Journal of forensic sciences最新文献

{"title":"Automated classification of ignitable liquid profiles: Comparing machine learning and rule-based systems.","authors":"Leng Leng Chng, Kang Hua Lee","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70493","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, two methods were developed for the automated classification of neat ignitable liquids and ignitable liquid residues. The performances of the two approaches were evaluated using laboratory-generated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data of various types of samples of ASTM E1618-19 classes. One method used machine learning with the Orange data mining software via image analysis for pattern recognition/comparison to known reference samples for the classification procedure. Five machine learning models, namely neural network, support vector machine, logistic regression, random forest, and k-nearest neighbors, were evaluated, and moderate classification accuracy (0.706-0.635), F1 score (0.703-0.626), precision (0.734-0.646), recall (0.706-0.635), and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (0.675-0.595) were achieved. The second method used a rule-based Python framework to automate the routine steps used by fire debris analysts for the interpretation of the GC-MS profile via identification of the major compounds (based on their mass spectra and retention times in the GC-MS chromatogram) in the sample, followed by classification using logic rules. The Python framework approach attained a higher classification accuracy (0.922), F1 score (0.924), precision (0.935), recall (0.922), and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (0.913). The two methods enabled the automated classification of ignitable liquid profiles and could serve as a preliminary assessment tool or an additional verification of the fire debris analysts' interpretations and conclusions of the analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149241068","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}

{"title":"Brazilian spotlight on INTERPOL's I-Familia: Policy, practice, and international missing persons identification.","authors":"Aline Minervino, Bruno Samezima, Roberto Monteiro Neto, Apoena Lopes, Simone de Jesus, Laryssa Bezerra, Samuel Ferreira, Christiane Cutrim, Liliane Pires, Ronaldo Silva Júnior, António Amorim, Laura Cainé","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The disappearance of individuals is a global humanitarian and public security issue that requires coordinated national and international responses. INTERPOL's I-Familia database is a global DNA database that uses kinship matching to support identification of missing persons (MP) and unidentified human remains (UHR) when a direct DNA profile from the missing person is unavailable. This study presents an implementation-focused case study of Brazil's integration with I-Familia system, examining the legal, institutional, and operational conditions that shape transnational humanitarian DNA data sharing within a major contributor country. Due to its strategic geographic position in South America, extensive land borders, and integration into regional and intercontinental migration flows, Brazil represents a particularly significant setting for the study of transnational migration, human identification, and international forensic cooperation. By November 2025, Brazil had submitted 12,521 UHR DNA profiles and profiles from relatives of 64 MPs. Despite being the largest contributor of UHR profiles, Brazil has not achieved a confirmed identification through I-Familia, highlighting the gap between data volume and operational impact. Key limiting factors include asymmetries in international participation, legal and governance barriers to data sharing, and the imbalance between the number of DNA profiles from UHR and from relatives of MPs. Brazil's experience illustrates both the potential and the limitations of large-scale humanitarian forensic DNA data sharing and situates the country within the broader debate on international forensic DNA governance, interoperability challenges, and ethical frameworks for humanitarian kinship databases.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149187036","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}

