This project constitutes an instructional unit for honors biology that involves the use of science in the field of criminal investigation and forensics. Before beginning the unit, the learners should have mastered basic laboratory skills, including use of the microscope. They should also have an understanding of the basic structure and function of DNA and its role in heredity and protein synthesis. The standard time frame is 24 days with 70-minute periods, but can be easily adjusted to meet classroom needs. Several instructional strategies enhance student learning and make science fun. The unit is inquiry-driven and activity-based. Students are surprised by the crime, gather and analyze evidence, and work towards proposing an explanation. This real world problem involves the use of cooperative learning and a variety of assessment techniques.

The purpose of my thesis is to provide description of modus operandi. Specifically it is focusing on determining factors and their influence on modus operandi. It is divided into seven main chapters. Theory is supplemented with examples of forensic practice. The first chapter is providing the description of term modus operandi. This section is also including the part dealing with terminology. Following chapter is about components of modus operandi. The components are divided by their character and their degree of complexity. The third section is dealing with determination in general. The thesis continues by two chapters describing the determinants of modus operandi. The first section is analysis of objective determinants and the following part is about subjective factors. Section of determination is devoted an immense part of my thesis. The sixth chapter is describing mechanisms of formation modus operandi. Conclusion is dealing with forensic significance of modus operandi, concretely the significance for creation of investigative versions, forensic record "modus operandi systém", forensic identification and also for forensic prevention.

Forensic Handwriting Examination The aim of this thesis is to introduce the Forensic handwriting examination as one of the disciplines of Forensic identification, to describe its methods and procedures, and to demonstrate them on specific examples. The aim of the practical part of the thesis is to apply the findings described in the theoretical part of the thesis to the handwriting examination carried out by the author of the thesis, to experimentally verify some of hypotheses presented in the thesis, such as the influence of various factors on the handwriting of an individual, and to examine the most frequent methods of deliberate alteration of one's handwriting. The first chapter of the thesis is focused on the definition of the term "Handwriting Examination", on a brief examination of the history of this branch of forensic science, and on the analysis of its relations to other fields of forensic science, especially to the graphology. The following chapter describes the procedure of establishing one's handwriting habits, the influence of the Czech handwriting system taught to children, and some of the internal and external factors which influence one's handwriting. The third chapter examines the major subject matters of handwriting examination, describes several specific attributes of letters,...

Post mortem interval (PMI – the time elapsed since death and discovery) is important to medicolegal investigations. It helps to construct crucial time lines and assists with the identification of unknown persons by inclusion or exclusion of a suspect’s known movements. Accurate methodologies for establishing PMI are limited to about 48-hours. Such methods involve use of increasing levels of potassium in vitreous humour, and algor mortis. This study is two-fold. Firstly, it explores the biomolecular changes in degrading porcine cartilage buried in soil environments and its potential to determine PMI in the crucial two days to two months period. Trotters were interred in a number of graves at two distinct locations exhibiting dissimilar soil environments. Weekly disinterments (for 6 weeks) resulted in dissection for cartilage samples which were processed for protein immunoblot analyses and cell vitality assays. Results demonstrate that aggrecan, a major structural proteoglycan, produces high (230kDa) and low (38kDa) molecular weight cross-reactive polypeptides (CRPs) within cartilage extracellular matrix. The 230kDa CRP degrades in a reproducible manner irrespective of the different soil environments utilised. As PMI increases, aggrecan diminishes and degrades forming heterogeneous subpopulations with time. Immunodetection of aggrecan ceases when joint exposure to the soil environment occurs. At this time, aggrecan is metabolised by soil microbes. The molecular breakdown of cartilage proteoglycans has potential for use as a reliable indicator of PMI, irrespective of differing soil environments, beyond the 48-hours period. Likewise, vitality assays also demonstrated viable chondrocytes for as long as 35 PM days. The second component of this study examined the fungal activity associated with trotters buried below ground. Results indicate that fungal growth was considerably influenced by soil chemistry and changes in the environment. Fungal colonisation did not demonstrate temporal patterns of succession. The results of this study indicate that cartilage has the potential to prolong PMI determination well beyond the current 48- and 100-hour limitations posed by various other soft tissue methods. Moreover, the long-term post mortem viability of chondrocytes presents an opportunity to explore DNA extraction from these cells for the purpose of establishing a positive identification for unidentified remains. On the contrary, the growth and colonisation patterns of post putrefactive fungi in relation to decomposing porcine trotters proved to be futile for estimating PMI. Therefore, fungi may not be a suitable candidate for evaluating PMI during the early phase fungal activity.

