Thesis (M.S.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2007. / Thesis advisor: Kathleen Bantley. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Criminal Justice." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-45). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Volume crimes such as burglary and street robbery present an enormous cost to the Australian community each year. These ubiquitous crimes traditionally have a low resolution rate, but the use of information gathered through DNA databases provides another avenue of investigation. The forensic response to these crimes could be increased with the use of trace DNA; however the lack of awareness of forensic science as a holistic discipline focusing on the study of traces, often leads to a lack of knowledge into the trace evidence characteristics of DNA. This problem is compounded by practical and interpretive difficulties. The main hypothesis tested through this study is that, with an increased understanding into the criminalistic properties of trace DNA, it may prove to be more useful and effective evidence in the investigation of volume crime than is currently the case. The project encompassed three parts. The first component was a detailed survey sent to every jurisdiction in Australia and New Zealand to benchmark methods and protocols, education and training of personnel, and opinions and uses of trace DNA. The second involved the analysis of the results of 250 trace DNA swabs collected from New South Wales crime scenes, in order to provide a comparison point to the experimental work. The final section comprised preliminary experimental work to investigate the abundance, transfer and persistence of trace DNA within the context of residential burglary and street robbery offences. The methods survey helped to identify methods to be used in the experimental component of the project, but also highlighted issues in the field including a lack of training and proficiency testing. The absence of data collation across the jurisdictions was also a point for concern, and prevented the identification of factors that may affect trace DNA success rates. The pervading outcome of the survey was the need for effective data management systems and strong communication lines to facilitate best practice. From the analysis of the casework data a success rate in the order of 15- 20% was identified for New South Wales trace DNA swabs, with an average of 1.7ng of DNA recovered. Subsets of the data were used to directly compare to the experimental results in terms of transfer and persistence. The experimental work gave an insight into the behaviour of trace DNA in crime scene scenarios. The level of background DNA on surfaces encountered in forensic investigations was varied; for example residential doors were found to hold more background DNA than windows. Whilst the level of DNA on personal items such as bags and wallets was found to be relatively high, DNA from the offenders of simulated robberies could still be detected in usable quantities on these items. DNA was found to persist in sheltered locations for at least six weeks,but declined more rapidly in outdoor environments, with profiles not recovered after two weeks. This information may help to assist the interpretation and presentation of trace DNA evidence when the judicial question is one of activity, rather than source. The data also may be used in the education of crime scene examiners to assist them to target the most probative evidential samples. With further work in this field, trace DNA will be more easily applied to investigations. Trace DNA may be a useful tool in volume crime investigations, but individual jurisdictions should assess their capacity to manage the evidence to ensure results can be disseminated and actioned in a timely manner, otherwise the investment may prove to be fruitless. Effective and ongoing training programs and functional data management systems should be implemented to maximise both the investigative and intelligence value of trace DNA evidence. A holistic approach to the implementation of forensic evidence, encompassing the groundwork of theoretical analysis, review of capabilities and logistical and technical improvements, would greatly increase its value in policing and the criminal justice system.

Volume crimes such as burglary and street robbery present an enormous cost to the Australian community each year. These ubiquitous crimes traditionally have a low resolution rate, but the use of information gathered through DNA databases provides another avenue of investigation. The forensic response to these crimes could be increased with the use of trace DNA; however the lack of awareness of forensic science as a holistic discipline focusing on the study of traces, often leads to a lack of knowledge into the trace evidence characteristics of DNA. This problem is compounded by practical and interpretive difficulties. The main hypothesis tested through this study is that, with an increased understanding into the criminalistic properties of trace DNA, it may prove to be more useful and effective evidence in the investigation of volume crime than is currently the case. The project encompassed three parts. The first component was a detailed survey sent to every jurisdiction in Australia and New Zealand to benchmark methods and protocols, education and training of personnel, and opinions and uses of trace DNA. The second involved the analysis of the results of 250 trace DNA swabs collected from New South Wales crime scenes, in order to provide a comparison point to the experimental work. The final section comprised preliminary experimental work to investigate the abundance, transfer and persistence of trace DNA within the context of residential burglary and street robbery offences. The methods survey helped to identify methods to be used in the experimental component of the project, but also highlighted issues in the field including a lack of training and proficiency testing. The absence of data collation across the jurisdictions was also a point for concern, and prevented the identification of factors that may affect trace DNA success rates. The pervading outcome of the survey was the need for effective data management systems and strong communication lines to facilitate best practice. From the analysis of the casework data a success rate in the order of 15- 20% was identified for New South Wales trace DNA swabs, with an average of 1.7ng of DNA recovered. Subsets of the data were used to directly compare to the experimental results in terms of transfer and persistence. The experimental work gave an insight into the behaviour of trace DNA in crime scene scenarios. The level of background DNA on surfaces encountered in forensic investigations was varied; for example residential doors were found to hold more background DNA than windows. Whilst the level of DNA on personal items such as bags and wallets was found to be relatively high, DNA from the offenders of simulated robberies could still be detected in usable quantities on these items. DNA was found to persist in sheltered locations for at least six weeks,but declined more rapidly in outdoor environments, with profiles not recovered after two weeks. This information may help to assist the interpretation and presentation of trace DNA evidence when the judicial question is one of activity, rather than source. The data also may be used in the education of crime scene examiners to assist them to target the most probative evidential samples. With further work in this field, trace DNA will be more easily applied to investigations. Trace DNA may be a useful tool in volume crime investigations, but individual jurisdictions should assess their capacity to manage the evidence to ensure results can be disseminated and actioned in a timely manner, otherwise the investment may prove to be fruitless. Effective and ongoing training programs and functional data management systems should be implemented to maximise both the investigative and intelligence value of trace DNA evidence. A holistic approach to the implementation of forensic evidence, encompassing the groundwork of theoretical analysis, review of capabilities and logistical and technical improvements, would greatly increase its value in policing and the criminal justice system.