Pub Date : 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101298
Nina Sunde , Olav Dahl
Digital evidence plays a critical role in solving crimes, making its quality essential. This study examines the implementation of a structured, checklist-based peer review process for technical analysis reports within digital forensic units of the Norwegian Police. It incorporates two data collections: a qualitative study based on interviews following a trial implementation, and a quantitative survey assessing peer review practices one year after the trial. Using Normalisation Process Theory, the study retrospectively analyses the trial phase and prospectively evaluates the post-trial phase. Results indicate that during the trial, coherence and cognitive participation were achieved to the greatest extent, whereas collective action and reflexive monitoring were achieved to a limited extent. One year later, survey findings suggest further strengthening of cognitive participation and reflexive monitoring, while collective action remained underdeveloped. Additionally, the distinction between systematic checklist-based peer review and intuitive review practices appears to have become increasingly blurred. These findings highlight the need for a systematic and coordinated effort to ensure the sustainable implementation and normalisation of structured peer review practices in digital forensic units.
{"title":"From intuitive to structured quality control: implementing checklist-based peer reviews of reports in Norwegian digital forensic units","authors":"Nina Sunde , Olav Dahl","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital evidence plays a critical role in solving crimes, making its quality essential. This study examines the implementation of a structured, checklist-based peer review process for technical analysis reports within digital forensic units of the Norwegian Police. It incorporates two data collections: a qualitative study based on interviews following a trial implementation, and a quantitative survey assessing peer review practices one year after the trial. Using Normalisation Process Theory, the study retrospectively analyses the trial phase and prospectively evaluates the post-trial phase. Results indicate that during the trial, coherence and cognitive participation were achieved to the greatest extent, whereas collective action and reflexive monitoring were achieved to a limited extent. One year later, survey findings suggest further strengthening of cognitive participation and reflexive monitoring, while collective action remained underdeveloped. Additionally, the distinction between systematic checklist-based peer review and intuitive review practices appears to have become increasingly blurred. These findings highlight the need for a systematic and coordinated effort to ensure the sustainable implementation and normalisation of structured peer review practices in digital forensic units.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101298"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297196","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 : 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101299
Sofia Vráblová , Vasiliki Louka
This review explores the geographical distribution of human taphonomy facilities (HTFs) in connection to climate and homicide rates from the 50 most impacted cities worldwide. Existing HTFs depict temperate climates, omitting tropical and arid areas. This underrepresentation impairs accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) estimates and limits the applicability of findings to global contexts.
A comprehensive review of the status quo and research in existing HTFs and an analysis of climate data were conducted, including their climate classifications, annual temperatures, and precipitation. This was compared with climate data of the 50 cities with the highest homicide rates. Homicides are the most commonly encountered context for which the estimation of PMI is crucial and has close connection to research conducted in HTFs. Several of these cities (54%) are in tropical climates, and 10% are in arid climates, both lacking adequate representation in taphonomic research.
To narrow down a list of suitable locations for future HTFs to address the gap, the analysis examines average annual temperature and rainfall. A notable lack of taphonomy studies in regions with high temperatures and significant rainfall was identified. Consequently, this review highlights five cities in South and Southeast Asia—Colombo, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, and Singapore—as optimal locations for establishing new HTFs based on high average annual temperatures (26–30 degrees Celsius) and substantial annual precipitation (over 2,000 mm). These represent model conditions for studying the rapid decomposition processes typical of tropical climates.
The status of the suggested cities and their suitability for the establishment of a new HTF was discussed and compared with the existing taphonomic facilities in North America, Europe and Australia. Regional, cultural and legal implications were considered as well as available frameworks for body donations in the countries and cities of choice. The establishment of a potential HTF in one of the selected cities and countries would promote the development of taphonomic research in these areas, contribute with new climate datasets and address existing casework problems in these areas and neighbouring countries. By expanding research to include a variety of climate types, it would be possible to develop accurate and region-specific PMI estimation models and improve the reliability of forensic investigations.
