to boost forensic firearm examination accuracy and reduce subjectivity. We collected a dataset of 6000 fired bullets from six types of standard-issue firearms commonly used by Chinese law enforcement agencies. Panoramic images of the lateral surfaces of the bullets were captured using the BalScan system. To create diverse and informative inputs for our deep learning model, we employed three distinct image preprocessing strategies: panoramic imaging, land engraved area (LEA) segmentation (the area with striations and grooves created by the gun barrel’s rifling), and line segmentation. Then, we fine-tuned the advanced pre-trained ResNet50 network on this dataset, specifically designed for image classification tasks. Our experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach, achieving high classification accuracy across different firearm types. Notably, the LEA segmentation strategy outperformed the other methods, highlighting the importance of focusing on specific regions of interest for accurate classification. To specify, our algorithm with the LEA segmentation strategy achieves a classification accuracy of 97.2% for six types of firearms with highly similar bullet rifling marks, while attaining 100.0% accuracy for firearms exhibiting significant differences in rifling characteristics, demonstrating a clear superiority over other algorithms. This study paves the way for further research and development in the field of forensic firearm examination through AI-driven solutions, aiming to improve the efficiency and accuracy of firearm identification and investigation processes.
{"title":"Advanced deep learning for automatic classification of fired bullets from standard-issue firearms","authors":"Bai-En Guo , Yao Shen , Zhi-Fei Zhou , Xing Liu , Yu-Xin Wei , Lei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gun violence continues to be a significant global issue, causing countless innocent lives to be lost each year. This study explores deep learning for automated fired bullet marking classification. To address inconsistent results from examiners’ subjective same-source judgment, we automate classification to boost forensic firearm examination accuracy and reduce subjectivity. We collected a dataset of 6000 fired bullets from six types of standard-issue firearms commonly used by Chinese law enforcement agencies. Panoramic images of the lateral surfaces of the bullets were captured using the BalScan system. To create diverse and informative inputs for our deep learning model, we employed three distinct image preprocessing strategies: panoramic imaging, land engraved area (LEA) segmentation (the area with striations and grooves created by the gun barrel’s rifling), and line segmentation. Then, we fine-tuned the advanced pre-trained ResNet50 network on this dataset, specifically designed for image classification tasks. Our experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach, achieving high classification accuracy across different firearm types. Notably, the LEA segmentation strategy outperformed the other methods, highlighting the importance of focusing on specific regions of interest for accurate classification. To specify, our algorithm with the LEA segmentation strategy achieves a classification accuracy of 97.2% for six types of firearms with highly similar bullet rifling marks, while attaining 100.0% accuracy for firearms exhibiting significant differences in rifling characteristics, demonstrating a clear superiority over other algorithms. This study paves the way for further research and development in the field of forensic firearm examination through AI-driven solutions, aiming to improve the efficiency and accuracy of firearm identification and investigation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 6","pages":"Article 101335"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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