Fatal fires pose complex challenges for responders due to the requirement to investigate all aspects of the fire using methods that maximize evidence recovery and integrity, including optimal and respectful recovery of the deceased. In this article, the authors consider the value of the inclusion of both forensic archeologists and forensic anthropologists in circumstances of fatal fire, identifying some of the challenges posed by these environments and what each can contribute.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination Forensic Anthropology > Forensic Archaeology Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment
{"title":"The role of the forensic archeologist and anthropologist in recovery of human remains from fatal fires","authors":"Diana Swales, Lucina Hackman","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1529","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1529","url":null,"abstract":"Fatal fires pose complex challenges for responders due to the requirement to investigate all aspects of the fire using methods that maximize evidence recovery and integrity, including optimal and respectful recovery of the deceased. In this article, the authors consider the value of the inclusion of both forensic archeologists and forensic anthropologists in circumstances of fatal fire, identifying some of the challenges posed by these environments and what each can contribute.This article is categorized under:\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Forensic Archaeology\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"36 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141809959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As for other largely subjective perceptual and cognitive processes, the forensic analysis and interpretation of handwriting is potentially susceptible to bias. Cognitive bias may subconsciously influence the outcome of specific tasks at any point in an examination, during pre‐analysis, analysis, comparison, interpretation and/or reporting of results. One class of cognitive bias, contextual bias, may arise from information provided by the client, results reported from other forensic disciplines within a laboratory or the content of the questioned and/or known material itself. The base rate information (i.e., examiner knowledge, experience, and innate beliefs) associated with the type and range of examinations an examiner has previously encountered may also lead to bias. Bias introduced at any stage of the examination process, and even prior to the examination (e.g., when deciding what is collected for examination) may affect the examination outcome.This Overview focuses on contextual information management (CIM) protocols that are used to remove potentially biasing task‐irrelevant case information from the view of the reporting forensic handwriting examiner (FHE). Where laboratory resources and logistics allow for these procedures to be in place, they should be applied as part of the pre‐analysis stage of the examination process that is, at a stage in the examination prior to the reporting FHE accessing the examination material or associated documentation. Also highlighted are some additional procedures that have been proposed by others to minimize the opportunity for cognitive bias to arise in handwriting examinations.This article is categorized under: Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Expert Evidence and Narrative
{"title":"Cognitive bias and contextual information management: Considerations for forensic handwriting examinations","authors":"Carolyne Bird, Kylie Jones, K. Ballantyne","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1530","url":null,"abstract":"As for other largely subjective perceptual and cognitive processes, the forensic analysis and interpretation of handwriting is potentially susceptible to bias. Cognitive bias may subconsciously influence the outcome of specific tasks at any point in an examination, during pre‐analysis, analysis, comparison, interpretation and/or reporting of results. One class of cognitive bias, contextual bias, may arise from information provided by the client, results reported from other forensic disciplines within a laboratory or the content of the questioned and/or known material itself. The base rate information (i.e., examiner knowledge, experience, and innate beliefs) associated with the type and range of examinations an examiner has previously encountered may also lead to bias. Bias introduced at any stage of the examination process, and even prior to the examination (e.g., when deciding what is collected for examination) may affect the examination outcome.This Overview focuses on contextual information management (CIM) protocols that are used to remove potentially biasing task‐irrelevant case information from the view of the reporting forensic handwriting examiner (FHE). Where laboratory resources and logistics allow for these procedures to be in place, they should be applied as part of the pre‐analysis stage of the examination process that is, at a stage in the examination prior to the reporting FHE accessing the examination material or associated documentation. Also highlighted are some additional procedures that have been proposed by others to minimize the opportunity for cognitive bias to arise in handwriting examinations.This article is categorized under:\u0000Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Expert Evidence and Narrative\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"102 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141812305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthropological assessment of a scene for fatal fire victims can prove crucial in the