Search

This paper describes the implementation of Forensic Intelligence (FORINT) practices over a two-year period within the Australian Federal Police. As an example of this, it looks at FORINT as applied to community crime within the capital city of Canberra and an innovative FORINT approach to combatting the use of the parcel post system by organised crime to import illicit goods into Australia. The paper explores the optimal environment required to enable FORINT to survive and thrive within a policing and forensic laboratory context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic science has been at the crossroads for over a decade. While this situation is a fertile ground for discussion, security problem solving and the sound administration of justice cannot be put on hold until solutions pleasing everyone emerge. In all practical reality, forensic science will continue to be applied because it is simply the most reliable way to reconstruct the past through the exploitation of relics of criminal activities and by logical treatment of the collected information. In this paper, it is argued that instead of exclusively focusing on error management and processes, we should also question the very ontological nature of forensic science. Not only should the dominant conception of forensic sciences as a patchwork of disciplines assisting the criminal justice system be challenged, but forensic science’s own fundamental principles should also be better enunciated and promoted so they can be more broadly accepted and understood. Such changes invite operations, education and research to become more collective and interdisciplinary. This is necessary to fully exploit the investigative, epidemiological, court and social functions of forensic science. We ought to ask the question: will forensic science reach the end of the crossroads soon? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant evolution of virtualisation technologies and the availability of anti-forensic techniques and tools complicate efforts by forensic investigators to investigate a crime or a cyber security incident. Forensic collection can be complicated and requires significant efforts to investigate incidents involving contemporary technologies (e.g. crime launched from a virtual machine and there had been attempts to erase evidence after the incident). This paper presents a forensic process to collect and analyse traces of a virtual machine and its corresponding manager, recorded across multiple sources including the file system, Windows registry, history, and log files from a forensic viewpoint. To demonstrate utility of the forensic mechanism, the Virtual Machine Forensic Artefact Collector (VMFAC) prototype is developed and presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The need to perform digital investigations has, over the years, led to the exponential growth of the field of Digital Forensics (DF). However, quite a number of challenges face the act of proving – for purposes of Digital Forensic Readiness (DFR) – that an electronic event has occurred in cyberspace. The problem that this research addresses involves the challenges faced when an Agent-Based Solution (ABS) is used in the cloud to extract Potential Digital Evidence (PDE) for DFR purposes. Throughout the paper the authors have modified the functionality of an initially malicious botnet to act as a distributed forensic agent to conduct this process. The paper focuses on the general, technical and operational challenges that are encountered when trying to achieve DFR in the cloud environment. The authors finally propose a contribution by assessing the possible solutions from a general, technical and operational point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The prevalence of violent crime is at an all-time high, and this steady increase has consequently increased public pressure on the police and forensic scientists to produce more efficient and accurate methods of crime solving. Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) has become a Routine field of scientific analysis. Although a fairly new field, its capabilities in high-profile cases are well documented. Unfortunately, the science behind BPA is very subjective and relies heavily on the analyst's opinion, which leads to varying analytical approaches and inconsistent outcomes. This paper explores predetermined equations and applies them to various surfaces that are likely to be encountered in a crime scene. The objective of this study is to generate a general equation directly applicable at crime scenes to determine the position of a bloodstain, and which will be used as a substitute for the already outdated and highly subjective existing method. New equations are developed that better fit the data produced when stain size and angle of impact are examined. The equation formulated for the paper surface isab = 0.1247 (Re0.5We0.25)0.75DoDo + 32.937 with a correlation coefficient ofR2 = 0.84; steel gives an equation ofab = 0.1448 (Re0.5We0.25)0.75DoDo + 19.574 with anR2 = 0.83; while plastic gives the most significant correlation coefficient atR2 = 0.91 with an equation ofab = 0.1405 (Re0.5We0.25)0.75DoDo + 17.771. When all data were collaborated for all surface types, a final equation was created exhibiting anR2value of 0.85:ab = 0.1367 (Re0.5We0.25)0.75DoDo + 23.427. It was found that spines could not be generalised into a specific equation as they are heavily influenced by the impact surface. Difficulties were also encountered when considering surfaces separately; correlations when considering spines only, produced maximumR2values of between 0.54–0.70 (steel and plastic) which questions the true applicability of spines as a parameter within BPA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat faced by coalition partners in Iraq and Afghanistan required concepts of operations to identify threat actors, network analysis to attack the network, and counter-IED strategies to defeat the devices. Forensic science was employed beyond its traditional law enforcement investigation and criminal justice objectives, and provided a capability for military organizations to help to counter IEDs. Forensic science in support of the expeditionary force on the battlefield is referred to as expeditionary forensic science, which is not well understood outside of the military domain. Military forensic science could be considered the black sheep of the forensic family as it is often left out or not considered alongside traditional forensic science. The purpose of this paper and plenary address, presented at the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) 24th International Symposium, is to provide the broader forensic science community with a better understanding of military expeditionary forensic science. The aim is to promote greater partnerships between law enforcement, intelligence, the criminal justice system, and military forensic science as part of the broader forensic science 'system of systems'. Abbreviation: System of systems (SOS); improvised explosive devices (IED) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA evidence continues