Estimation of age at death from dentine from upper first premolar teeth using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the separation of D- and L- forms of aspartic acid in minute quantities of dentine has been successfully established in Kuwait and is sensitive enough for practical use. The method was shown to be accurate to <i>+</i>/<i>- </i>1.2 years. The affect upon racemization of aspartic acid in teeth buried at depths of 0.5M<i> </i>and 2.0M over a 10 month period demonstrated that in desert conditions in the Middle East racemization continued providing results less constant than in teeth not buried. A standard error of <i>+</i>/<i>- </i>2.3 years was obtained for teeth buried at 0.5M and <i>+</i>/<i>- </i>3.0 years at 2.0M. The D/L ration was significantly different between buried and not buried teeth. These results demonstrated continued postmortem racemization in the warm soil and the modification of the racemization rate is discussed in the context of prolonged exposure to body temperature, relatively high pH and low humidity. The findings are important since estimation of the age of an unknown body recovered from the desert must now take into consideration temperature, pH, soil humidity at the burial depth (as measured at the site) and also the length of time for which the teeth may have been buried. Further studies now require to be undertaken in conditions where the soil and climate are very different in order that the results of racemization estimates world wide can be interpreted accurately. The trace element experiments while demonstrating an accumulation of most elements with time did not provide reliable information about the age of the subject at the time of death. The variables and problems concerned are discussed in detail. Although through using both racemization and trace element methods it was possible to indicate a probability of gender in any tooth examined the degree of accuracy proved to be poor and it is anticipated that DNA analysis will be much more useful. The future role for tooth pulps in DNA identification is briefly discussed.

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This thesis analyses the traditional approach and methodology used to conduct digital forensic information capture, analysis and investigation. The predominant toolsets and utilities that are used and the features that they provide are reviewed. This is used to highlight the difficulties that are encountered due to both technological advances and the methodologies employed. It is suggested that these difficulties are compounded by the archaic methods and proprietary formats that are used. An alternative framework for the capture and storage of information used in digital forensics is defined named the 'Digital Evidence Bag' (DEB). A DEB is a universal extensible container for the storage of digital information acquired from any digital source. The format of which can be manipulated to meet the requirements of the particular information that is to be stored. The format definition is extensible thereby allowing it to encompass new sources of data, cryptographic and compression algorithms and protocols as developed, whilst also providing the flexibility for some degree of backwards compatibility as the format develops. The DEB framework utilises terminology to define its various components that are analogous with evidence bags, tags and seals used for traditional physical evidence storage and continuity. This is crucial for ensuring that the functionality provided by each component is comprehensible by the general public, judiciary and law enforcement personnel without detracting or obscuring the evidential information contained within. Furthermore, information can be acquired from a dynamic or more traditional static environment and from a disparate range of digital devices. The flexibility of the DEB framework permits selective and/or intelligent acquisition methods to be employed together with enhanced provenance and continuity audit trails to be recorded. Evidential integrity is assured using accepted cryptographic techniques and algorithms. The DEB framework is implemented in a number of tool demonstrators and applied to a number of typical scenarios that illustrate the flexibility of the DEB framework and format. The DEB framework has also formed the basis of a patent application.

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No description available.

Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are primary colonisers of cadavers; the ages of the eldest immature stages can be used to estimate minimum post-mortem interval (PMI). These estimates are obtained using calliphorid larvae, for which there are established and reliable preservation protocols and age estimation methods. The opposite is true for pupae; non-standardised crime-scene collection and preservation methods are employed, resulting in poorly preserved specimens for age estimation, which is often conducted using limited and inadequate research data. This has hindered the use of this sedentary, long-lasting stage of the blowfly lifecycle in PMI estimation. A multidisciplinary approach to age estimation of Calliphora vicina pupae was explored, including development of standard preservation protocols, with the aim of improving PMI estimation. Initial work involved the development of standardised egg collection protocols for the purpose of minimising variation in lifecycle length and precocious egg occurrence. This enabled quantification of pupal age error, which was subsequently applied to developmental timelines. Multiple preservation protocols were then trialled on pupae with the aim of retaining native morphological form and nucleic acid integrity for species identification and proposed age estimation methods. Optimal preservation methods for each analysis were suggested and the following universal preservative protocol proposed: pupae are pierced, hot-water-killed, and stored in 80% ethanol at - 20°C. Three methods of pupal age estimation were developed using changes in external morphology, histology and temporal gene expression. The external morphological development of 23 features was recorded from 1494 pupae. These data was used to create a Pupal Age Estimator tool, comprising a manual age-range correlation method and a regression equation for age estimation. Blind sample analysis indicated that age could be estimated to within 23 hours at 22°C, approaching the observed natural variation range. Internal morphological development of 42 pupae sampled at 24-hourly intervals was examined using histology and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Six additional features were identified as suitable age markers, however full analysis was limited by the inherent tissue loss due to sectioning and the low resolution of OCT. Finally, temporal gene expression levels of 42 pupae (selected at 24-hourly intervals) were quantified using qRT-PCR. Expression ratios were calculated between three developmentally expressed genes (Ecr, LSP-2 and Trp) and two housekeeping genes (EF1α and RP49). Regression analysis of these data indicated age estimation was possible to approximately 23 hours at 22°C. It can therefore be considered that the reliability and precision of PMI estimation using the C. vicina pupal stage is much improved from that possible at present. Pupal age estimation is critically dependent on appropriate preservation, now facilitated by the proposed standard protocols and by combining all age estimation methods presented here, a multidisciplinary approach can estimate C. vicina pupal age to within 23 hours at 22°C.

This thesis describes the process of exploring the therapeutic engagement (TE) experiences of men detained in forensic environments. Therapeutic non-engagement for this hard to reach group can have devastating consequences for themselves, for staff, and to the public. A review of the literature highlighted how individual environments are likely to create specific factors which staff may consider when attempting to engage with men who are detained. There had however been limited investigations into TE from service users’ (SUs) perspectives. To better understand the factors involved in TE for men engaged in medium secure care, an SU informed study was completed to explore the lived experiences of men in a regional UK hospital. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the resultant themes included how SUs experienced occupying different worlds to staff, as well as themes relating to what the individual brings to therapy, what the therapy entails, and having or not having control. The researcher used the resultant themes to comment on the processes of conducting the research by considering their navigation between different worlds of SU research and ethics, and how implementing the findings achieved personal goals.

The extent of decomposition of a body can be used, in conjunction with accumulated degree days (ADD), to provide an estimate of the post-mortem interval (PMI). PMI estimations are important in aiding police to narrow down the possible identity of a body, and to include or exclude suspects, and also to establish the order of death for inheritance purposes when two or more potential beneficiaries die at around the same time. Previous studies have shown the decomposition pattern in hanging bodies to be different from that of a body on the ground, but the sample sizes used have been small. This study presents the results of a series of decomposition studies on hanging bodies in a variety of situations; clothed and unclothed, and fully or partially suspended. The study used domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) which enabled large enough sample sizes for statistical robustness. Pigs lying on the ground were used as controls. The pattern of decomposition in hanging pigs was found to differ sufficiently from that of pigs lying on the ground to require the creation of a novel decomposition scoring scale, which was used successfully to score both clothed and unclothed fully suspended bodies, as well as the upper, suspended, part of partially suspended bodies. The presence of loose, lightweight clothing, which did not impede insect access, was found to affect both the pattern and rate of decomposition in hanging pigs, with the clothed bodies decomposing faster than the unclothed bodies (p < 0.05, F2, 477 = 1238). The variations in the start weights of the pigs used for these studies was found to have a statistically significant effect on the rate of decomposition for both the hanging bodies and those on the ground (p < 0.05, F5, 714 = 1962) but the effect was so small as to make no practical difference across the range of start weights encountered. The effect of variation in start weight may be of greater concern, however, in scoring very heavy, obese, bodies and may be exacerbated by the increased fat-to-muscle ratios encountered in such bodies. Finally a set of ADD prediction tables were produced for the hanging and surface pigs. Further work is needed to establish to what extent these tables can be used for humans and, in light of the growing obesity problems in humans, to investigate the effect of weight and increased fat-to-muscle ratios on the pattern and rate of decomposition.