{"title":"Perceived criminal behavior in frontotemporal dementia: A 10-year retrospective analysis of forensic cases in Türkiye.","authors":"Ali Tarık Altunç, Hüseyin Çağrı Şahin, Zeynep Vildan Okudan Atay, Zehra Topaloğlu Türkmen, Onur Canik, Muhammed Emin Boylu, Burç Çağrı Poyraz, Ümit Haluk Yeşilkaya, Şenol Turan","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70485","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70485","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is associated with a disproportionately high risk of behavior perceived as criminal, yet systematic forensic data from non-Western settings remain scarce. This retrospective descriptive study characterized the sociodemographic, clinical, and criminological profile of 32 patients with a documented FTD diagnosis referred to the Council of Forensic Medicine in Türkiye for criminal responsibility assessment between November 2015 and November 2025, with the sample stratified according to whether the offense occurred before or after FTD diagnosis. The cohort was predominantly male (93.8%), with a mean age at offense of 60.75 years (SD = 12.44). Offenses were distributed across economic (34.4%), violent (34.4%), and sexual (31.3%) categories, and strangers constituted the most frequent victim group (50.0%). More than half of the offenses were classified as planned (53.1%) on the basis of documented pre-offense preparatory behavior, such as procuring or transporting an instrument or lying in wait; however, behaviors appearing superficially planned may nonetheless reflect stimulus-driven conduct and should not be equated with preserved volitional criminal intent. Among patients whose offense occurred prior to diagnosis (46.9%), the mean interval between the offense and subsequent diagnosis was 3.07 years (SD = 1.87), and in the post-diagnosis group, sexual offenses were nearly twice as prevalent as in the pre-diagnosis group (41.2% vs. 20.0%). This first systematic forensic characterization of FTD patients in Türkiye highlights a high rate of pre-diagnostic offenses and a diagnostic overlap with primary psychiatric disorders, collectively underscoring the need for greater neurological expertise in forensic psychiatric evaluations involving older adults with atypical behavioral presentations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140090","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}

{"title":"Destructiveness of latent print processing techniques to DNA analysis.","authors":"Ema Graham, Shauna Steffan, Hillary Culbertson","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70486","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70486","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forensic laboratories seek to maximize the evidentiary value of items examined by multiple disciplines, such as DNA and latent prints. However, many latent print development techniques are considered detrimental to DNA recovery. Previous studies evaluated the effects of latent print processing on DNA recovery; however, these studies relied on natural fingerprints, which inherently contain variable amounts of DNA. Consequently, it remains unclear whether observed differences in DNA recovery following latent print processing reflect the effects of the processing techniques or simply variation in the initial quantity of DNA deposited. This study standardized DNA deposition quantities by applying 5 μL of sterile sebum-eccrine solution and 1 μL of 5 ng/μL of DNA in solution to glass, paper, fired brass cartridge casings, and the adhesive side of tape to simulate fingerprints containing a known quantity of DNA. Samples were processed using ninhydrin, 1,2-indanedione, cyanoacrylate fuming, rhodamine 6G, Basic Yellow 40, Wetwop, physical developer, RUVIS, and acidified hydrogen peroxide. DNA quantities from all techniques were then compared to samples that did not undergo latent print processing to evaluate the effects on DNA recovery. No DNA contamination was detected in the latent print processing techniques. Significant reductions in DNA recovery were observed following treatment with 1,2-indanedione, ninhydrin, physical developer, RUVIS, Basic Yellow 40, Wetwop, and acidified hydrogen peroxide. Cyanoacrylate fuming and rhodamine 6G did not significantly affect DNA recovery. These findings establish clear boundaries for optimal sequential evidence workflows. By identifying which latent print techniques preclude successful downstream DNA processing and analysis, laboratories can eliminate futile evidentiary processing, thereby conserving time and financial resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140130","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}

{"title":"A green and sensitive hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatographic method for forensic pesticide analysis in necrophagous larvae.","authors":"Nor Wajihan Muda, Naji Arafat Mahat, Mohamad Afiq Mohamed Huri, Mohamad Hamdi Zainal-Abidin, Aemi Syazwani Abdul Keyon, Muhammad Widad Sabab","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70495","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70495","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conventional extraction of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides from necrophagous larvae relies on toxic chlorinated solvents, risking environmental and analyst safety. To address this, we developed a green dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) as a sustainable alternative. For detection, gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was chosen for its moderate cost relative to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while maintaining robust and accurate quantification. The HDES (menthol:octanoic acid, 1:1) was characterized for its organic composition, thermal behavior, and physicochemical properties. A 150 μL aliquot of HDES dispersed in 1000 μL acetonitrile was injected into aqueous larval samples (pH 6-7), followed by GCECD. The linear ranges for dimethoate, diazinon, malathion, and chlorpyrifos were 100-1000 μg/kg, 50-500 μg/kg, 50-500 μg/kg, and 20-120 μg/kg, respectively, with coefficients of determination (R²) exceeding 0.99 for all analytes. The lower limits of quantitation were 100, 50, 50, and 20 μg/kg for dimethoate, diazinon, malathion, and chlorpyrifos, respectively. Extraction recoveries ranged from 81.5% to 95.3%, and the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations for all analytes were below 20%. In simulated larval specimens, all the target compounds were separated within 9.0 min. The method achieved Analytical Eco-Scale and Analytical Greenness scores of 82 and 0.64, confirming excellent eco-friendliness. Thus, this HDES-DLLME-GC-ECD method offers a green, cost-effective, and sensitive tool for simultaneous determination of dimethoate, diazinon, malathion, and chlorpyrifos in necrophagous larvae, well suited for forensic entomotoxicological investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140076","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}