to make a significant contribution to the Australian criminal justice system. The techniques used by forensic scientists, and the legal principles governing the collection of DNA evidence and its use in court by law enforcement, have developed considerably since they were first introduced. DNA evidence is continually evolving as new scientific techniques are applied to investigations and presented in court, and new database infrastructure is introduced by government agencies. This paper examines the development of DNA evidence in Australia over the last 30 years. It proposes that this development can be understood as a three-stage process: the first stage, from 1989 to 2000; the second, from 2001 to 2014; and the third, from 2015 to the present. In delineating the development of DNA evidence into three stages, a holistic approach has been taken to describe the scientific development of DNA evidence throughout this period, as well as the associated legal and regulatory framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performing a digital forensic investigation requires a formalised process to be followed. It also requires that certain principles are applied, such as preserving of digital evidence and documenting actions. The need for a harmonised and standardised digital forensic investigation process has been recognised in the digital forensics community and much scientific work has been undertaken to produce digital forensic investigation process models, albeit with many disparities within the different models. The problem is that these existing models do not include any processes dealing explicitly with concurrent digital forensic principles. This leaves room for human error and omissions, as there is a lack of clear guidelines on the implementation of digital forensic principles. This paper proposes the introduction of concurrent processes into the digital forensic investigation process model. The authors define concurrent processes as the actions that should be conducted in parallel with other processes within the digital forensic investigation process, with the aim to fulfil digital forensic investigation principles. The concept of concurrent processes is a novel contribution that aims to enable more efficient and effective digital forensic investigations, while reducing the risk of human error and omissions that result in digital evidence being contaminated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One outcome from a Forensic Intelligence Workshop held by Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS) in Canberra in October 2011 was the identification that, generally, there is not an intelligence culture within forensic science and organisational and cultural change would be required if forensic science is to play a meaningful role in the intelligence space. Over the past decade, attempts have been made to develop a best practice Integrated Forensic Intelligence Model to improve the integration of crime scene physical evidence, intelligence, and investigative capabilities. Although there has been some progression, it has been isolated, jurisdictionally driven and rarely strategic. This paper begins by examining some of the organisational and cultural barriers to the development and implementation of ‘forensic intelligence’ models in Australian jurisdictions. It goes on to outline the progress that has been made, despite these challenges, towards the development of a forensic intelligence culture in some jurisdictions, and identifies some of the factors that have contributed to this shift. It concludes with some recommendations for a way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents an overview of forensic intelligence through historical, operational and academic considerations. While forensic intelligence is thriving through new traceability of human activities, theoretical developments in policing and innovative technologies, it should mainly be seen as an opportunity for forensic science to contribute to making policing more ‘scientific’ in the broad sense. This paper supports the development of a modern framework to holistically use the information conveyed by forensic case data to inform policing processes, support decision-making and ensure transparency. It is argued that the scientific information, the trace, has to be privileged, rather than rejected from current debates, despite the potential fears prompted by the misinterpretation of the term ‘intelligence’. Ultimately, forensic intelligence enables the emergence of a modern conception of forensic science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Requests for textile damage examinations can result from a variety of crime types. While a reasonable proportion involve an edged implement, a broad spectrum of damage types can be encountered. The examination requires an understanding of the complex mechanism of damage formation to enable an accurate interpretation and reliable conclusion to be formulated. The report recently published by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) scrutinized numerous forensic feature-based comparisons, and highlighted deficiencies in their validity and reliability. Textile damage was not a focus area of this report, but is a subjective feature-based technique. It is, by necessity, largely reliant upon a practitioner’s opinion, experience and professional judgement, and is therefore subject to the report’s commentary. Significant progress has been made to strengthen the discipline since examinations were conducted during the investigation of the death of Azaria Chamberlain nearly 40 years ago. The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of textile damage examinations in Australia in light of the PCAST report, and to survey the work being conducted to improve the foundational science and standardization of damage analysis. Certain areas requiring future attention and research, such as empirical studies, will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific reporting and communication is a challenging topic for which traditional study programs do not offer structured learning activities on a regular basis. This paper reports on the development and implementation of a web application and associated learning activities that intend to raise the awareness of reporting and communication issues among students in forensic science and law. The project covers interdisciplinary case studies based on a library of written reports about forensic examinations. Special features of the web framework, in particular a report annotation tool, support the design of various individual and group learning activities that focus on the development of knowledge and competence in dealing with reporting and communication challenges in the students’ future areas of professional activity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the design and implementation of a feasible technique for performing Digital Forensic Readiness (DFR) in cloud computing environments. The approach employs a modified obfuscated Non-Malicious Botnet (NMB) whose functionality operates as a distributed forensic Agent-Based Solution (ABS) in