Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-05-23DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.003
Vivek Sahajpal , Deepika Bhandari
{"title":"DNA profiling in India: Addressing issues of sample preservation, databasing, marker selection, & statistical approaches","authors":"Vivek Sahajpal , Deepika Bhandari","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>DNA technology is the gold standard with respect to the identification of individuals from biological evidence. The technology offers the convenience of a universally similar approach and methodology for analysis across the globe. However, the technology has not realised its full potential in India due to the lack of a DNA database and lacunae in sample collection and preservation from the scene of crime and victims (especially those of sexual assault). Further, statistical interpretation of DNA results is non-existent in the majority of cases. Though the latest technologies and developments in the field of DNA analysis are being adopted and implemented,<!--> <!-->very little has been enacted practically to improve optimise sample collection and preservation. This article discusses current casework scenarios that highlight the pitfalls and ambiguous areas in the field of DNA analysis, especially with respect DNA databases, sampling, and<!--> <!-->statistical approaches to genetic data analysis. Possible solutions and mitigation measures are suggested.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 389-396"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141134263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.008
Linju Lawrence , R. Shreelekshmi
{"title":"Edwards curve digital signature algorithm for video integrity verification on blockchain framework","authors":"Linju Lawrence , R. Shreelekshmi","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Within the field of forensic science, video integrity is an essential component that ensures the validity and dependability of visual evidence that is essential for court cases. Maintaining the integrity of justice in a time when digital modification tools are easily accessible requires making sure that video recordings are unaltered. Video footage is carefully inspected by forensic analysts who use advanced tools to look for indications of manipulation or change. This paper presents a novel, lightweight approach for verifying the integrity of video data. The proposed method utilizes the blockchain and the Edwards Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, coupled with the BLAKE2b hash function. Signatures are generated for video clips with a predetermined size called video segments and stored in blocks chronologically. The signature of the previous block is stored in the current block to add another layer of security. At the time of validation, these signatures are verified. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art methods in both speed and security. Our method is capable of identifying any type of forgery on any video file, by anyone, at any given moment, with insignificant additional storage requirements. Furthermore, our security analysis shows that our method is resilient against various types of attacks, including collision attacks, key substitution attacks, side-channel attacks, and chosen message attacks. The proposed lightweight video integrity verification method is better suited for use in resource constrained devices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 367-376"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140951940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.002
Ning He , Hongxia Hao
{"title":"Contextual bias by Forensic Document Examination trainees: An empirical study from China","authors":"Ning He , Hongxia Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The impact of contextual bias has been repeatedly demonstrated across forensic domains; however, research on this topic in China is scarce. To examine the prevalence of contextual bias in pattern feature-comparison disciplines, we conducted an experiment involving 24 forensic document examination students. The aim was to determine whether knowledge of different contextual information influenced their forensic decision-making. Participants were divided into different context groups and tasked with examining whether questioned signatures with ambiguous features matched reference signatures. The results of independent-samples <em>t</em>-tests for their decision score data in the two context groups exhibited a statistically significant difference (<em>p</em> < 0.05, Cohen’s <em>d</em> > 0.8). Moreover, the submitted forensic reports by participants disclosed a biased evaluation of handwriting features. These findings show how contextual information can bias forensic decision-making in handwriting examination. Context management with complementary strategies such as case triage, cognitive training and decision-making transparency must be implemented to minimize bias in handwriting examination.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 360-366"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140951941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.001
Gengwang Hu , Yanan Zhang , Liangliang Li , Yinghui Wang , Yi Guo , Shipeng Shao , Yundi Gao , Ruonan Zhang , Yu Wang , Luyang Tao
{"title":"New developmental data for Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) from the Yangtze River Delta region of China under different constant temperatures","authors":"Gengwang Hu , Yanan Zhang , Liangliang Li , Yinghui Wang , Yi Guo , Shipeng Shao , Yundi Gao , Ruonan Zhang , Yu Wang , Luyang Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Necrophagous beetles are sometimes used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI<sub>min</sub>) in the decay and remains stages of a corpse. Among these, the Dermestidae is one of the most common groups used and therefore has important research and application value. In this study, the developmental events of <em>Dermestes maculatus</em> de Geer, 1774, were recorded at six constant temperatures, and isomorphen diagrams were established. The thermobiological parameters were estimated using linear and non-linear models, and morphological indicators such as larval body length were measured. The results showed that the developmental duration of the whole immature stage decreased from 66.13 ± 8.58 days at 19 °C to 21.9 ± 2.01 days at 34 °C. The survival rate of the immature stages, especially the egg stage, varies greatly with temperature, with the lowest survival observed at 34 °C and the highest at 22 °C. The lower developmental threshold, the intrinsic optimum temperature, and the upper lethal developmental threshold obtained by the curvilinear Optim SSI models were 15.28 °C, 28.36 °C, and 34.03 °C, respectively. The body length, head capsule width, and pronotum width showed obvious growth patterns with larval developmental duration, which were characterized by equations and isomegalen diagrams. This study provides important basic data for the application of <em>D. maculatus</em> to estimate the PMI<sub>min</sub> in forensic entomology in the Yangtze River Delta region of China.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 377-388"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141055408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-04-26DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.003