Trata o presente estudo sobre pesquisa levada a efeito na área da ciência forense, onde se propõe, através da recognição dos vestígios materiais deixados pelo fato delituoso nos locais sob investigação técnico-científica em somatório a informações de interesse, um modelo para automatização e informatização dos trabalhos periciais criminais, com transmissão em tempo real e imediata incorporação a banco de dados das informações levantadas, possibilitando tratamento dos dados por rede neural, oferecendo ainda o mapeamento das regiões por tipo penal, ou seja, identificação das ocorrências delituosas por área geográfica, mas não somente como dado estatístico, este útil para a política criminal, mas também como meio investigativo, por importar o delineamento DETALHADO do modus operandi que, uma vez lançado em banco de dados adaptativo, pode realizar entrelaçamento de informações, indicando pontos comuns (espécie de padrão), muito úteis à investigação de delitos continuados. Vale registrar que tal tipo de pesquisa, nestes moldes e como utilizada, não encontra paradigma nos meios policiais técnico-científicos do Brasil Aspectos como a classificação entre os diversos modus operandi encontrados em vários locais, sua compilação e comparação, através de banco de dados gerenciado por redes inteligentes, devem ser fruto da análise tecnológica feita pelo Perito Criminal encarregado do exame, adequada ao fato em si e a sua destinação, haja vista ser seu Laudo não só o documento hábil para tais discernimentos, que darão subsídios à investigação policial, como também dá rumo ao processo penal e, por via de consequência, condão em influenciar em suas conclusões. / This present study is about a research in the area of forensic science, where it proposes, through recognition of the material traces left by the criminal fact on the technical and scientific local under investigation in sum of interest information, a model for automation and computerization of criminal expert work, broadcast on line and immediate incorporation to the database of information collected, allowing processing by neural network, and providing the mapping of regions by criminal type , in other words, identification of criminal incidents by geographic area, but not only as a statistic, this useful for criminal policy, but also as an investigative tool, to import the DETAILED outline the modus operandi that once released in adaptive data bank, can perform lathing of information, indicating commonalities ( sort of default ), very useful for the investigation of ongoing crimes. It is worth noting that this type of research, and how these molds used, has no paradigm in the technical-scientific police in Brazil. Aspects such as the classification between the various modus operandi found in lots of locations, its compilation and comparison through database managed by intelligent network, must be the result of the technological analysis taken by the Criminal Expert in charge of the examination and its destination, considering its report not only be the proper document for such insights, which will provide subsidies to the police investigation, but also gives direction to criminal proceedings and, by consequence, can influence their conclusions.