{"title":"Addressing underrepresented homicide and climate data in forensic science: The case for new human taphonomy facilities in tropical regions","authors":"Sofia Vráblová , Vasiliki Louka","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review explores the geographical distribution of human taphonomy facilities (HTFs) in connection to climate and homicide rates from the 50 most impacted cities worldwide. Existing HTFs depict temperate climates, omitting tropical and arid areas. This underrepresentation impairs accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) estimates and limits the applicability of findings to global contexts.</div><div>A comprehensive review of the status quo and research in existing HTFs and an analysis of climate data were conducted, including their climate classifications, annual temperatures, and precipitation. This was compared with climate data of the 50 cities with the highest homicide rates. Homicides are the most commonly encountered context for which the estimation of PMI is crucial and has close connection to research conducted in HTFs. Several of these cities (54%) are in tropical climates, and 10% are in arid climates, both lacking adequate representation in taphonomic research.</div><div>To narrow down a list of suitable locations for future HTFs to address the gap, the analysis examines average annual temperature and rainfall. A notable lack of taphonomy studies in regions with high temperatures and significant rainfall was identified. Consequently, this review highlights five cities in South and Southeast Asia—Colombo, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, and Singapore—as optimal locations for establishing new HTFs based on high average annual temperatures (26–30 degrees Celsius) and substantial annual precipitation (over 2,000 mm). These represent model conditions for studying the rapid decomposition processes typical of tropical climates.</div><div>The status of the suggested cities and their suitability for the establishment of a new HTF was discussed and compared with the existing taphonomic facilities in North America, Europe and Australia. Regional, cultural and legal implications were considered as well as available frameworks for body donations in the countries and cities of choice. The establishment of a potential HTF in one of the selected cities and countries would promote the development of taphonomic research in these areas, contribute with new climate datasets and address existing casework problems in these areas and neighbouring countries. By expanding research to include a variety of climate types, it would be possible to develop accurate and region-specific PMI estimation models and improve the reliability of forensic investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297008","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}
Recruitment of high-calibre crime scene investigation candidates is a complex and important task for police managers. Genuine interest in a crime scene examiner (CSE) position might be a good indicator for recruitment strategies, as research has shown that good fits between vocational interest and work position can lead to better retention, motivation, commitment, job satisfaction and performance. Still, knowledge of the dynamics of interest in a CSE position among the pool of potential candidates remains scarce. Thus, this study uses a longitudinal research design to explore the evolution of 300 police recruits’ interest in a CSE position throughout their police training curriculum. It shows that police recruits’ interest in such a position is notably lower than their interest in other police roles. Findings also suggest that for many recruits, interest in a CSE position tends to decline over the course of their training, varying by gender, initial level of interest for the job, and the evolution of interest in other police functions. Accordingly, this research calls for further studies on police officers’ aspirations to pursue a CSE career and advises caution in using genuine interests as a recruitment indicator, as a candidate’s interest at a given moment may not reliably predict their long-term work orientation.
{"title":"Do future police officers want to pursue a crime scene examiner career? Exploring stability and change in police recruits’ interest in crime scene investigation","authors":"Vincent Mousseau , Annie Gendron , Frédéric Ouellet , Rémi Boivin","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recruitment of high-calibre crime scene investigation candidates is a complex and important task for police managers. Genuine interest in a crime scene examiner (CSE) position might be a good indicator for recruitment strategies, as research has shown that good fits between vocational interest and work position can lead to better retention, motivation, commitment, job satisfaction and performance. Still, knowledge of the dynamics of interest in a CSE position among the pool of potential candidates remains scarce. Thus, this study uses a longitudinal research design to explore the evolution of 300 police recruits’ interest in a CSE position throughout their police training curriculum. It shows that police recruits’ interest in such a position is notably lower than their interest in other police roles. Findings also suggest that for many recruits, interest in a CSE position tends to decline over the course of their training, varying by gender, initial level of interest for the job, and the evolution of interest in other police functions. Accordingly, this research calls for further studies on police officers’ aspirations to pursue a CSE career and advises caution in using genuine interests as a recruitment indicator, as a candidate’s interest at a given moment may not reliably predict their long-term work orientation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 4","pages":"Article 101281"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144115575","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 : 2025-05-17DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101280
Ioan Marginean
This article presents a framework to promote creativity and critical thinking skills in students in a way that is both enjoyable and academically rigorous. The students are encouraged to imagine a crime scenario, as a pretext for exploring various scientific topics of their choice. The assignment empowers students to take charge of their own learning by focusing on a type of crime that they want to learn more about and describe its investigation. Throughout the semester, they practice divergent thinking and problem-solving as they consider various social and cultural factors that may affect their scenario. To ensure continuous progress, they provide information about their scenario for formative assessment throughout the semester. Shortly after the beginning of the semester, they choose a type of crime, its location, and the main characters involved (victim, investigative team, suspects). They eventually decide how the characters interact during the investigation, what evidence is recovered from the crime scene or from the suspects, how the evidence is collected and analyzed, and how the evidence leads to the apprehension of the perpetrator. Their plot must include two investigative errors, which challenges them to think what can go wrong during an investigation. The summative assessment evaluated both a written narrative and a class presentation of the crime scenario. To practice analysis and evaluation skills, all students use a rubric to assess all presentations. The project has been assigned in an introductory Forensic Science course for three semesters so far. The quality of student scenarios varied and correlated reasonably well with the student performance in other aspects of the course. The students enjoyed creating their own crime scenarios and trying to solve the scenarios imagined by their peers.