a cloud environment with capabilities of performing forensic logging for DFR purposes. Under basic Service Level Agreements (SLAs), this proactive technique allows any organization to perform DFR in the cloud without interfering with operations and functionalities of the existing cloud architecture or infrastructure and the collected file metadata. Based on the evaluation discussed, the effectiveness of our approach is presented as the easiest way of conducting DFR in the cloud environment as stipulated in the ISO/IEC 27043: 2015 international standard, which is a standard of information technology, security techniques and incident investigation principles and processes. Through this technique, digital forensic analysts are able to maximize the potential use of digital evidence while minimizing the cost of conducting DFR. As a result of this process, the time and cost needed to conduct a Digital Forensic Investigation (DFI) is saved. As a consequence, the technique helps the law enforcement, forensic analysts and Digital Forensic Investigators (DFIs) during post-event response and in a court of law to develop a hypothesis in order to prove or disprove a fact during an investigative process, if there is an occurrence of a security incident. Experimental results of the developed prototype are described which conclude that the technique is effective in improving the planning and preparation of pre-incident detection during digital crime investigations. In spite of that, a comparison with other existing forensic readiness models has been conducted to show the effectiveness of the previously proposed Cloud Forensic Readiness as a Service (CFRaaS) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaders and experts from the forensic science community of Australia and New Zealand recently congregated to hold the 2016 Australasian Forensic Science Summit. The summit was a rare opportunity to critically evaluate the current state of forensic science against the drivers of change in our external influencing environment. This paper summarises the contextual information provided by representatives of the criminal justice, law enforcement, forensic science and science and technology sectors. It summarises this content and begins to explore at a high level possible implications for our field. It makes the case for change and establishes some of the external factors that as a field we will be required to confront. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic science is increasingly relied upon by law enforcement to assist in solving crime and gaining convictions, and by the judicial system in the adjudication of specific criminal cases. However, the value of forensic science relative to the work involved and the outcome of cases has yet to be established in the Australian context. Previous research in this area has mainly focused on the science and technology, rather than examining how people can use forensic services/science to the best possible advantage to produce appropriate justice outcomes. This five-year project entails an investigation into the effectiveness of forensic science in police investigations and court trials. It aims to identify when, where and how forensic science can add value to criminal investigations, court trials and justice outcomes while ensuring the efficient use of available resources initially in the Victorian and the ACT criminal justice systems and ultimately across Australia and New Zealand. This paper provides an overview of the rationale and aims of the research project and discusses current work-in-progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the 20th International Symposium of the Australian & NewZealand Forensic Science Society held in Sydney, New South Wales from September 5-9, 2010. The event, with a theme titled "Forensic Science on Trial," was attended by more than 950 delegates from more than 35 countries. The various papers addressed at the conference are cited which include topics on the real custmer of forensic science and whether it is a scientific discipline or a true profession.

Few would seriously argue that the application of scientific investigation is an essential element of justice systems around the world. However, a good number would argue that those of us entrusted with the delivery of science are not getting it right. Issues would include poor service delivery, poor science and inadequate standards. Mistakes in science have contributed to wrongful convictions and the very basis of some of our science has been seriously challenged. This paper will attempt to answer whether or not we have failed as badly as some would assert. A way forward is presented based on accepting forensic science is a true profession and building on those aspects that underpin a profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this digital era, anyone can easily tamper with an original image using various editing tools. One problem is that tampered images are being used for crimes such as the violation of portrait rights and the forgery of official documents. So far, various studies have been investigating a method for identification of the tampered images. However, these studies cannot detect the tampered region when geometric transforms are applied to the original image, because the geometric transform involves various interpolation methods. In this paper, we propose a new method for detecting the tampered region. First, the interpolation is applied to the image. If the image is tampered with by geometric transformation, then this re-interpolation has a role of emphasising the tampered region. Secondly, we create a detection map in the frequency domain using the re-interpolated image, which is useful to intuitively identify the tampered region. We tested our proposal on two kinds of image. One is entirely changed by geometric transforms, and the other is partially changed by geometric transforms. Our experimental result shows that we can easily catch not only the tampered region but also the distortion direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in usage and application of Social Networking (SN) platforms make them a potential target by cyber criminals to conduct malicious activities such as identity theft, piracy, illegal trading, sexual harassment, cyber stalking and cyber terrorism. Many SN platforms are extending their services to mobile platforms, making them an important source of evidence in cyber investigation cases. Therefore, understanding the types of potential evidence of users’ SN activities available on mobile devices is crucial to forensic investigation and research. In this paper, we examine four popular SN applications: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, on Android and iOS platforms, to detect remnants of users’ activities that are of forensic interest. We detect a variety of artefacts (e.g. usernames, passwords, login information, personal information, uploaded posts, exchanged messages and uploaded comments from SN applications) that could facilitate a criminal investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The utility of forensic informatics