Trata o presente estudo sobre pesquisa levada a efeito na área da ciência forense, onde se propõe, através da recognição dos vestígios materiais deixados pelo fato delituoso nos locais sob investigação técnico-científica em somatório a informações de interesse, um modelo para automatização e informatização dos trabalhos periciais criminais, com transmissão em tempo real e imediata incorporação a banco de dados das informações levantadas, possibilitando tratamento dos dados por rede neural, oferecendo ainda o mapeamento das regiões por tipo penal, ou seja, identificação das ocorrências delituosas por área geográfica, mas não somente como dado estatístico, este útil para a política criminal, mas também como meio investigativo, por importar o delineamento DETALHADO do modus operandi que, uma vez lançado em banco de dados adaptativo, pode realizar entrelaçamento de informações, indicando pontos comuns (espécie de padrão), muito úteis à investigação de delitos continuados. Vale registrar que tal tipo de pesquisa, nestes moldes e como utilizada, não encontra paradigma nos meios policiais técnico-científicos do Brasil Aspectos como a classificação entre os diversos modus operandi encontrados em vários locais, sua compilação e comparação, através de banco de dados gerenciado por redes inteligentes, devem ser fruto da análise tecnológica feita pelo Perito Criminal encarregado do exame, adequada ao fato em si e a sua destinação, haja vista ser seu Laudo não só o documento hábil para tais discernimentos, que darão subsídios à investigação policial, como também dá rumo ao processo penal e, por via de consequência, condão em influenciar em suas conclusões. / This present study is about a research in the area of forensic science, where it proposes, through recognition of the material traces left by the criminal fact on the technical and scientific local under investigation in sum of interest information, a model for automation and computerization of criminal expert work, broadcast on line and immediate incorporation to the database of information collected, allowing processing by neural network, and providing the mapping of regions by criminal type , in other words, identification of criminal incidents by geographic area, but not only as a statistic, this useful for criminal policy, but also as an investigative tool, to import the DETAILED outline the modus operandi that once released in adaptive data bank, can perform lathing of information, indicating commonalities ( sort of default ), very useful for the investigation of ongoing crimes. It is worth noting that this type of research, and how these molds used, has no paradigm in the technical-scientific police in Brazil. Aspects such as the classification between the various modus operandi found in lots of locations, its compilation and comparison through database managed by intelligent network, must be the result of the technological analysis taken by the Criminal Expert in charge of the examination and its destination, considering its report not only be the proper document for such insights, which will provide subsidies to the police investigation, but also gives direction to criminal proceedings and, by consequence, can influence their conclusions.

In the anthropological analysis of burned bone, the presence of a white heat line aids in determining a bone’s physical condition prior to burning, distinguishing between those burned fleshed or wet versus dry. However, while the relationship between this thermal signature and a bone’s physical condition has been studied, there is a lack of research concerning the chemical composition of white heat lines. The present study assessed the composition of white heat lines that form on burned bone using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with the potassium bromide (KBr) pellet method. The present study examined the effects of soft tissue and the retention of bone’s organic material, including naturally-occurring grease and water, on the development and appearance of a white heat line. Experimental remains consisted of isolated long bones from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis), sheep (Ovis aries), and pig (Sus scrofa) in five physical conditions – fleshed (fresh bones with adhering soft tissue), very wet (recently defleshed bone, greasy), partially wet (defleshed, slight grease retention), dry (defleshed, naturally degreased), and soaked (formerly dry bone immersed in water). These bones were burned over a wood fire made within a 55-gallon drum. After a visual analysis to evaluate white heat line formation, chemical composition was analyzed by determining spectral peak heights of the carbonate (CO3) ν3 (1415 cm-1), phosphate (PO4) ν3 (1035 cm-1), and amide I (1660 cm-1) vibrational bands. These thermal signatures appear to form superficially, measuring approximately 1.5 mm in depth. Results indicate that white heat lines that formed on fleshed bone contain an increased amount of CO3, PO4, and amide I in comparison to their unburned controls, while those that formed on very wet bone contain decreased amounts instead. These findings further our knowledge of how fire modifies physical remains and the effect that bone’s physical condition prior to burning has on the development of a white heat line and the resulting compositional changes. In order to build upon the results gained from the present study, continuing research is needed to investigate compositional differences between white heat lines that form on fleshed versus very wet bone and to assess bone’s fat content as a possible contributing factor. Additional FTIR research is needed to assess the other vibrational bands of CO3, PO4, and amide that are present in bone.

Crime Scene Investigation offers an innovative approach to learning about crime scene investigation, taking the reader from the first response on the crime scene to documenting crime scene evidence and preparing evidence for courtroom presentation. It includes topics not normally covered in other texts, such as forensic anthropology and pathology, arson and explosives, and the electronic crime scene. Numerous photographs and illustrations complement text material, and a chapter-by-chapter fictional narrative also provides the reader with a qualitative dimension of the crime scene experience. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1085/thumbnail.jpg

