Forensic Science | Forensic Magazine

Digital Forensics

Mozilla Firefox Forensics: Part 4
Firefox (version 16.0.2) typically includes twelve SQLite databases, each of which performs a different function such as to store bookmarks, cookies, places visited, searches, and so forth.
Mozilla Firefox Forensics: Part 3
The majority of potential forensic information from Firefox does not reside in the Windows Registry, but rather in two directories located in the individual User account(s).
A Bit About Taking a Byte Out of Digital Forensics Laboratories
Combating cybercrime is the purview of the digital forensics laboratory—a relative newcomer on the forensic scene. What are the requirements for designing laboratory spaces that best support this ever changing section?

Firearms

Forensic Gunshot Acoustic Analysis is Heating Up. Don't Get Burned
Gunshot acoustics hold plenty of investigative promise, but analysis can be difficult even for experts.
The Science Behind GSR: Separating Fact from Fiction
Here is a behind the scenes look at the science surrounding GSR investigations and the facts that make them dynamic.
GSR: How Do You Know You're Right?
Using integrated SEM-EDX technology to provide automatic, rapid, and validated results.

Forensic Anthropology

The Medicolegal Autopsy Facility: Specialized Design for Specialized Needs
Medicolegal autopsy facilities represent a particularly challenging set of criteria for project design teams. The facilities generally require core spaces developed for subsections of analysis and must support a specimen processing flow.
Computerized Skull Reconstructions
CT scans and computer modeling allow for faster facial reconstructions to expedite missing persons cases.
Soil Characteristics that Impact Clandestine Graves
Analyzing soil characteristics at a potential grave site can provide forensic investigators with information about the evidence within before the digging commences.

Pathology

Forensic Phylogenetic Analysis: Under the Microscope
Phylogenetic analysis—sometimes given the misnomer “HIV fingerprinting”—has been used repeatedly in world courts to try cases of deliberate HIV transmission.
A Pre-mortem Meeting with the Coroner
I recently sat down with Portage County Coroner, Scott Rifleman, to explore the many responsibilities of the Coroner.
The Medicolegal Autopsy Facility: Specialized Design for Specialized Needs
Medicolegal autopsy facilities represent a particularly challenging set of criteria for project design teams. The facilities generally require core spaces developed for subsections of analysis and must support a specimen processing flow.

Latent Prints

Defining AFIS Requirements
Clearly defining your workflow and specifying your system requirements will ensure you get the Automated Fingerprint Identification System your agency needs.
Case Study: India’s Criminal AFPIS Solution
Police departments in seven Indian states have solved more than 500 crimes with a biometric system that links fingerprint and palmprint collection at crime scenes with district databases in real-time, providing almost instantaneous biometric matching and identification results.
Optimal Temperatures for Latent Print Recovery
A study on the effects of time and temperature on the recovery of latent prints from computer paper and plastic bottles.

Forensic Art

Computerized Skull Reconstructions
CT scans and computer modeling allow for faster facial reconstructions to expedite missing persons cases.
The New Eyewitness
Forensic DNA Phenotyping—predicting a person’s appearance by analyzing crime scene samples with suitable DNA markers—is a nascent science. But the potential exists. The scientific work just needs to be done.
Forensic Art
The case of an unidentified girl illustrates forensic reconstruction techniques. Learning about the science, facial features, muscles, proportions, different races, interviewing skills, composite drawings, skull reconstructions, and how gravity affects the deceased are all important to successful reconstructions.

Entomology

Crime Scene Bugs
By studying the types of bugs present at the scene and their stage of development, forensic entomologists can estimate the time of death, and in many cases, determine if the body was moved or disturbed and whether the deceased person had ingested drugs.
Rebuttal to Forensic Entomology: Myths Busted! Published in Forensic Magazine®, October/November 2006
We wish to take issue with two major points that the authors have identified as “myths” in “Forensic Entomology: Myths Busted!” andpresent some contrasting points of view.
Knowledge: The Key To Crime Scene Investigation
The field of crime scene investigation is constantly changing. With advances in technology and science, we have more tools than ever to help us solve crimes.

Impression Evidence

Step Toward Better Track Evidence Photos
Proper photography techniques are essential to the documentation and analysis of impression evidence.
Tool Mark Impressions
A slightly different technique for collecting tool mark impression evidence.
Innovations in Scanning Electron Microscopy Preserve Sample Integrity and Validity in Forensic Analysis
Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) provide forensic investigators with critical imaging and analytical capabilities that are not available from other techniques. In particular, they can resolve features as small as a nanometer, allowing useful magnifications of 100,000 times or more.

Forensic Sciences