{"title":"Criminal dismemberments: Victim, suspect, and incident attributes of decapitation-only and dismemberment homicides.","authors":"Michelle C Huffman, Taylor E Burd, Lindsey Bellomy, Jan Kum, Emma K Goldsby","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70487","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70487","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using cases of criminal dismemberment in the CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), we directly compared decapitation-only and dismemberment homicides. We also explored clusters of victim, suspect, and incident variables, including how decapitation-only and dismemberment homicides fit within the clusters. Victims who were only decapitated were more likely to be recovered in a residence and were more likely to be the suspect's child or other relative. Additionally, decapitated-only victims were more likely to be a juvenile. Victims of decapitation-only homicides were more likely to be linked to a suspect who was on scene when first responders arrived or was in acute mental health crisis compared with homicides in which the victims were dismembered. Dismemberment homicides were more likely to involve multiple suspects, movement of the body from the homicide location, or concealment of the body (burial, wrapping/placement of the body into a container). Adult victims under the age of 65 were more likely to be dismembered. The cluster analysis yielded results consistent with the direct comparison and identified a third cluster of incidents involving intimate partner violence between current/former romantic partners. Our findings highlight the utilitarian nature of most criminal dismemberments and counter stereotypes of offenders who target strangers or dismember while experiencing mental illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120912","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}

{"title":"Exploring feature variability in digitally captured signatures-Part II: Discrimination between genuine and simulated signatures and the effects of collection sessions and writing position.","authors":"Jonathan Heckeroth, Axel Kerkhoff, Paul Schmidt, Raymond Marquis, Erich Kupferschmid, Céline Weyermann","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70458","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the discrimination between genuine and simulated digitally captured signatures (DCSs) to support their forensic examination. The dataset included genuine questioned signatures from 65 writers, collected across multiple sessions and in three writing positions, together with reference signatures collected in the standard position. In addition, eight simulations were produced by different individuals for each writer and treated as simulated questioned signatures, yielding a total of 520 simulations. Features of genuine and simulated questioned signatures were compared relative to writer-specific reference material. All examined features except the size-related characteristics and the number of pen lifts differed significantly between genuine and simulated signatures. Dynamic features, particularly total duration, achieved strong discrimination with an overall error rate as low as 7%. Combining features reduced the error rate marginally and not significantly (to 6%). Simulations were less often misclassified when reference signatures exhibited lower standardized within-writer variability in duration. This suggests that correspondence between questioned and reference signatures may carry greater evidential value under such conditions. A similar, but non-significant, trend was observed with increasing signature complexity. Exploratory analyses suggested benefits of writer-specific interpretation of signature features. While no clear temporal effect on classification error rates was observed across the collection period, writing position influenced performance, highlighting the importance of considering non-standard writing conditions in forensic practice. Overall, despite substantial variability in genuine signatures, DCS features enabled reliable discrimination between genuine and simulated signatures, with continuous dynamic features providing key discriminatory information and extending the possibilities of forensic examination beyond pen-and-paper signatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120899","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}