search, recovery and identification of human remains from fire‐related death investigations. On scene contributions of the anthropologist include, but are not limited to, searching for remains in burnt structures, vehicles, roadside dumps, campfire accidents, and other fire investigations, as well as the proper documentation and collection of remains. While patterning and sequencing for all fire events is not standardized, thermal alteration can be classified and consistent terminology can be used to reflect commonalities and evaluation of thermally altered remains. Further, the anthropologist has the ability to evaluate damage to the remains in terms of possible associated trauma (e.g., antemortem, postmortem). However, scene investigators do not regularly call upon anthropologists to assist at the scene and often do not know the contributions and benefits of having an anthropologist on scene. This perspective article focuses on the development of fatal fire investigations within the United States, key terminology, and core concepts within anthropological sciences and provides recommendations for how fire investigators and anthropologists can collaborate–bridging the gap between the two fields. Uniting literature from fire science, anthropology, and fire investigations, this overview underscores the importance of anthropology and fire investigator collaboration.This article is categorized under: Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis Forensic Anthropology > Anthropology in Mass Disaster & War Crime Contexts
{"title":"Development of human remains investigations at fatal fire scenes: Bridging anthropology and fire sciences in the United States","authors":"Hanna Friedlander, Jaymelee J. Kim, Joe Allen","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1527","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1527","url":null,"abstract":"Anthropological assessment of a scene for fatal fire victims can prove crucial in the search, recovery and identification of human remains from fire‐related death investigations. On scene contributions of the anthropologist include, but are not limited to, searching for remains in burnt structures, vehicles, roadside dumps, campfire accidents, and other fire investigations, as well as the proper documentation and collection of remains. While patterning and sequencing for all fire events is not standardized, thermal alteration can be classified and consistent terminology can be used to reflect commonalities and evaluation of thermally altered remains. Further, the anthropologist has the ability to evaluate damage to the remains in terms of possible associated trauma (e.g., antemortem, postmortem). However, scene investigators do not regularly call upon anthropologists to assist at the scene and often do not know the contributions and benefits of having an anthropologist on scene. This perspective article focuses on the development of fatal fire investigations within the United States, key terminology, and core concepts within anthropological sciences and provides recommendations for how fire investigators and anthropologists can collaborate–bridging the gap between the two fields. Uniting literature from fire science, anthropology, and fire investigations, this overview underscores the importance of anthropology and fire investigator collaboration.This article is categorized under:\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Anthropology in Mass Disaster & War Crime Contexts\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"88 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141818729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic document examination is characterized by its longevity, diversity, and evolution over time. Predominantly, published research within this field has focused on handwriting examination, the articulation of forensic conclusions, and the development of technical instrumental advancements, focusing on the use of document examination in the resolution of casework. This is a persistent and common problem within forensic science that Kirk identified in 1963 and that other authors have reaffirmed more recently. Ultimately, this has resulted in the potential of forensic intelligence, remaining relatively underexplored in the field of document examination. Forensic intelligence is a different way to view and analyze traces, shifting the focus from the traditional identification of source and activity, to instead identifying trends in criminal activity to assist in the reduction, prevention, and proactive disruption of crime. Despite a distinct disparity between these strands of research, there has been a persevering evolution toward the implementation of a systematic forensic intelligence method for the examination of fraudulent identity documents. Since its initial inception into the research community, this method has expanded and been implemented across Europe, and Canada, with tests also being conducted in Australia. These first tangible steps toward a forensic intelligence capacity within document examination have also inspired new work using forensic intelligence and systematic comparisons within the field of handwriting examination, as well as the recognition of the transversal potential of this method, with it being applied to both physical and digital documents. In this review, the fields of document examination and forensic intelligence will first be introduced, along with a subsequent examination of the research that has led to the creation of a forensic intelligence model within the field of document examination. It should be noted that this review has largely been limited to a review of research that has been published in English and French due to the language of the authors.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > From Traces to Intelligence and Evidence Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Emerging Technologies and Methods Crime Scene Investigation > Epistemology and Method
