This research determined if the patterns resulting from different chainsaw chain types impacting bone leave tool marks are dissimilar enough from one another to determine which type of chainsaw was used in dismemberment mimicking homicide cases. Multiple styles of commercially available chainsaw chains were used. The long bones of adult white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were cut to produce false start cuts and complete sectioning to mimic typical human dismemberment. The cut areas were examined macroscopically and microscopically to note features common to each chain. The chains were compared to one another to note differences. It was proposed that each chainsaw would leave different tool marks. It was found that the style of tooth significantly affects the size of the exit chipping, size of the breakaway notch, angling of the kerf floor, and the mass of bone wastage produced. The most significant differences were produced with a standard tooth. The skip of the chainsaw did not create significant differences. This research has applications in forensic anthropology through the additional information on tool marks and the ability to identify specific tool types. The information is also useful to law enforcement investigations involving dismemberments.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 B76 / Master of Arts

The aim of this research paper is to evaluate the techniques used to collect latent prints from documents in Addis Ababa Police Commission and give some recommendations on how to cope with the problem. The researcher started off by looking at the general orientation of the research and how the research has been done. Then in the next chapter, the meaning and objective of Forensic Investigation, right or mandate to investigate, the meaning of physical evidence and the prints and techniques used internationally to collect latent prints are discussed. In the third chapter, the best method of collecting latent prints from documents and the method and practice of collecting latent prints from documents at Addis Ababa Police Commission Forensic Evidence Collection Department were discussed. Finally, the finding of the research and some critical recommendations were given. Latent prints from documents are very crucial to identifying the suspects and for legal proceedings or the court process. Even if it is known by the police officers, the techniques and the materials they are using to collect latent prints are with powders which are less effective. According to the research, the Ninhydrin chemical is the best technique recommended to collect latent prints from documents This research paper gives a truly unique perspective on how latent prints should be collected from documents.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Statistics and Actuarial Science / Master / Master of Philosophy

Recently, attachment theory has been proposed as a possible unifying framework for assessing the parent-child relationship as part of custody determinations, due to the theory's rich empirical support. Though forensic evaluators have begun to incorporate the child’s attachment to his/her caretaker, the question of the parents' adult attachment style has so far been overlooked as a potentially relevant area for gathering information regarding parenting. Adult attachment theory not only has implications for parenting, but also for understanding co-parenting relationships and conflicts, which is often the primary reason for many child custody referrals. This study will use an attachment framework to explore group differences between child custody litigants and satisfied married couples on the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Analyses of these variables will be completed through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Additionally, discriminant function analysis (DFA) will be conducted to explore the dimensionality of the multivariate composites between groups. Information derived from the prospective study will contribute to understanding specific attachment related group differences and thus serve as the first step in establishing the R-PAS as a system for detecting attachment organization in child-custody litigants. It is hoped that this research will better inform forensic evaluators concerning: stress and coping styles; co-parenting; caregiving fitness; and ultimately child custody decisions. / text

Introduction: Previously diversion from the criminal justice system for people with LD and forensic needs had meant hospitalisation, but more recently a model of community-based rehabilitation has become possible via new mental health legislation. Community-based orders aim to rehabilitate clients via compulsory, intensive staff support. Although this model is beneficial in theory, empirical evidence suggests there may be a number of issues in practice. The current study aimed to capture the subjective experience of a group of individuals with LD and forensic needs currently on community-based orders. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants subject to a community-based order which obliged them to accept intensive staff support. All participants were male. Ages, index behaviour, and time spent on order varied. The data was transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: The main themes which emerged from the data were A taste of freedom, Not being in control, Getting control back, Loneliness, and Feeling like a service user. Overall the results indicated a general ambivalence towards support. Discussion: Participant accounts suggest that the current community rehabilitation model has some shortcomings which need to be addressed. The system as it stands appears to promote high levels of external control, failing to empower clients to self-manage. Suggestions are made for improvements to the current model relating to: achieving clarity over the role of support staff and pathways out of the system; increasing opportunities for service users to voice concerns; empowering staff teams via extensive training and supervision; and directly addressing internalised stigma to promote integration.