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Dentistry and School of Pharmacy. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2004. / "A dissertation in oral biology and pharmacology." Advisor: J. David Eick. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed Feb. 22, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-189). Online version of the print edition.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Forensic DNA profiling is widely used as an identification tool for associating an individual with evidence of a crime. Analysis of a DNA sample involves observation of data in the form of an electropherogram, and subsequently annotating a DNA “profile” from an individual or from the evidence. The profile obtained from the evidence can be compared to reference profiles deposited in a national DNA database, which may include the potential contributor. Following a match, a random match probability is calculated to determine how common that genotype is in the population. This is the probability of obtaining that same DNA profile by sampling from a pool of unrelated individuals. Each state has adopted various laws requiring suspects and/or offenders to submit a DNA sample for the national database (such as California’s law that all who are arrested must provide a DNA sample). These profiles can then be associated with past unsolved crimes, and remain in the database to be searched in the event of future crimes. In the case of database samples, a physical sample of the offender’s DNA must be kept on file in the laboratory indefinitely so that in the event of a database hit, the sample is able to be retested. Current methods are to collect a buccal swab or blood sample, and store the DNA extracts under strict preservation conditions, i.e. cold storage, typically -20° C. With continually increasing number of samples submitted, a burden is placed on crime labs to store these DNA extracts. A solution was required to help control the costs of properly storing the samples. FTA™ paper was created to fulfill the need for inexpensive, low maintenance, long term storage of biological samples, which makes it ideal for use with convicted offender DNA samples. FTA™ paper is a commercially produced, chemically treated paper that allows DNA to be stored at room temperature for years with no costly storage facilities or conditions. Once a sample is required for DNA testing, a small disc is removed and is to be used directly in a PCR reaction. A high quality profile is important for comparing suspect profiles to unknown or database profiles. A single difference between a suspect and evidentiary sample can lead to exclusion. Unfortunately, the DNA profile results yielded from the direct addition have been unfavorable. Thus, most crime laboratories will extract the DNA from the disc, leading to additional time and cost to analyze a reference sample. Many of the profiles from the direct addition of an FTA™ disc result in poor quality profiles, likely due to an increase in PCR inhibitors and high concentrations of DNA. Currently, standardized protocols regarding the recommended locations for removal of a sample disc from a bloodspot on an FTA™ card does not exist. This study aims to validate the optimal location by comparing DNA profiles obtained from discs removed from the center, halfway, and edge locations of a bloodspot from 50 anonymous donors. Optimal punch location was first scored on the number of failed, partial or discordant profiles. Then, profile quality was determined based on peak characteristics of the resulting DNA profiles. The results for all three disc locations were 5.3% failed amplifications, 4.2% partial amplifications, and one case of a discordant profile. Profile quality for the majority of the samples showed a high incidence of stutter and the absence of non-template adenylation. Of the three disc locations, the edge of the blood stain was ideal, due to a presumably lower concentration of DNA and likely more dilute amount of the PCR inhibitor heme. Therefore, based on the results of this study, there is a greater probability of success using a sample from the edge of a blood stain spotted in FTA™ paper than any other location of the FTA™ card.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / DNA phenotyping is a rapidly developing area of research in forensic biology. Externally visible characteristics (EVCs) can be determined based on genotype data, specifically from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs are chosen based on their association with genes related to the phenotypic expression of interest, with known examples in eye, hair, and skin color traits. DNA phenotyping has forensic importance when unknown biological samples at a crime scene do not result in a criminal database hit; a phenotype profile of the sample can therefore be used to develop investigational leads. IrisPlex, an eye color prediction assay, has previously shown high prediction rates for blue and brown eye color in a European population. The objective of this work was to evaluate its utility in a North American population. We evaluated the six SNPs included in the IrisPlex assay in an admixed population sample collected from a U.S.A. college campus. We used a quantitative method of eye color classification based on (RGB) color components of digital photographs of the eye taken from each study volunteer and placed in one of three eye color categories: brown, intermediate, and blue. Objective color classification was shown to correlate with basic human visual determination making it a feasible option for use in future prediction assay development. In the original IrisPlex study with the Dutch samples, they correct prediction rates achieved were 91.6% for blue eye color and 87.5% for brown eye color. No intermediate eyes were tested. Using these samples and various models, the maximum prediction accuracies of the IrisPlex system achieved was 93% and 33% correct brown and blue eye color predictions, respectively, and 11% for intermediate eye colors. The differences in prediction accuracies is attributed to the genetic differences in allele frequencies within the sample populations tested. Future developments should include incorporation of additional informative SNPs, specifically related to the intermediate eye color, and we recommend the use of a Bayesian approach as a prediction model as likelihood ratios can be determined for reporting purposes.