{"title":"Forensic intelligence: Expanding the potential of forensic document examination","authors":"Ciara Devlin, M. Morelato, Simon Baechler","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1528","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1528","url":null,"abstract":"Forensic document examination is characterized by its longevity, diversity, and evolution over time. Predominantly, published research within this field has focused on handwriting examination, the articulation of forensic conclusions, and the development of technical instrumental advancements, focusing on the use of document examination in the resolution of casework. This is a persistent and common problem within forensic science that Kirk identified in 1963 and that other authors have reaffirmed more recently. Ultimately, this has resulted in the potential of forensic intelligence, remaining relatively underexplored in the field of document examination. Forensic intelligence is a different way to view and analyze traces, shifting the focus from the traditional identification of source and activity, to instead identifying trends in criminal activity to assist in the reduction, prevention, and proactive disruption of crime. Despite a distinct disparity between these strands of research, there has been a persevering evolution toward the implementation of a systematic forensic intelligence method for the examination of fraudulent identity documents. Since its initial inception into the research community, this method has expanded and been implemented across Europe, and Canada, with tests also being conducted in Australia. These first tangible steps toward a forensic intelligence capacity within document examination have also inspired new work using forensic intelligence and systematic comparisons within the field of handwriting examination, as well as the recognition of the transversal potential of this method, with it being applied to both physical and digital documents. In this review, the fields of document examination and forensic intelligence will first be introduced, along with a subsequent examination of the research that has led to the creation of a forensic intelligence model within the field of document examination. It should be noted that this review has largely been limited to a review of research that has been published in English and French due to the language of the authors.This article is categorized under:\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > From Traces to Intelligence and Evidence\u0000Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Emerging Technologies and Methods\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Epistemology and Method\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"83 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141662762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca L. George, Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Darren A. Solomon, David M. Schauble, Brittania J. Bintz, Hannah L Noel
Beginning in 2020, Western Carolina University (WCU)'s Forensic Anthropology Program began a research partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Fire Programs and Training Branch on burned human remains via a continuing education (CE) course. This course has evolved since its original inception to include a controlled burn utilizing donated human remains. The content of the CE course is primarily geared toward law enforcement, fire investigators, medicolegal investigators, and crime scene technicians. The 2021 course was the first to utilize a donor from WCU's Body Donation Program, a willed‐body program where donors or their next‐of‐kin can provide additional consent for skeletal modification and/or genetics studies. In addition to the educational purposes of running a controlled burn within a flashover cell, small research projects are also being conducted. Bullets were inserted into the 2021 donor to test various detection methods for utility within fire investigations. For the 2022 course, WCU's Forensic Science Program joined this partnership; they inserted seminal fluid into bodily cavities to examine the recovery of genetic material from a secondary contributor after a high‐intensity, low‐duration fire. The preservation of sharp force trauma in soft tissues was also examined during this course. Genetic material recovery was retested in the 2023 course, as well as examinations of cranial blunt force trauma and blood preservation within a scene. These courses are generating a sample of thermally altered human remains for future research and education, in addition to providing insights useful for fire investigators.This article is categorized under: Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment
{"title":"Collaborative fire research program using donated human remains","authors":"Rebecca L. George, Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Darren A. Solomon, David M. Schauble, Brittania J. Bintz, Hannah L Noel","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1526","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1526","url":null,"abstract":"Beginning in 2020, Western Carolina University (WCU)'s Forensic Anthropology Program began a research partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Fire Programs and Training Branch on burned human remains via a continuing education (CE) course. This course has evolved since its original inception to include a controlled burn utilizing donated human remains. The content of the CE course is primarily geared toward law enforcement, fire investigators, medicolegal investigators, and crime scene technicians. The 2021 course was the first to utilize a donor from WCU's Body Donation Program, a willed‐body program where donors or their next‐of‐kin can provide additional consent for skeletal modification and/or genetics studies. In addition to the educational purposes of running a controlled burn within a flashover cell, small research projects are also being conducted. Bullets were inserted into the 2021 donor to test various detection methods for utility within fire investigations. For the 2022 course, WCU's Forensic Science Program joined this partnership; they inserted seminal fluid into bodily cavities to examine the recovery of genetic material from a secondary contributor after a high‐intensity, low‐duration fire. The preservation of sharp force trauma in soft tissues was also examined during this course. Genetic material recovery was retested in the 2023 course, as well as examinations of cranial blunt force trauma and blood preservation within a scene. These courses are generating a sample of thermally altered human remains for future research and education, in addition to providing insights useful for fire investigators.This article is categorized under:\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":" 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141679239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hanna Friedlander, S. Adeeb, Pamela Mayne Correia, Devon Stone, Elizabeth Brooks‐Lim
Assessments of blunt and sharp force trauma in forensic research are frequently reliant on research with individual long bones. As a result, information on the interpretation of the trauma on irregular bones is limited in unburned bones and an even bigger discrepancy is found if the fracture relates to blunt/sharp force in cremated bone. This research strives to differentiate between traumatic fractures and heat fractures in flat and irregular bones. Five human calottes and five human hemipelves were exposed to either blunt or sharp force trauma and then all were incompletely cremated. One hundred and eighty fractures, representing a mixture of traumatic and heat fractures, were captured using a Keyence VHX‐2000 digital microscope and analysis was done in combination with 3D software, Geomagic Studio 2014 and Geomagic Design X (2016). With virtual reconstructions and reverse engineering facilitated by the software, we were able to discern fracture boundaries, slopes, and variances between fracture types. 3D representation provided the ability to differentiate peri‐mortem trauma from heat fractures based on curvature analysis of fracture walls. Evidence of trauma types (blunt versus sharp) were found to be distinguishable at their impact site based on this curvature examination; however, shallow, secondary or tertiary trauma fractures were difficult to discern from heat fractures. Blunt force trauma impact sites and sharp force trauma impact sites were easily identifiable; secondary trauma fractures were sometimes clearly noted but may be misinterpreted. Overall, deep trauma fractures and heat fractures can be discerned from one another using this technology.This article is categorized under: Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Fire Debris Analysis
{"title":"An innovative way to use 3D modeling on burnt one to differentiate heat fractures from blunt and sharp force trauma","authors":"Hanna Friedlander, S. Adeeb, Pamela Mayne Correia, Devon Stone, Elizabeth Brooks‐Lim","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1525","url":null,"abstract":"Assessments of blunt and sharp force trauma in forensic research are frequently reliant on research with individual long bones. As a result, information on the interpretation of the trauma on irregular bones is limited in unburned bones and an even bigger discrepancy is found if the fracture relates to blunt/sharp force in cremated bone. This research strives to differentiate between traumatic fractures and heat fractures in flat and irregular bones. Five human calottes and five human hemipelves were exposed to either blunt or sharp force trauma and then all were incompletely cremated. One hundred and eighty fractures, representing a mixture of traumatic and heat fractures, were captured using a Keyence VHX‐2000 digital microscope and analysis was done in combination with 3D software, Geomagic Studio 2014 and Geomagic Design X (2016). With virtual reconstructions and reverse engineering facilitated by the software, we were able to discern fracture boundaries, slopes, and variances between fracture types. 3D representation provided the ability to differentiate peri‐mortem trauma from heat fractures based on curvature analysis of fracture walls. Evidence of trauma types (blunt versus sharp) were found to be distinguishable at their impact site based on this curvature examination; however, shallow, secondary or tertiary trauma fractures were difficult to discern from heat fractures. Blunt force trauma impact sites and sharp force trauma impact sites were easily identifiable; secondary trauma fractures were sometimes clearly noted but may be misinterpreted. Overall, deep trauma fractures and heat fractures can be discerned from one another using this technology.This article is categorized under:\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis\u0000Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Fire Debris Analysis\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"6 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141681489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Crime scene investigation