gained momentum in Queensland over a decade ago and was instrumental in identifying leakage points in forensic performance, the removal of backlogs and the provision of real-time feedback to forensic practitioners and investigating police. This paper provides insight into the evolution of forensic practice in Queensland, highlighting both the organisational challenges and the information system architecture, which established workflows tailored to the timely production of forensic intelligence to reduce, disrupt and prevent crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of soot sources is significant in fire investigation and forensic science. In this paper, principal component analysis (PCA) and a back-propagation (BP) neural network model have been used to classify and identify the soot samples from three different kinds of combustible material. Diesel, polystyrene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene were burnt under the controlled combustion conditions in small-scale burn tests. Based on the matrix data from the GC-MS analysis data, two principal components have been obtained from PCA analysis with the cumulative energy content of 90.21%. Three different kinds of soot sample can be classified with 100% accuracy. A BP neural network model for predicting and identifying the soot source has been further developed. Accurate identification of the unknown samples has been achieved with this trained BP model. This pilot study indicates that PCA and BP neural network methods have potential in the analysis of soot to identify its principle pre-combustion source material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining that a fire is the result of arson is a challenging task. Since many arsonists use some form of ignitable liquid, such as petrol, investigators may attempt to recover ignitable liquid residue (ILR) from a fire scene to help indicate if the fire was deliberately lit. Analysing debris for ILR can become difficult when debris cannot be transported to a laboratory for testing, such as when ILR is on a fixed concrete surface. Therefore, other techniques that are suitable for fieldwork must be considered. In this paper, four techniques for recovering ILR from a concrete surface are compared. The first three techniques involve covering the surface with an absorbent material: cat litter, absorbent matting or cotton pads. Each of these conditions requires an additional, laboratory-based extraction stage before it can be analysed for ILR. The fourth technique uses a new device that can perform the extraction procedure within the crime scene, thereby providing samples that are ready for analysis. This new device is known as the Passive Headspace Residue Extraction Device (PHRED). Extractions obtained using each technique were analysed via a gas-chromatograph mass-spectrometer to determine if it was capable of detecting ILR post-fire. The presence of certain chemical compounds in each sample indicated it had successfully absorbed ILR. The sensitivity of each technique was calculated by comparing the abundance of the ILR-specific compounds in a sample to the presence of additional compounds that produced ‘noise’. The results of this experiment indicated that cat litter and the PHRED are capable of extracting ILR from a concrete surface in an open-air environment one hour after a fire has self-extinguished. The cotton padding and absorbent matting did not detect any of the ILR compounds. Additional calculations of sensitivity indicate that the PHRED is more sensitive than the cat litter to compounds found in ILR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistic-regression calibration and fusion are potential steps in the calculation of forensic likelihood ratios. The present paper provides a tutorial on logistic-regression calibration and fusion at a practical conceptual level with minimal mathematical complexity. A score is log-likelihood-ratio like in that it indicates the degree of similarity of a pair of samples while taking into consideration their typicality with respect to a model of the relevant population. A higher-valued score provides more support for the same-origin hypothesis over the different-origin hypothesis than does a lower-valued score; however, the absolute values of scores are not interpretable as log likelihood ratios. Logistic-regression calibration is a procedure for converting scores to log likelihood ratios, and logistic-regression fusion is a procedure for converting parallel sets of scores from multiple forensic-comparison systems to log likelihood ratios. Logistic-regression calibration and fusion were developed for automatic speaker recognition and are popular in forensic voice comparison. They can also be applied in other branches of forensic science, a fingerprint/finger-mark example is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The form and functions of a forensic science service provider are determined by interactions between: • the legal system under which it operates; • the law enforcement agency or agencies which it services; • the policies of the government of the country concerned; • the historical legacy of the evolution of services in that country. In New Zealand, the forensic science services that support the criminal justice system are provided mainly by ESR, a Crown Research Institute (CRI), established under an Act of Parliament that sets out principles of operation. As a CRI, ESR operates as a financially self-sustaining, crown-owned company under a fee for service arrangement. This is an unusual service provider model internationally. In this paper, the strengths and weaknesses of this model will be described and contrasted with other options. This organisational model fosters independence, management flexibility and responsiveness to changes and challenges. This will be illustrated with descriptions of forensic science developments in New Zealand and the challenges associated with these, including the introduction of LCN (low template DNA) services, approaches to evidence interpretation, familial matching, collaborative projects with NZ Police on improving the effectiveness of forensic science and initiatives to add value to the forensic science services delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of international reports, including the National Academies (NAS) report from the USA, have highlighted shortcomings in wide-ranging aspects of forensic science. The reports not only target service delivery issues but also the fundamental underpinnings of forensic science with respect to its knowledge base. How does forensic science in Australia compare? What would the reports say if the studies conducted overseas had been undertaken here? This paper will examine whether or not we are 'in front of the game'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While significant fingerprint detection research has taken place over the last 25 years, surfaces still remain where fingermark development is problematic. In addition, while current capabilities provide a reasonable level of detection sensitivity on most common surfaces, they may be ineffective for the