{"title":"Engaging students through storytelling: A fictitious crime project","authors":"Ioan Marginean","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article presents a framework to promote creativity and critical thinking skills in students in a way that is both enjoyable and academically rigorous. The students are encouraged to imagine a crime scenario, as a pretext for exploring various scientific topics of their choice. The assignment empowers students to take charge of their own learning by focusing on a type of crime that they want to learn more about and describe its investigation. Throughout the semester, they practice divergent thinking and problem-solving as they consider various social and cultural factors that may affect their scenario. To ensure continuous progress, they provide information about their scenario for formative assessment throughout the semester. Shortly after the beginning of the semester, they choose a type of crime, its location, and the main characters involved (victim, investigative team, suspects). They eventually decide how the characters interact during the investigation, what evidence is recovered from the crime scene or from the suspects, how the evidence is collected and analyzed, and how the evidence leads to the apprehension of the perpetrator. Their plot must include two investigative errors, which challenges them to think what can go wrong during an investigation. The summative assessment evaluated both a written narrative and a class presentation of the crime scenario. To practice analysis and evaluation skills, all students use a rubric to assess all presentations. The project has been assigned in an introductory Forensic Science course for three semesters so far. The quality of student scenarios varied and correlated reasonably well with the student performance in other aspects of the course. The students enjoyed creating their own crime scenarios and trying to solve the scenarios imagined by their peers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 4","pages":"Article 101280"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124146","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 : 2025-05-14DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101279
Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul
Latent fingermarks are dynamic and three-dimensional (3D) topographical structures that degrade over time due to natural aging and/or depletion of skin secretions from consecutive depositions. Being able to recognize either process by optical methods is challenging but crucial for potentially reconstructing a crime’s timeline based on measurable data. This proof-of-concept study assessed two distinct chronomorphometric techniques—3D-Sa (average ridge height) and 2D-BG (relative area of clear ridge detail)—to describe physical differences during the aforementioned time-dependent degradation processes. These metrics measured different aspects of ridge topography that were objective and analyzable. For 3D-Sa, a non-destructive optical profilometer was utilized, while conventional powdering with two distinct enhancers (i.e., BMP and TiO2) was performed for 2D-BG. A total of seven independent and standardized experiments were combined involving 63 different participants (33 males and 30 females), generating 2,106 fingermark images. Ridge impressions were prepared under controlled pressure on glass microscope slides and aged in darkness in a monitored indoor environment. Both metrics successfully detected changes over time and across successive depositions as well as between the two temporal processes, with 3D-Sa showing higher efficiency in some instances. The effectiveness of 2D-BG was clearly dependent on the developer type. While the study was limited by factors such as indoor conditions and the use of a single substrate type (glass), these results provided preliminary data into the strengths and weaknesses of 2D and 3D analysis for dating purposes. It also suggested the potential application of this method in forensic research and, theoretically, in crime scene reconstruction.