<p>Inom Polisen finns ett behov av att renodla verksamheten, då de med åren fått ökade administrativa kostnader. Ett projekt startades inom Polisen och Statens kriminaltekniska laboratorium, där all ekonomi- och personaladministration ute på myndigheterna samlades på ett och samma ställe i ett servicecenter förlagt till Linköping. Syftet med studien är att utvärdera hur måluppfyllelsen för de mål som sattes upp för projektet upplevs. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär, med en fallstudieliknande ansats, där 18 intervjuer genomfördes med de anställda på servicecentret, samt flertalet ur projektets styrgrupp.</p><p>Resultatet av studien är att organisationen har kommit långt med måluppfyllelsen, men att man inte har nått riktigt ända fram då studien visar att åtta av elva mål är helt uppfyllda i nuläget. Tre mål är alltså ännu inte helt uppfyllda, vilket kan bero på att många av målen är otydliga, kan tolkas olika och inte är så väl förankrade hos de anställda. Att utgå från några kriterier för hur mål bör formuleras tros förbättra måluppfyllelsen, men då organisationen ändå har lyckats uppfylla målen relativt väl är det ingen förutsättning för att lyckas. Då centret ännu inte är helt färdigt, utan på några års sikt skall utökas till att omfatta alla polismyndigheter i landet, tros många mål leva kvar och en bättre måluppfyllelse uppnås allt eftersom fler myndigheter ansluter sig till centret.</p> / <p>The Swedish Police has increased its administrative costs during the years making the ordinary police work suffer. A project started within The Swedish Police and The Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science. The project aimed to establish a shared service center for personnel and business administration. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the goals of the project have been reached or not. The study has a qualitative approach and is mainly based on 18 interviews with the employees at the shared service center and the directors of the four authorities. The result of the study is that the organization has come a long way in reaching the goals, and has today reached 8 out of the 11 goals for the project. The reasons for there being 3 goals left to reach may be that the goals are unclear and not so well anchored among the employees. Using criterias in formulating goals is thought to make it easier to fulfil the goals. Since the organization has fulfilled the goals quite well even though it has not followed all of the criterias, there is no guarantee for success to follow the criterias in formulating goals. Since the shared service center is not yet complete, but should in a few years include all police authorities in the country. Some goals should still be used and the goals will probably reach better goal performance as more authorities are added to the shared service center.</p>

Inom Polisen finns ett behov av att renodla verksamheten, då de med åren fått ökade administrativa kostnader. Ett projekt startades inom Polisen och Statens kriminaltekniska laboratorium, där all ekonomi- och personaladministration ute på myndigheterna samlades på ett och samma ställe i ett servicecenter förlagt till Linköping. Syftet med studien är att utvärdera hur måluppfyllelsen för de mål som sattes upp för projektet upplevs. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär, med en fallstudieliknande ansats, där 18 intervjuer genomfördes med de anställda på servicecentret, samt flertalet ur projektets styrgrupp. Resultatet av studien är att organisationen har kommit långt med måluppfyllelsen, men att man inte har nått riktigt ända fram då studien visar att åtta av elva mål är helt uppfyllda i nuläget. Tre mål är alltså ännu inte helt uppfyllda, vilket kan bero på att många av målen är otydliga, kan tolkas olika och inte är så väl förankrade hos de anställda. Att utgå från några kriterier för hur mål bör formuleras tros förbättra måluppfyllelsen, men då organisationen ändå har lyckats uppfylla målen relativt väl är det ingen förutsättning för att lyckas. Då centret ännu inte är helt färdigt, utan på några års sikt skall utökas till att omfatta alla polismyndigheter i landet, tros många mål leva kvar och en bättre måluppfyllelse uppnås allt eftersom fler myndigheter ansluter sig till centret. / The Swedish Police has increased its administrative costs during the years making the ordinary police work suffer. A project started within The Swedish Police and The Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science. The project aimed to establish a shared service center for personnel and business administration. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the goals of the project have been reached or not. The study has a qualitative approach and is mainly based on 18 interviews with the employees at the shared service center and the directors of the four authorities. The result of the study is that the organization has come a long way in reaching the goals, and has today reached 8 out of the 11 goals for the project. The reasons for there being 3 goals left to reach may be that the goals are unclear and not so well anchored among the employees. Using criterias in formulating goals is thought to make it easier to fulfil the goals. Since the organization has fulfilled the goals quite well even though it has not followed all of the criterias, there is no guarantee for success to follow the criterias in formulating goals. Since the shared service center is not yet complete, but should in a few years include all police authorities in the country. Some goals should still be used and the goals will probably reach better goal performance as more authorities are added to the shared service center.