detection of weak fingermarks, or may not reveal sufficient ridge detail in such marks for identification purposes. For these reasons, latent fingermark detection remains an area where there is significant ongoing research around the world. A meeting of the International Fingerprint Research Group (IFRG) was recently held in Canberra, Australia, and was hosted by the Australian Federal Police. The purpose of this article is to summarise a number of areas of fingerprint detection research that were discussed at this IFRG meeting. This provides an insight into future prospects in this field and priority areas for research within the fingerprint detection discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and identification of latent fingermarks remains one of the best forensic techniques for the investigation of crime. The value of fingerprint evidence for a particular investigation relies on the ability of the fingerprint technician to detect, enhance, and record the latent fingermarks that are left behind when a smooth surface is handled with the bare hands. There is a wide range of optical, physical, and chemical detection techniques available that can be employed to detect and enhance fingermarks on various surfaces. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the common fingerprint detection methods that are employed in routine casework. The information provided includes the general principle behind each technique, how the technique is applied, and how methods can be employed in sequence to maximise detection effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I begin this editorial by saying how honoured I am to be offering it as the current President of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences (the Academy). Sir Bob Neill, the Conservative MP who co-chairs the APPGMJ and also chairs the Commons Justice Committee, also said that forensic science had been at the heart of notorious miscarriages of justice citing as his evidence the cases of the Birmingham Six (from 1975) and the Guildford Four (from 1976). But others believe the science is flawed with concerns extending to the "absolute" way in which forensic science is perceived in the justice system. The Westminster Commission on Forensic Science will question experts, lawyers, police investigators and victims of miscarriages of justice.[10] It will set out its findings in a report, expected in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Intelligence began as a military tool and has been in practice for centuries. Relatively speaking, forensic intelligence is in its infancy as the focus of forensic science has traditionally been the courts and the resolution of crime. The focus for forensic intelligence is crime prevention, crime disruption and a reduced fear of crime and there is an emphasis on quick results. The usual chronic backlogs that haunt forensic science prevent quick results and so the default position is courts and crime resolution. However, in a number of jurisdictions in Australia, the introduction of at-scene or on-submission triaging and the digital capture, transmission and comparison of fingerprints is leading to a marked reduction in turnaround times for forensic science results; particularly those that are effective sources of intelligence. Aspects of forensic science service delivery such as organisational structure and culture, IT capability, the relationship between police and scientists and interim reporting need to be re-considered as key elements in a forensic intelligence model. However, forensic intelligence should not stand on its own. It should become an integral part of the overall investigative tool and intelligence-led strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances have furthered the development and understanding of trace materials such that DNA and fingerprints have become the foundation of human identification. However, when a body undergoes damage such as in cases of arson, these methods of identification may not be possible, and alternative methods of identification become critical. Previous studies have quantified the variability of the paranasal sinuses between individuals and have begun to explore their ability to provide biological information. However, the published literature investigating these structures in a forensic anthropology context offers variable findings. This study presents a new approach for establishing a biological profile using three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the paranasal sinuses. 3D models were produced from a database of modern CT scans provided by University College London Hospital (UCLH), London, UK. Elliptic Fourier and linear analysis produced from the 3D models demonstrated notable variations and patterns for discriminating age, sex, and ancestry across three distinct ethnic groups. The most promising classification rates ranged from 82.8% (p =.027) to 76.9% (p =.003) for age and sex prediction. The findings offer insights into the potential for using the paranasal sinuses as an attribute for discriminating between individuals and the identification of unknown human remains in crime reconstruction investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection, comparison and identification of fingerprints remains one of the best means of linking an individual with a scene or an item related to a criminal investigation. While many methods exist for the detection and enhancement of fingermark evidence on common substrates, significant ongoing research is being directed at improved sensitivity via new approaches or the optimisation of existing methods. Current techniques may be ineffective for the detection of weak fingermarks, or may not reveal sufficient ridge detail to permit an identification. In addition, surfaces still remain where fingermark detection is problematic (e.g. human skin). The identification of fingermarks has come under significant scrutiny over the last decade, particularly with respect to the perceived lack of fundamental research and the subjective nature of current fingermark identification practices. Significant effort is being directed at these issues by a number of research groups around the world. The International Fingerprint Research Group (IFRG) holds biennial meetings to discuss current research and present research findings related to fingermark evidence. The purpose of this article is to summarise the fingermark detection and identification research presented at the 2011 and 2013 meetings of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The author discusses his plans for the Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. According to him, the association aims to present a cross-section of the medico-legal activities and opinions of this country. He stresses the importance of capturing the history of the academy as part of the institutional diary which means attempting to increase the status of the journal in international benchmarks such as citation indices. The academy aims to publish materials that will encourage and improve the practice and advancing the knowledge of the forensic sciences.