is challenging and demands highly skilled crime scene examiners. Mistakes occurring during the processing of a crime scene have been associated with higher risk of ineffective investigations where poor quality, missed, or contaminated forensic samples are relied on by police to inform which suspects to charge and can lead to miscarriages of justice and wrongful imprisonments. Hiring new crime scene examiners with the potential to develop into top performers can result in enhanced crime scene investigation and reduce the risk of errors at crime scenes. A series of papers between 2012 and 2023 identified a cluster of seven critical skills and attributes that set top crime scene examiners apart from their lesser performing peers. These seven skills and attributes clusters are as follows: approach to work, life, and stress management; cognitive abilities; communication and interpersonal skills; holistic knowledge base; life and work experience; and professional demeanor. In this perspective paper, we present strategies for developing a recruitment program to target these skill sets which involve the use of appropriate psychometric testing, collaborative team‐based recruitment, team hiring panels, and crime scene observational assessment tasks at interview stage. We also discuss the costs and logistics associated with psychological testing (in Australian dollars). We finish by exploring the potential challenges of attracting younger people (generation Z and Y) to forensic science roles, including crime scene investigation.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Reconstruction Crime Scene Investigation > Education and Formation
{"title":"Building on the critical skills framework of top crime scene examiners to recruit high‐caliber crime scene investigation candidates","authors":"S. Kelty, Phoebe R Joshua, James Robertson","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1519","url":null,"abstract":"Crime scene investigation is challenging and demands highly skilled crime scene examiners. Mistakes occurring during the processing of a crime scene have been associated with higher risk of ineffective investigations where poor quality, missed, or contaminated forensic samples are relied on by police to inform which suspects to charge and can lead to miscarriages of justice and wrongful imprisonments. Hiring new crime scene examiners with the potential to develop into top performers can result in enhanced crime scene investigation and reduce the risk of errors at crime scenes. A series of papers between 2012 and 2023 identified a cluster of seven critical skills and attributes that set top crime scene examiners apart from their lesser performing peers. These seven skills and attributes clusters are as follows: approach to work, life, and stress management; cognitive abilities; communication and interpersonal skills; holistic knowledge base; life and work experience; and professional demeanor. In this perspective paper, we present strategies for developing a recruitment program to target these skill sets which involve the use of appropriate psychometric testing, collaborative team‐based recruitment, team hiring panels, and crime scene observational assessment tasks at interview stage. We also discuss the costs and logistics associated with psychological testing (in Australian dollars). We finish by exploring the potential challenges of attracting younger people (generation Z and Y) to forensic science roles, including crime scene investigation.This article is categorized under:\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Reconstruction\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Education and Formation\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141120867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vincenzo Rinaldi, E. Ljungkvist, Benny Thomsen, N. NicDaéid
The training of a fire investigator should lay the foundations for a systematic, evidence‐based, and unbiased analysis of a fire scene. The ability of the investigators to determine the origin, cause and development of a fire is gained through education, experience based on on‐the‐job training and focused continuous professional development (CPD). Practitioners have met these requirements for several decades through formal examinations and specialized training. Additionally, several countries provide training in full‐scale (simulated) fire scenes for public and private sector fire investigators. These scenes may also be used for ongoing competency and proficiency testing. However, simulated fire scene setups are costly, limited to a single excavation event, and often short‐lived due to deterioration upon use and ease of contamination. The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the need, and provided the opportunity, for developing both virtual/hybrid training and competence testing, prompting the exploration of novel technologies in this area. A cross‐border multi‐agency partnership between academics, forensic practitioners, and forensic scientists explored the feasibility of leveraging digitalization techniques to support immersive virtual reality (VR). We outline the critical aspects and requirements beyond the challenges connected to technical feasibility, which the forensic science and judicial community demand so that technological development would be considered admissible within the justice system.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Documentation and Visualization Digital and Multimedia Science > Multimedia Forensics