{"title":"A preliminary study on temporal processes of latent fingermark degradation: Aged vs depleted impressions","authors":"Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Latent fingermarks are dynamic and three-dimensional (3D) topographical structures that degrade over time due to natural aging and/or depletion of skin secretions from consecutive depositions. Being able to recognize either process by optical methods is challenging but crucial for potentially reconstructing a crime’s timeline based on measurable data. This proof-of-concept study assessed two distinct chronomorphometric techniques—<em>3D-Sa</em> (average ridge height) and <em>2D-BG</em> (relative area of clear ridge detail)—to describe physical differences during the aforementioned time-dependent degradation processes. These metrics measured different aspects of ridge topography that were objective and analyzable. For <em>3D-Sa</em>, a non-destructive optical profilometer was utilized, while conventional powdering with two distinct enhancers (i.e., BMP and TiO<sub>2</sub>) was performed for <em>2D-BG</em>. A total of seven independent and standardized experiments were combined involving 63 different participants (33 males and 30 females), generating 2,106 fingermark images. Ridge impressions were prepared under controlled pressure on glass microscope slides and aged in darkness in a monitored indoor environment. Both metrics successfully detected changes over time and across successive depositions as well as between the two temporal processes, with <em>3D-Sa</em> showing higher efficiency in some instances. The effectiveness of <em>2D-BG</em> was clearly dependent on the developer type. While the study was limited by factors such as indoor conditions and the use of a single substrate type (glass), these results provided preliminary data into the strengths and weaknesses of 2D and 3D analysis for dating purposes. It also suggested the potential application of this method in forensic research and, theoretically, in crime scene reconstruction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 4","pages":"Article 101279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124193","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 : 2025-05-04DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101278
Aaron Hamilton , Luke Whiley , Maria Kadyrov , Brendan Chapman
Purpose
Approximately 20% of road fatalities can be attributed to driver fatigue; however, there are relatively few options available for police to specifically address this danger. Salivary biomarkers are a promising solution as saliva collection is non-invasive, quick, and easy to perform in roadside settings. Metabolomics is emerging as a useful tool for biomarker detection because it allows for the comprehensive profiling of small molecules, providing insights into subtle biochemical changes that may be 8associated with fatigue. This pilot study aims to explore the potential of metabolomic approaches in discovering fatigue biomarkers in saliva.
Methods
Saliva samples were collected from participants (n = 12) at baseline (well-rested) and following sleep deprivation. Participants also provided subjective ratings of perceived fatigue and cognitive inhibition was assessed via the three-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). Saliva samples were analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. 1H NMR data was interrogated using multivariate (O-PLS) and univariate (Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman’s Correlation) analyses to identify metabolites associated with fatigue.
Results
O-PLS identified seven metabolites as potential biomarkers of fatigue, but only scyllo-inositol reached statistical significance when interrogated univariately. No significant correlation was observed between PVT scores and self-reported fatigue, raising questions about the validity of specifically the three-minute PVT, compared to either the five or ten-minute variety, as a measure of cognitive inhibition.
Conclusion
This pilot study highlights scyllo-inositol as a potential salivary biomarker for fatigue, but further validation in larger cohorts is necessary. Additionally, recommendations are made for improving similar research.
{"title":"Forensic biomarker discovery: Utilising metabolomics to elucidate prospective fatigue biomarkers for eventual roadside detection","authors":"Aaron Hamilton , Luke Whiley , Maria Kadyrov , Brendan Chapman","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Approximately 20% of road fatalities can be attributed to driver fatigue; however, there are relatively few options available for police to specifically address this danger. Salivary biomarkers are a promising solution as saliva collection is non-invasive, quick, and easy to perform in roadside settings. Metabolomics is emerging as a useful tool for biomarker detection because it allows for the comprehensive profiling of small molecules, providing insights into subtle biochemical changes that may be 8associated with fatigue. This pilot study aims to explore the potential of metabolomic approaches in discovering fatigue biomarkers in saliva.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Saliva samples were collected from participants (n = 12) at baseline (well-rested) and following sleep deprivation. Participants also provided subjective ratings of perceived fatigue and cognitive inhibition was assessed via the three-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). Saliva samples were analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. 1H NMR data was interrogated using multivariate (O-PLS) and univariate (Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman’s Correlation) analyses to identify metabolites associated with fatigue.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>O-PLS identified seven metabolites as potential biomarkers of fatigue, but only scyllo-inositol reached statistical significance when interrogated univariately. No significant correlation was observed between PVT scores and self-reported fatigue, raising questions about the validity of specifically the three-minute PVT, compared to either the five or ten-minute variety, as a measure of cognitive inhibition.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This pilot study highlights scyllo-inositol as a potential salivary biomarker for fatigue, but further validation in larger cohorts is necessary. Additionally, recommendations are made for improving similar research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 4","pages":"Article 101278"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090442","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 : 2025-05-04DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101262
Troy Standley , Carissa Putruele , Gwladys Lambert , Corin Kelly , Jana M. Liechti , Zara Redshaw , Nadia T. Stephaniuk , Nathalie Mai , Matteo D. Gallidabino
Smokeless powders (SLPs) are easily available energetic materials that are often used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. Following a bombing incident, hand swabs are routinely collected from persons of interest (POIs) to assess potential SLP handling. However, the evidential significance of analytical findings remains difficult to assign due to the lack of systematic data on residue transfer. This study aimed to address this gap by determining the quantities transferred to hands (qT) of three common SLP additives – diphenylamine (DPA), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and ethyl centralite (EC) – following direct handling of bulk samples, with the specific goal of enabling the estimation of expected qT ranges on a POI’s hands under the hypothesis that they had handled SLP. A streamlined filter-and-shoot method was developed for residue collection and analysis, allowing direct chromatographic analysis without preconcentration steps. The results showed that qT values typically ranged from the high nanogram to low microgram level, with DBP exhibiting the highest values and EC the lowest, mirroring their relative concentrations in the SLP formulations. The total mass of SLP handled (MSLP) and the handler variability (HID) were identified as significant factors influencing qT, whereas the type of SLP (TSLP) had a much weaker effect. Notably, a strong linear dependence between qT and MSLP was observed for all the three compounds. Based on these findings, regression models were developed to estimate expected qT ranges (including means and standard deviations) at different MSLP values, providing a practical tool to refine interpretation where information on the amount of SLP handled is available. By establishing empirical data on SLP residue transfer, this study fills a critical knowledge gap in the literature, enhancing the ability to assess the significance of forensic findings and ultimately contributing to more robust interpretations in cases involving suspected SLP handling.