{"title":"Adult age estimation from the pubic symphysis and sternal rib: A combined Bayesian revision of the Hartnett methods.","authors":"Valerie Sgheiza, Kristen Hartnett-McCann","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70484","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70484","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two of the most commonly used methods for adult age estimation in forensic anthropology utilize the pubic symphysis on the pubic bone and the sternal end of the fourth rib. Currently, there are no age estimation methods that combine visual assessments of the joints of both the pubic symphysis and sternal end of the fourth rib to produce a single statistically derived final age interval. To fill this gap, pubic symphysis and rib scores were modeled separately and together via univariate and bivariate cumulative probit, respectively, with age and sex as predictors, using a sample of pubic bones and sternal fourth rib ends (N = 481) collected from donors of known age, sex, and population affinity at the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center and Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. The bivariate model was more precise and had lower root mean square error (RMSE) while maintaining expected mean accuracy. These results were consistent across the age range, excepting a slight drop in accuracy for younger individuals. Although the rib was more informative, including the pubic symphysis improved the model performance. Sex was a significant predictor of indicator scores, which highlighted the need for having separate tables by sex. Combining and re-modeling the Hartnett pubic symphysis and sternal rib methods produced one outcome per pair of scores by sex. Simple and easy to use sex-specific lookup tables are included for practitioner use. Furthermore, old data can be reprocessed with the new lookup tables since the scoring system has not changed.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120854","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}

{"title":"Validity of the comprehensive assessment of psychopathic personality-self-report Korean version (CAPP-SR) in a sample of Korean prison inmates.","authors":"Hyeokjun Kwon, Martin Sellbom, Jonghan Sea","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the theoretical and clinical importance of psychopathy, numerous assessment instruments have been developed, including the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP). Although the CAPP has received increasing empirical support across cultures, research examining the validity of the Korean self-report version remains limited. The current study examined the validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality-Self Report Korean Version (CAPP-SR) in Korea. To achieve this, we analyzed its concurrent validity with other psychopathy measures and a general personality model-based scale (HEXACO-100) in a sample of 311 Korean prison inmates. The results indicated moderate to large correlations between the CAPP-SR total and domain scores and scores from other psychopathy measures and the HEXACO-100. CAPP-SR symptom scales also predicted conceptually related factors. Compared to the TriPM and LSRP, the CAPP-SR contributed modest additional explanatory power in predicting the KORAS-G. This study has important implications as the first to examine the associations between psychopathy and general personality in Korea, and provides further support for the validity of the Korean CAPP-SR in a Korean correctional sample.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120815","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}

{"title":"Region-of-interest geometry optimization for shooting-distance estimation from flash-pulse infrared thermography of gunshot residue on textile targets.","authors":"Petr Volf, Marek Sokol, Jan Hejda, Martin Valenta, Rudolf Vávra, Lýdie Leová, Patrik Kutílek","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shooting-distance estimation from gunshot-residue (GSR) patterns on textiles is affected by substrate properties, residue distribution, and region-of-interest (ROI) definition. This study evaluated how ROI geometry influences muzzle-to-target distance regression from flash-pulse infrared thermography of GSR-related thermal patterns. The analysis used 144 five-second medium-wave infrared recordings from four 9 <math><mrow><mo>×</mo></mrow> </math> 19 mm semi-automatic pistols fired at cotton textile targets at distances of 20-60 cm. Each sequence was perspective-normalized, represented by fast Fourier transform amplitude/phase and thermographic signal reconstruction maps, and converted into radial, intensity, and physically motivated predictors. Candidate predictors were screened within the training portion of each grouped validation fold using mutual-information ranking and a stability-based confirmation filter, followed by Extra Trees regression. ROI geometry was evaluated over a grid of inner exclusion radius, outer crop radius, and ROI shape, comparing annular and area-equivalent square ROIs under firearm-held-out grouped validation. The retrospective per-firearm best annular ROI achieved a mean absolute error of 5.7 cm, while a candidate universal annular configuration selected within the same internal grid achieved 6.0 cm. The corresponding retrospective per-firearm best error for the area-equivalent square ROI was 5.8 cm. These findings indicate that ROI geometry should be treated as an explicit methodological parameter in thermographic GSR distance estimation. The proposed pipeline may support complementary, non-contact pattern analysis, but requires external validation before operational forensic use.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120864","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}