Kiu Nga Leung, Sherry Nakhaeizadeh, Ruth M. Morgan
{"title":"A global survey of the attitudes and perspectives of cognitive bias in forensic anthropology","authors":"Kiu Nga Leung, Sherry Nakhaeizadeh, Ruth M. Morgan","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>It is now well established that decision making can be susceptible to cognitive bias in a broad range of fields, with forensic science being no exception. Previously published research has revealed a bias blind spot in forensic science where examiners do not recognise bias within their own domain. A survey of 101 forensic anthropology practitioners (n = 52) and students (n = 38) was undertaken to assess their level of awareness of cognitive bias and investigate their attitudes towards cognitive bias within forensic anthropology. The results revealed that the forensic anthropology community (∼90%) had a high level of awareness of cognitive bias. Overall ∼89% expressed concerns about cognitive bias in the broad discipline of forensic science, their own domain of forensic anthropology, and in the evaluative judgments they made in reconstruction activities, identifying a significant reduction in the bias blind spot. However, more than half of the participants believed that bias can be reduced by sheer force of will, and there was a lack of consensus about implementing blinding procedures or context management. These findings highlight the need to investigate empirically the feasibility of proposed mitigating strategies within the workflow of forensic anthropologists and their capabilities for increasing the transparency in decision making.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 347-359"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355030624000303/pdfft?md5=f3804c5d9a6179ca05fa6803d1540604&pid=1-s2.0-S1355030624000303-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140824790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-04-24DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.006
Abby K. Jones , Nur Hidayah Shamsuddin , Chong Chin Heo
{"title":"Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): A potentially forgotten forensically important species in Malaysia","authors":"Abby K. Jones , Nur Hidayah Shamsuddin , Chong Chin Heo","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Lucilia cuprina</em> (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has been collected in human forensic case work. This species is endemic in Malaysia but is not one of the most common species and is often found in outdoor cases. However, it is hypothesized that the presence of <em>L. cuprina</em> larvae may provide useful information in forensic case studies in Malaysia where this species has previously been ignored. This review will discuss the current background knowledge on <em>L. cuprina</em>, particularly when it comes to other forensic cases in Malaysia. General biology as well as key information for forensic work such as geographical distribution and developmental data will be reviewed. Finally, we discuss the potential for <em>L. cuprina</em> to provide beneficial and unique forensic insight into indoor cases with refuse.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 4","pages":"Pages 339-346"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140790028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Science & JusticePub Date : 2024-04-23DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.007
Patrick H. Home , Danielle G. Norman , Kimberley Wade , Emily Spearing , Mark A. Williams
{"title":"3D scanning a crime scene to enhance juror understanding of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis evidence","authors":"Patrick H. Home , Danielle G. Norman , Kimberley Wade , Emily Spearing , Mark A. Williams","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>There are numerous crime scene investigation applications of 3D scanning that have been previously documented. This paper documents the application of a 3D point cloud in the presentation of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis evidence to mock jurors. 150 mock jurors viewed a presentation of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis evidence from a murder trial in the UK. After viewing the evidence, the participants were tested on their knowledge of the evidence and repeated the test again 2 weeks later; to simulate criminal trial conditions; whereby there is a time lapse between the initial viewing of evidential material and deliberation. This paper found that the mock jurors who additionally viewed a 3D flythrough of a point cloud of the crime scene, better retained knowledge of the evidence over time, reported a greater ability to visualise the crime scene and had higher levels of interest in the evidence. Crucially, the 3D flythrough group did not report different levels of confidence in the accuracy of their memories of the evidence, nor different levels of emotional arousal to the group that viewed the evidence without the 3D presentation. Together, these findings suggest that 3D scanning of crime scenes, and the resultant point cloud’s presentation to jurors, could add further value to the justice system when spatial information, such as Bloodstain Pattern Analysis evidence, is presented.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 3","pages":"Pages 333-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355030624000340/pdfft?md5=f2cb363813543501a1275638a299567d&pid=1-s2.0-S1355030624000340-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140645978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}