Forensic entomology is a well-established science linking arthropod biology and ecology to legal investigations. Specifically, immature development on a decomposing corpse may give insight into the minimum time elapsed since death. Until recently, biological variation within a single species has been overlooked when estimating colonization events. Variation in the form of phenotypic plasticity, or the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes under alternative stresses, has been documented in genetic and ecological literature and spans across all phyla. Taking this into account, different subpopulations of forensically pertinent insect species should also possess the ability to adapt to changing environments as geographic distribution increases. Thus, plastic responses of a species to alternative stresses may be measured in biological parameters, such as development time. In this research, three geographically distinct strains of the blow fly Cochliomyia macellaria Fabricius (Diptera Calliphoridae) were reared in two distinct environments in order to measure development time, as well as pupal and adult masses. Strains exhibited genetic variance when compared to each other, and each strain exhibited variable responses across environments (phenotypic plasticity). Plasticity in the form of genotype by environment (GxE) interactions was also exhibited by C. macellaria, although consistent adherence to any single rule explaining ontogenetic trends was not apparent. This research supports the existence of intraspecific variation in a common blow fly of forensic importance. Results of this study will impact the forensic entomology community by encouraging the generation of either strain;specific developmental datasets or statistical models to minimize variation caused by genetic, environment, or GxE effects in order to compare developmental data across strains.

Background: High levels of dissociation have been found in recent studies involving psychiatric inpatients. Proponents of the ‘dissociative psychoses’ have found that trauma-focused intervention strategies can improve outcomes of patients with major mental illness. Despite this, levels of dissociation have not been measured in forensic inpatients in Scotland. This study investigates levels of dissociative symptoms (DES-II) within a sample of male patients in secure forensic psychiatry settings in Scotland. It explores levels of psychosis (PANSS) and self-reported childhood trauma (CTQ), current PTSD symptoms (IES-R), levels of depression (BDI-II) and broad attachment style (RQ). Four groups were arbitrarily defined based on presence or absence of psychosis and childhood trauma. It was hypothesised that levels of dissociation would be predicted by presence of childhood trauma. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used in which 56 mentally disordered offenders were interviewed across three different secure hospitals in Scotland: The State Hospital – a maximum security psychiatric hospital, and two medium secure facilities. Attempts are made to clarify the relationship of dissociation with different types of childhood trauma and psychosis symptom clusters. By splitting the data into groups the study seeks to discern whether the groups differ significantly on dissociation scores in relation to the childhood experiences they reported and presence of psychosis they are experiencing. Results: Childhood traumatic experiences were frequent where median CTQ total score = 47.0 (IQR: 42-70.5). Physical neglect was reported by 58.9% of the sample closely followed by emotional neglect (55.4%). 46.4% of the sample reported physical abuse of significant levels, 44.6% reported being emotionally abused and almost a third reported being sexually abused (28.6%). DES-II (dissociation) scores were significantly associated with delusions and hallucinatory behaviour from PANSS. Emotional abuse and sexual abuse were significantly associated with dissociation scores. Mann Whitney tests revealed that dissociation was significantly higher in the groups which reported childhood trauma. Kruskal-Wallis results indicated no significant differences between groups within the data and dissociation scores. Conclusion: Patients with clinically significant levels of dissociative symptoms were identified. This indicates that dissociation is a key characteristic, warranting further consideration in this sample. Levels and severity of reported childhood trauma were higher than expected. The findings add weight and support to the importance of dissociation and trauma in formulations of male, mentally disordered offenders. Clinical implications of these findings are considered and further directions are discussed.

This study proposes the classification of the toolmark under the heads of zipper teeth as a subclass characteristic as outlined by the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE). Two separate cases in which zipper teeth were found at crime scenes prompted this study. Brass zipper teeth manufactured by YKK were taken from 20 pairs of jeans and studied using a Reichert comparison microscope at 4X power. Photographs were taken and over 750 comparisons made. It was found that the toolmarks on each side on the 20 zippers were unique and independent of all other sides. The observations made in this study indicate that classifying zipper teeth toolmarks as a subclass characteristic is valid.