Petrol derivatives are often used as fire accelerants, and determination of their residues in arson cases could be useful for investigation of these crimes. Among the commercially available fuels, gasoline is highly flammable, cheap and widespread. The current work aims to investigate the amount of gasoline residues remaining on four kinds of textiles: cotton, wool, nylon and polyester, before and after their partial burning. The tissues samples were packed in arson bags to avoid evaporation of the volatile compounds. After that, the remaining fraction of fire accelerant on fabrics samples was collected by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) at successive periods of time from 0 to 4 hours; then analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Many characteristic constituents of gasoline, mainly aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified on the different non-burnt textile samples, up to 4 hours. However, after burning textiles, the results showed the absence of any detectable compound after two hours. In both cases, the persistence of gasoline residues was longer on synthetic fabrics (nylon and polyester) than on natural materials (cotton and wool). The proposed procedure showed that use of SPME sampling followed by GC-MS was simple and efficient; it could be useful in many forensic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is weak integration of digital forensics and forensic science, despite over a decade of effort to break down the borders between them. As more criminal investigations involve digital traces in increasing amounts and complexity, the quality of digital forensic results is decreasing and comprehension of cybercrime is diminishing. The consequences of errors and omissions in digital forensics include imprisoning innocent people, leaving dangerous criminals free to perpetrate additional crimes, and continuing victimization of the organizations and people targeted by offences. To mitigate these risks it is necessary to harmonize digital forensics and forensic science, and to strengthen knowledge management throughout decentralized forensic ecosystems. To drive the needed harmonization and knowledge management, there are two essential roles: the investigative advisor with operational experience, and the forensic advisor with scientific background. These advisors can negotiate the borders between police, digital forensic specialists, criminal intelligence analysts and attorneys to cultivate a criminal justice system that treats digital traces effectively, has visibility across criminal activities, and addresses crime and security more strategically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gunshot residues (GSR) are a common form of evidence in cases involving questions related to the association of a person of interest (POI) to a firearm-related event. GSR analyses currently focus on the detection and characterisation of the inorganic components of GSR (IGSR), which are typically particles composed of lead, barium and antimony originating from the primer. However, certain particles cannot be assigned to IGSR with a high degree of confidence due to possibility of being derived from industrial or domestic sources. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of the use of heavy metal-free ammunition challenges the current protocols used for IGSR analysis. In order to provide complementary evidence to IGSR particles, the current study focused on detecting the organic components (OGSR) arising from ammunition propellant. As the study focuses on the persistence of OGSR, three compounds well known as being part of OGSR were selected: ethyl centralite (EC), diphenylamine (DPA) and N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NnDPA). The study assessed the retention of OGSR traces on a person’s hands up to 1 h after they had discharged a firearm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the capabilities and accessibility of powerful 3D imaging technologies have seen an increasingly widespread adoption of these systems as a tool for the investigation of serious crime. The need for precise and accurate mapping of crime scenes has led to the adaptation of laser scanning technology from the mining and surveying industries for use in a forensic context. Entire crime scenes are now able to be captured and reconstructed with millimetre detail, and revolutionary new systems are allowing these datasets to be explored by investigators and jurors without complex equipment or expertise. Numerous useful analyses, such as determining bullet trajectories, mapping bloodstain evidence and comparing complex weapons with impressions, are now able to be conducted within this 3D space, revealing new information through the reconstruction of complex crime scenes that may not have been possible through conventional methods. As a relatively recent forensic field, there are several considerations for organizations implementing 3D imaging systems for crime scene reconstruction, to ensure the validity of this material and subsequent acceptance in court. Best practice guidelines and oversight organizations are being developed across international jurisdictions to help guide and facilitate the growth of 3D reconstruction as a forensic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australasian Forensic Science Summit was held in Canberra on 7-8 December 2016 to discuss the future challenges, changes and developments for forensic science. Practitioners, academics and stakeholders gathered to discuss the various issues within one of five working groups. The External Environments working group discussed the external drivers for change, impacts of legislation and policy and the relationship between forensic science, policing and the courts. This article presents the outcomes of the discussions, which culminated in the development of statements designed to direct and stimulate further discussions and work in the development of forensic science in Australia and New Zealand towards 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australasian Forensic Science Summit was held in Canberra on 7-8 December 2016 to discuss the future challenges, changes and developments for forensic science. Practitioners, academics and stakeholders gathered to discuss the various issues within one of five working groups. The Future Technology and Research Working Group discussed whether current models were fit for purpose, how technology could effect change in service delivery and how research efforts in forensic science could be enhanced. This article presents the outcomes of the discussions, which culminated in the development of statements designed to direct and stimulate further discussions and work in the development of forensic science in Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 7 to 8 December 2016, a forensic summit was held at the AFP facilities in Canberra under the theme of ‘Towards 2030’. The aim of that summit was to critically evaluate, through plenary presentations and five discussion forums, how the forensic science capability of Australia and New Zealand is placed to respond to a dynamic and complex