The Reliance on Science

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Allsop
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Good Place ◽  
Cold Case

This chapter is concerned with the place of forensic science in cold case reviews and the differences in its positioning when comparing cold case murders and cold case stranger rape reviews. It will be suggested in this chapter that there is a reliance on science in cold case reviews but this reliance is not without issue. However, it is a good place to start an investigation, especially in sexually motivated offences, when it can identify a previously unknown offender, link crimes, or open new investigative lines of enquiry to implicate or eliminate offenders. The issues inherent with relying on forensic science in cold case reviews will also be made clear.

Old forensic Evidence, Contemporary Resources of forensic Science and the Police X-Files — Crime is Not an Abstract and theoretical Entity Out of Touch with Reality

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-124
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zubańska
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Peace Of Mind ◽  
Theoretical Entity ◽  
Police Statistics ◽  
Crime Scene Investigators ◽  
National Police ◽  
Cold Case

The obligation to prosecute the perpetrator of any crime throughout the entire period of its punishability is one of the statutory tasks of the Police. The prominent forensic scientist — Hans Gross claimed that crime is not an abstract and theoretical entity out of touch with reality, but a real social phenomenon that can be investigated and recognised. Nevertheless, archive shelves contain records of undetected crimes from the past years that cast a shadow over police statistics and never give investigators any peace of mind. These undetected crimes from a few, a dozen or even several dozen years ago, are reinvestigated by officers from the Cold Case Units (colloquially referred to as the Police X-Files). Currently, such a unit operates in each regional police headquarters as well as in the National Police Headquarters. The methods and means that the X-Files investigators take advantage of depend on the specificity of an individual case, however, in the model of their conduct, it is forensic science that plays a significant role — alongside covert policing or criminal analysis. Physical evidence plays a huge role in determining the objective truth, and thanks to the research methods and tools currently available to crime scene investigators, the boundaries of learning about the reality are expanding. Despite the passage of time, the purpose of criminal proceedings is achieved, i.e. perpetrators of many crimes committed years ago are identified and brought to justice.

scholarly journals The analysis of a cold case. Crimes in Astigiano in the 90’s: serial killers or different authors?

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2-3) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Agostino Raso ◽  
Giulia Maestoso
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Serial Killers ◽  
Criminal Investigation ◽  
Sono Stati ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Crime News ◽  
Cold Case ◽  
Modern Technologies

“Cold case” is an unsolved major crime (mainly homicide or abduction), which, after long time, can be re-examined by using modern technologies for their investigation. Unsolved homicides are typical examples of “cold case”. Many crime news’ cases (either recent or past) have undergone new examinations, with the support of forensic science. In some cases, these new activities have led to crimes’ solution. To face this new need, both “Carabinieri” and “Polizia di Stato” have established recently specific units as part of their own Criminal Investigation Department. ---------- Per “cold case”, si intendono i c.d. “casi freddi” o “piste fredde”, con riferimento ai delitti più gravi, irrisolti, che anche a distanza di numerosi anni possono essere oggetto di nuove indagini eseguite in particolare attraverso l’utilizzo delle moderne tecniche investigative. Tra questi rientrano per eccellenza gli omicidi rimasti senza colpevole. Numerosi sono i casi di cronaca più o meno recenti che, specie con il supporto delle scienze forensi, sono stati oggetto di nuove indagini, talvolta risolutive. Per far fronte a tale esigenza sia l’Arma dei Carabinieri che la Polizia di Stato hanno creato di recente specifici Reparti di investigazione, all’interno delle proprie strutture centrali di Polizia Giudiziaria. ---------- Para “casos fríos”, nos referimos a c.d. “Casos fríos” o “pendientes frías”, con referencia a los crímenes más graves, no resueltos, que incluso después de varios años pueden ser objeto de nuevas investigaciones llevadas a cabo, en particular, mediante el uso de técnicas modernas de investigación. Estos incluyen la excelencia para los homicidios que quedan impunes. Existen numerosos casos recientes o recientes que, especialmente con el apoyo de la ciencia forense, han estado sujetos a nuevas investigaciones, a veces resolutivas. Para satisfacer esta necesidad, tanto las Armas de Carabinieri como la Policía del Estado han creado recientemente Departamentos de Investigación específicos dentro de sus propias estructuras de Policía Judicial Central.

Sem/X-Ray Applications to the Forensic Science Field

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 390-391
Author(s):  
K. Culbreth
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Depth Of Field ◽  
Surface Phenomena ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Science Field ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hit And Run ◽  
Evaluation Of Evidence ◽  
Scanning Electron

The introduction of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis to forensic science has provided additional methods by which investigative evidence can be analyzed. The importance of evidence from the scene of a crime or from the personal belongings of a victim and suspect has resulted in the development and evaluation of SEM/x-ray analysis applications to various types of forensic evidence. The intent of this paper is to describe some of these applications and to relate their importance to the investigation of criminal cases.The depth of field and high resolution of the SEM are an asset to the evaluation of evidence with respect to surface phenomena and physical matches (1). Fig. 1 shows a Phillips screw which has been reconstructed after the head and shank were separated during a hit-and-run accident.

Forensic Identifications Aided by Scanning Electron Microscopy of Silicone-Epoxy Microreplicas of Calcified and Cornified Structures

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 678-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Sognnaes
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
George Washington ◽  
Epithelial Surface ◽  
Extended Application ◽  
Tissue Surfaces ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Scanning Electron ◽  
Surface Changes

Sufficient experience has been gained during the past five years to suggest an extended application of microreplication and scanning electron microscopy to problems of forensic science. The author's research was originally initiated with a view to develop a non-destructive method for identification of materials that went into objects of art, notably ivory and ivories. This was followed by a very specific application to the identification and duplication of the kinds of materials from animal teeth and tusks which two centuries ago went into the fabrication of the ivory dentures of George Washington. Subsequently it became apparent that a similar method of microreplication and SEM examination offered promise for a whole series of problems pertinent to art, technology and science. Furthermore, what began primarily as an application to solid substances has turned out to be similarly applicable to soft tissue surfaces such as mucous membranes and skin, even in cases of acute, chronic and precancerous epithelial surface changes, and to post-mortem identification of specific structures pertinent to forensic science.

A Good Place to Start

1980 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 380-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGIA BABLADELIS
Keyword(s):  
Good Place

PROBLEMS AND TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT OF BRANCHES OF CRIMINALISTIC TECHNOLOGY

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitaliy Elyotnov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Forensic Photography ◽  
Forensic Research ◽  
Forensic Scientists ◽  
Further Development

The article examines the key provisions of traditional and developing branches of forensic technology as a branch of the forensic science. The article analyzes modern publications of domestic and foreign scientists dedicated to the problems of forensic technology. Discussion issues and gaps existing in the theory and practice of such branches of forensic technology as forensic photography and video recording, forensic phonoscopy, forensic traceology, forensic weapons science, forensic documentation, forensic research of substances, materials and products, forensic registration, etc. The opinions of individual forensic scientists on the resolution of controversial issues of forensic technology are given. The scientific directions that have not received at present recognition of independent branches of forensic technology are indicated. The promising areas of research in the framework of the branches of forensic technology are named, the main trends of its further development are formulated.

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