{"title":"Quantification of smokeless powder (SLP) additives on hands after direct handling of bulk samples via a filter-and-shoot method","authors":"Troy Standley , Carissa Putruele , Gwladys Lambert , Corin Kelly , Jana M. Liechti , Zara Redshaw , Nadia T. Stephaniuk , Nathalie Mai , Matteo D. Gallidabino","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Smokeless powders (SLPs) are easily available energetic materials that are often used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. Following a bombing incident, hand swabs are routinely collected from persons of interest (POIs) to assess potential SLP handling. However, the evidential significance of analytical findings remains difficult to assign due to the lack of systematic data on residue transfer. This study aimed to address this gap by determining the quantities transferred to hands (<em>q<sub>T</sub></em>) of three common SLP additives – diphenylamine (DPA), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and ethyl centralite (EC) – following direct handling of bulk samples, with the specific goal of enabling the estimation of expected <em>q<sub>T</sub></em> ranges on a POI’s hands under the hypothesis that they had handled SLP. A streamlined filter-and-shoot method was developed for residue collection and analysis, allowing direct chromatographic analysis without preconcentration steps. The results showed that <em>q<sub>T</sub></em> values typically ranged from the high nanogram to low microgram level, with DBP exhibiting the highest values and EC the lowest, mirroring their relative concentrations in the SLP formulations. The total mass of SLP handled (<em>M<sub>SLP</sub></em>) and the handler variability (<em>H<sub>ID</sub></em>) were identified as significant factors influencing <em>q<sub>T</sub></em>, whereas the type of SLP (<em>T<sub>SLP</sub></em>) had a much weaker effect. Notably, a strong linear dependence between <em>q<sub>T</sub></em> and <em>M<sub>SLP</sub></em> was observed for all the three compounds. Based on these findings, regression models were developed to estimate expected <em>q<sub>T</sub></em> ranges (including means and standard deviations) at different <em>M<sub>SLP</sub></em> values, providing a practical tool to refine interpretation where information on the amount of SLP handled is available. By establishing empirical data on SLP residue transfer, this study fills a critical knowledge gap in the literature, enhancing the ability to assess the significance of forensic findings and ultimately contributing to more robust interpretations in cases involving suspected SLP handling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 4","pages":"Article 101262"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212387","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 : 2025-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2025.02.002
Itiel E. Dror
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) is a scientific endeavor as it is based on fluid dynamics, physics and mathematics which govern the creation of specific bloodstain patterns that are identified by BPA experts. It is used in police investigations and presented as forensic science evidence in court. However, examining bloodstain pattern analysis reveals some serious and severe concerns about its reliability, validity, vulnerability to bias, and error rates.
{"title":"Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA): Validity, reliability, cognitive bias, and error rate","authors":"Itiel E. Dror","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) is a scientific endeavor as it is based on fluid dynamics, physics and mathematics which govern the creation of specific bloodstain patterns that are identified by BPA experts. It is used in police investigations and presented as forensic science evidence in court. However, examining bloodstain pattern analysis reveals some serious and severe concerns about its reliability, validity, vulnerability to bias, and error rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 3","pages":"Article 101245"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941267","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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