future. One of the discussion forums met under the theme Core Capability and Capacity. The group was tasked with addressing questions such as: what is forensic science and what are our main objectives? What are our core capabilities? Are they changing or likely to change towards 2030? This article presents a high level summary of the discussion held around the strategic issue of capability and capacity. It concludes with statements representing the outcomes of the working group discussions. From these statements, recommendations will be developed to influence future work by the forensic science community of Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results are reported of a new experiment using an indistinct covert recording from a real murder trial, along with the police transcript admitted to ‘assist’ the court to hear its contents. Previous research using the same material has shown that the police transcript is inaccurate, yet nevertheless highly influential on the perception of listeners ‘primed’ by seeing words it suggests. The current experiment examines the effects of priming participants with a made-up phrase that vaguely fits the acoustics of one section of the recording. Results indicate that a very high proportion of listeners are easily ‘assisted’ to ‘hear’ the made-up phrase. Discussion argues that audio of this quality should only be used as evidence if accompanied by a reliable independent transcript. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Only a small part of forensic science activities scattered across criminal justice systems is the object of scientific scrutiny, and is taken into account when evaluating the added-value brought by this discipline. Even in its more restricted definition, forensic science faces many embarrassing questions about its capacity to provide valid and reliably interpreted information in court. The inflation of control mechanisms increases costs and reduces the scope or availability of forensic information. The viability of forensic science, viewed through this lens, is questioned. To address this challenge, it is imperative to validly express forensic science contributions that are otherwise diluted across earlier processes. These include abductive and inductive species of inferences used in crime investigation, crime analysis and criminal intelligence. The ‘scientificity’ of these processes may be questioned, but it is not contested that they largely determine the global outcome of justice systems. As a result, they cannot be ignored. To unlock the debate, it is proposed to turn the forensic science focus from means (instruments, techniques, methods) to ends (what is the problem, what are the objectives?). This perspective naturally leads to proactive models of policing. It also provides possible frameworks to express various uses of the information conveyed by traces for solving problems. Reframed forensic science contributions are more validly expressed and the current debate can ultimately be transcended. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article considers issues and questions pertaining to ‘expertise’ and the role of ‘experts’ in determining the extent, nature and type of environmental harm in criminal cases heard in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court (NSW LEC). The discussion is based on examination of 14 cases involving criminal proceedings for offences against theNative Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW)and 18 cases involving criminal proceedings for offences against theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW). The article considers issues pertaining to how the Court establishes who is or is not an expert and in what area and with what skills; how the expertise is manifest in specific types of data collection and presentation of evidence; and instances where evidence is contested, including between prosecution and defence and between the Court and prosecution/defence experts. It was found that the NSW LEC weighs up matters of expertise carefully and intentionally, in ways that simultaneously demonstrate a fundamental ‘environmental literacy’ amongst the judiciary. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In legal cases, ensuring that members of the judiciary and juries have an appropriate understanding of the evidence being presented is integral to the delivery of justice. This pilot study uses a questionnaire-type survey, in Indonesia and Taiwan (Republic of China) to determine the utility of multimedia presentations as a training tool for educating Judiciary and Linguistic (representing educated laypersons) groups. Participants’ understanding of three digital forensic terms was compared; before and after watching videos on the corresponding topics. The findings suggested that 80% of the participants experienced improved comprehension of specific technical terms after watching the multimedia videos. However, improvement in comprehension from viewing the videos reduces with age (ρ = –0.189 with aPvalue of 0.033 at 95% level of confidence). The study also found that the features of the video (e.g. analogy) affect participant’s understanding. The findings suggested that multimedia presentations are an effective means of improving understanding of technical terminologies and concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an explanation of the duties and responsibilities owed by forensic practitioners (and other expert witnesses) when preparing for and presenting evidence in criminal proceedings. It is written in the shadow of reports by the National Academy of Sciences (US), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (US), the Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry and a recent publication entitled 'How to cross-examine forensic scientists: A guide for Lawyers'. The article examines potential responses to questions focused on the need for scientific research, validation, uncertainties, limitations and error, contextual bias and the way expert opinions are expressed in reports and oral testimony. Responses and the discussion is developed around thematics such as disclosure, transparency, epistemic modesty and impartiality derived from modern admissibility and procedure rules, codes of conduct, ethical and professional responsibilities and employment contracts. The article explains why forensic practitioners must respond to the rules and expectations of adversarial legal institutions. Simultaneously, in line with accusatorial principles, it suggests that forensic practitioners employed by the state ought to conduct themselves as model forensic scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medico-legal (forensic) autopsy is an important element in the investigative process of any suspicious death. People's reactions toward a forensic autopsy vary among cultural and religious beliefs. This research has studied the reaction of the general public in Saudi Arabia (Arabic and Islamic cultural backgrounds) toward this procedure with the aim of exploring the cultural and religious influence on their attitude. An online survey of the awareness and attitude toward the