{"title":"Virtual reality aiding fire scene investigation: A thankless endeavor or catalyst for change?","authors":"Vincenzo Rinaldi, E. Ljungkvist, Benny Thomsen, N. NicDaéid","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1518","url":null,"abstract":"The training of a fire investigator should lay the foundations for a systematic, evidence‐based, and unbiased analysis of a fire scene. The ability of the investigators to determine the origin, cause and development of a fire is gained through education, experience based on on‐the‐job training and focused continuous professional development (CPD). Practitioners have met these requirements for several decades through formal examinations and specialized training. Additionally, several countries provide training in full‐scale (simulated) fire scenes for public and private sector fire investigators. These scenes may also be used for ongoing competency and proficiency testing. However, simulated fire scene setups are costly, limited to a single excavation event, and often short‐lived due to deterioration upon use and ease of contamination. The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the need, and provided the opportunity, for developing both virtual/hybrid training and competence testing, prompting the exploration of novel technologies in this area. A cross‐border multi‐agency partnership between academics, forensic practitioners, and forensic scientists explored the feasibility of leveraging digitalization techniques to support immersive virtual reality (VR). We outline the critical aspects and requirements beyond the challenges connected to technical feasibility, which the forensic science and judicial community demand so that technological development would be considered admissible within the justice system.This article is categorized under:\u0000Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Documentation and Visualization\u0000Digital and Multimedia Science > Multimedia Forensics\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"12 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141049767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In both the archeological and forensic literature, experimental data have been used to equate the color of burned bone with the temperature to which it was exposed. While this may be applicable in the tightly controlled oxidizing environment of a furnace or crematorium, it is not representative of the more realistic dynamic conditions of fire events involving structures, vehicles, outdoors, and so forth, that are encountered in forensic anthropology casework. In this piece, we review the literature at the cross section of bone color and temperature and compare it to our own observations from experimental burns. We generate a cautionary path forward for future research as well as interpretation in applied contexts. Implying temperature based on burned bone color ignores other significant variables that are related to the degradation of the bone's organic matrix like, the amounts and types of fuels, duration, fluctuations of temperature, oxygen level of the environment, byproducts of combustion, and other variables unique to each scene. Research results on bone color and temperature derived from controlled environments using non‐fleshed bone samples, are not applicable for use in forensic casework involving burned human remains from fleshed bodies. We argue that to do so distracts from other contributing variables and information that can be derived from the analysis of fire patterns on burned human remains and burned bones. Finally, we caution about using bone color alone to estimate temperatures of the fire, which makes incorrect assumptions about fire behavior and could jeopardize court testimony if this method is used as a standard. We raise three issues if a direct correlation between temperature and bone color are used in court: (1) other important factors are ignored, (2) a universal unvaried exposure of the body is assumed, and (3) the expert risks impeachment given conflicting data on the correlation.This article is categorized under: Forensic Medicine > Death Scene Investigation Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment
{"title":"Bone color changes and interpretation of the temperature/duration of fire exposure to human remains in the forensic context","authors":"Alison Galloway, Elayne Pope, Chelsey Juarez","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1517","url":null,"abstract":"In both the archeological and forensic literature, experimental data have been used to equate the color of burned bone with the temperature to which it was exposed. While this may be applicable in the tightly controlled oxidizing environment of a furnace or crematorium, it is not representative of the more realistic dynamic conditions of fire events involving structures, vehicles, outdoors, and so forth, that are encountered in forensic anthropology casework. In this piece, we review the literature at the cross section of bone color and temperature and compare it to our own observations from experimental burns. We generate a cautionary path forward for future research as well as interpretation in applied contexts. Implying temperature based on burned bone color ignores other significant variables that are related to the degradation of the bone's organic matrix like, the amounts and types of fuels, duration, fluctuations of temperature, oxygen level of the environment, byproducts of combustion, and other variables unique to each scene. Research results on bone color and temperature derived from controlled environments using non‐fleshed bone samples, are not applicable for use in forensic casework involving burned human remains from fleshed bodies. We argue that to do so distracts from other contributing variables and information that can be derived from the analysis of fire patterns on burned human remains and burned bones. Finally, we caution about using bone color alone to estimate temperatures of the fire, which makes incorrect assumptions about fire behavior and could jeopardize court testimony if this method is used as a standard. We raise three issues if a direct correlation between temperature and bone color are used in court: (1) other important factors are ignored, (2) a universal unvaried exposure of the body is assumed, and (3) the expert risks impeachment given conflicting data on the correlation.This article is categorized under:\u0000Forensic Medicine > Death Scene Investigation\u0000Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"23 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140716170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Romy Elise Keane, R. Tidy, Glendon J. Parker, J. Gummer, Colin Priddis
Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics, born from the invention of soft ionization, has revolutionized protein analysis. In‐depth characterization of complex and variable mixtures of proteins, such as that found at crime‐scenes, is now possible. This capability continues to expand with advancements in mass spectral instrumentation and computational power, allowing for the development of dynamic data acquisition approaches and sophisticated bioinformatics tools for data interpretation. Proteins are the major component of all biological material, as a result they have been of interest to forensic practitioners for centuries. While DNA is the gold standard for identification, proteins are able to provide contextual information about biological material not available through genomic approaches alone. Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics has expanded the breadth and ease of forensic protein analysis with several emerging applications that promise to become common place as investigative tools, particularly in forensic serology and toxicology. This includes the targeted analysis of protein biomarkers for the classification of biological tissue and fluids, the detection of protein toxins such as ricin and identification of peptide hormones such as insulin. The ability of protein analysis to leverage information from the genome has been demonstrated to achieve individual identification from biological material, an emerging technology that can be used in the absence of extractable DNA. In recent years, there has been considerable scrutiny of forensic techniques that lack objectivity and a statistical basis, an alternative molecular approach for forensic analysis that utilizes the high specificity of mass spectrometry, is a welcome addition with many potential future applications.This article is categorized under: Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Trace Evidence
基于质谱技术的蛋白质组学诞生于软离子化技术的发明，为蛋白质分析带来了革命性的变化。现在，对复杂多变的蛋白质混合物（如犯罪现场发现的蛋白质混合物）进行深入表征已成为可能。随着质谱仪器和计算能力的进步，这种能力还在不断扩大，从而可以开发动态数据采集方法和用于数据解读的先进生物信息学工具。蛋白质是所有生物材料的主要成分，因此，几个世纪以来，法医从业人员一直对蛋白质很感兴趣。DNA 是鉴定的黄金标准，而蛋白质则能提供生物材料的背景信息，这是基因组学方法所无法提供的。以质谱为基础的蛋白质组学扩展了法医蛋白质分析的广度和便利性，一些新兴的应用有望成为常用的调查工具，特别是在法医血清学和毒理学领域。这包括有针对性地分析用于生物组织和体液分类的蛋白质生物标记物、检测蛋白质毒素（如蓖麻毒素）和鉴定肽类激素（如胰岛素）。蛋白质分析利用基因组信息的能力已得到证实，可从生物材料中实现个体识别，这是一项新兴技术，可在没有可提取 DNA 的情况下使用。近年来，对缺乏客观性和统计基础的法医技术进行了大量的审查，利用质谱的高特异性进行法医分析的另一种分子方法是一种受欢迎的新方法，具有许多潜在的未来应用。
{"title":"Mass spectrometry based proteomics: Changing the impact of protein analysis in forensic science","authors":"Romy Elise Keane, R. Tidy, Glendon J. Parker, J. Gummer, Colin Priddis","doi":"10.1002/wfs2.1516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wfs2.1516","url":null,"abstract":"Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics, born from the invention of soft ionization, has revolutionized protein analysis. In‐depth characterization of complex and variable mixtures of proteins, such as that found at crime‐scenes, is now possible. This capability continues to expand with advancements in mass spectral instrumentation and computational power, allowing for the development of dynamic data acquisition approaches and sophisticated bioinformatics tools for data interpretation. Proteins are the major component of all biological material, as a result they have been of interest to forensic practitioners for centuries. While DNA is the gold standard for identification, proteins are able to provide contextual information about biological material not available through genomic approaches alone. Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics has expanded the breadth and ease of forensic protein analysis with several emerging applications that promise to become common place as investigative tools, particularly in forensic serology and toxicology. This includes the targeted analysis of protein biomarkers for the classification of biological tissue and fluids, the detection of protein toxins such as ricin and identification of peptide hormones such as insulin. The ability of protein analysis to leverage information from the genome has been demonstrated to achieve individual identification from biological material, an emerging technology that can be used in the absence of extractable DNA. In recent years, there has been considerable scrutiny of forensic techniques that lack objectivity and a statistical basis, an alternative molecular approach for forensic analysis that utilizes the high specificity of mass spectrometry, is a welcome addition with many potential future applications.This article is categorized under:\u0000Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Trace Evidence\u0000","PeriodicalId":506835,"journal":{"name":"WIREs Forensic Science","volume":"74 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140729345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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