This thesis explores the role of complex psychological trauma (CPT) and violence within male adult offenders. It aims to investigate the impact of CPT in better understanding the trauma-violence relationship. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the topic of CPT and violence. Chapter 2 is a systematic review that investigates the prevalence of CPT in violent males and reviews the existing evidence for the trauma-violence relationship. This review provides some evidence for the trauma-violence relationship, finding that CPT correlated with violent outcomes. Physical neglect correctly classified violent offenders by offence status, whilst physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse were also found to be associated with violent offending. The findings regarding CPT predicting violent offending were mixed, whilst a higher percentage of studies supported the trauma- violence notion, a minority number of studies did not. The evidence for CPT predicting violent behaviour in custody was more consistently shown across studies assessing this outcome. The role of mediating and moderating factors in the trauma-violence relationship were also investigated, finding that psychopathy, age, substance misuse, genetic factors, and positive criminal thinking styles and attitudes accounted for some variances. Following this review, Chapter 3 includes a Thematic Analysis (TA) investigating forensic nursing staff’s perceptions of the impact of CPT on forensic male offenders with a diagnosis of personality disorder, particularly with regards to violent behaviour whilst detained in a mental health high-secure hospital. Nursing staff’s experiences of managing patient distress and violence were also explored. The findings illustrate that nursing staff believed patient distress and violent behaviour were associated with CPT experiences, suggesting that the impact of CPT on attachment, biological, cognitive and affective aspects of functioning during development, served to account for the difficulties that patients faced in adulthood and increased the likelihood of violence. On-going prevention strategies were found to be most important and more effective than short-term risk management steps. The management of patient distress in the context of the therapeutic relationship was illustrated as a significant component for promoting recovery and successfully managing challenging behaviours. Aspects of the secure environment that imitated abuse experiences were also perceived to significantly contribute to the occurrence of violent behaviour. Change with regards to transitioning and progressing through the system was identified to evoke trauma-related fears of moving on. The fear of moving on and its association with trauma experiences was explored in a single case study of a male violent offender with personality disorder, which is presented in Chapter 4. This chapter aimed to identify and outline the offender’s fears about transitioning from a high-secure hospital to a medium-secure unit (MSU), and understanding the factors that contributed to and maintained the client’s fears. The client’s fears were found to relate to previous-trauma related experiences, although interpersonal violence and trauma experiences in the prison environment were found to be a deep rooted aspect of the client’s concerns about moving on. Whilst the client feared being vulnerable to abuse, threat and further ‘persecution’, the fear of being unable to manage his behaviour (e.g. aggression) in response to this and cope with such potential experiences outside of the high-secure environment and subsequent consequences of not being able to cope (arrest and transfer to prison), was perceived to be a more frightening prospect. Upon exploring fears of moving on, the client’s existing cognitive-behavioural relapse prevention (RP) plan was reviewed in assisting the client to revisit skills and coping strategies that can be used to prepare and avoid high-risk situations. This work contributed to understanding the ways to best support the client in making a successful transition to a MSU. Key considerations and recommendations are made at the end of the chapter with regards to the case. Following this, Chapter 5 outlines a critique of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1999), which was used in Chapter 4 as it provides a measure of coping with stressful, distressing or painful situations. The CISS is examined with regards to its purpose, reliability and validity in terms of its research uses. Chapter 6 provides a discussion of the thesis findings, outlining the implications of the research and providing recommendations for future research.