forensic autopsy was distributed to Saudi people across different ages and educational levels. A total of 1866 persons responded to the questionnaire with the majority falling between the ages of 21 and 40 years. The majority of the participants (66%) thought that legal investigations without a forensic autopsy are not enough to determine the cause of death. Twenty-one percent were not comfortable, for religious reasons, with the performance of an autopsy and 72% thought that an autopsy should be done only after the consent was attained from the deceased's relatives. Understanding the worries of people toward this procedure highlights the importance of awareness programmes with the goal of correcting misconceptions and relieving worries. Awareness campaigns through media could be a good source of relaying correct information regarding this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud storage services are popular with both individuals and businesses as they offer cost-effective, large capacity storage and multi-functional services on a wide range of devices such as personal computers (PCs), Mac computers, and smart mobile devices (e.g. iPhones). However, cloud services have also been known to be exploited by criminals, and digital forensics in the cloud remains a challenge, partly due to the diverse range of cloud services and devices that can be used to access such services. Using SugarSync (a popular cloud storage service) as a case study, research was undertaken to determine the types and nature of volatile and non-volatile data that can be recovered from Windows 8, Mac OS X 10.9, Android 4 and iOS 7 devices when a user has carried out different activities such as upload and download of files and folders. We then document the various digital artefacts that could be recovered from the respective devices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The investigation of missing persons often requires the reconciliation of what is known about the missing person in life (ante-mortem information) with information obtained from the post-mortem examination of unknown deceased persons, when the missing person is presumed deceased. In most missing persons cases, the ante-mortem information will include personal information as well as any dental and medical records; with some also including fingerprint information. In Victoria, this information is captured by Victoria Police using PlassData, as a repository of information. Whilst PlassData can be used to record vital DNA profiling information, what is lacking is the ability to conduct direct or kinship searches to look for matches between missing persons cases and unidentified deceased. In 2010, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, in collaboration with Victoria Police, established the Victorian Missing Persons DNA Database – capable of conducting kinship and direct searches using both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA profiling data. Here we describe two interesting case studies; the first highlights the need to conduct at least two types of DNA analysis – such as nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses – to confirm a match; and the second, the importance of such a database to identify cold cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taphonomic effects of weathering and heat-induced transformation of bone have been intensively studied over the last century. These two processes share a common agent of change in the form of bone desiccation. A study was devised to test the hypothesis that significant bone shrinkage could be achieved by prolonged exposure to low (30°C) temperatures. The methodological approach involved placing fresh Eastern Grey Kangaroo long bones (n= 6) in an industrial oven at 30°C for a period of 39 days, with changes monitored every 24 h. Long bones were comprehensively measured to determine the extent of shrinkage during the desiccation process. The results indicated that the long bones displayed statistically significant amounts of shrinkage in all regions, with the majority of change occurring within the first 10 days of the drying period. It is concluded that exposure to a dry environment, at 30°C, can cause desiccation within 24 h in some cases, inducing dimensional changes that could potentially affect the results of a range of osteometric techniques. It is also apparent that the effects of prolonged exposure to low temperatures are similar to heat-induced changes seen in short-term exposure at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The managers of crime laboratories face significant hurdles when preparing new hires to become productive members of the laboratory. New hires require six months of training/experience in the crime laboratory before becoming a productive member of the Biology (DNA) section. To address this deficiency in forensic DNA education, a novel forensic education curriculum was developed and tested for three consecutive years in the forensic science program at Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC. The curriculum used a CTS proficiency kit, which is the same kit used to validate the proficiency of forensic scientists in crime laboratories in the US. A cost benefit analysis suggests that training students in a classroom instead of in a crime laboratory provides both direct savings to the laboratory and significant societal savings as more DNA profiles are entered into the database. The societal benefit from the combined reduction in the amount of training in a crime laboratory and increasing the number of DNA database profiles entered into a database suggests a societal saving of $8.28 million for each of these months of reduced training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background DNA on surfaces and equipment utilised during forensic examination of exhibits poses a contamination risk. Many laboratories have established environmental DNA monitoring (EDM) programmes to generate awareness of locations, levels and origins of background DNA to identify contamination risk reduction opportunities. To evaluate the impact on contamination risk of introducing new DNA profiling systems we have analysed 134 EDM samples from surfaces within our forensic biology laboratory. The samples were profiled for our current system (Profiler Plus) and the new systems PowerPlex 21 and Yfiler. Many samples deemed clean using Profiler Plus yielded alleles using PowerPlex 21 and those with few alleles using Profiler Plus yielded many with PowerPlex 21. The detectability of alleles in multiple samples with negative quantification results using Quantifiler suggests that items able to be deemed free of detectable DNA by the newly introduced standard, AS 5483-2012, are not so when utilising DNA typing systems as sensitive as PowerPlex 21. Current cleaning procedures are shown to be less adequate when operating with PowerPlex 21. This study highlights the need for a range of issues pertaining to contamination risk to be addressed prior to the introduction of more sensitive profiling systems such as PowerPlex 21 into casework. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]