Over the past decade, the illicit drug market has experienced an explosion of designer drugs being produced by clandestine laboratories that include modifications of illicit drugs that dominated drug markets for long periods of time (e.g. cathinones and MDMA). These designer drugs, which are commonly known as “legal highs”, are popular due to that fact that they are legally obtainable and not currently controlled. Examples of these include the phenylalkylamine analogues 5-iodo-2-aminoindane (5-IAI) and 5, 6-methylenedixoy-2-amonindane (MDAI), which have similar biological effects to MDMA. In spite of the unknown risk factors associated with these substances, it is believed that “legal highs” continue to have high levels of interest among recreational users. As such, the potential for abuse is high, and 5-IAI and MDAI are under consideration in numerous jurisdictions for regulation. Many of these novel compounds have never been analyzed previously within a forensic setting. The chemical and physical properties of 5-IAI and MDAI are not fully understood. As a result, the analytical analysis of “legal highs” can be challenging. Color test kits provide a quick screening method for law enforcement officials looking to presumptively identify a substance in the field. The difficulty with this form of analysis is that most of the active ingredients present in “legal highs” are not detected by standard presumptive tests, or the results when the tests are used are ambiguous. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is one of the most utilized analytical instruments in forensic laboratories for the identification of drugs of abuse. However, due to the rapid development and commercialization of “legal highs,” the limited availability of certified reference standards and mass spectral data make the confirmatory analysis of “legal highs” challenging. The primary aims of this research were two-fold. The first was to evaluate selected commercially available Narcotics Analysis Reagent Kits (NARK® II) and color reagent formulations recommended by the National Institute of Justice (Color Tests Reagents/ Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse) to determine if the phenylalkylamine analogues 5-IAI and MDAI generate a color development. If a color was generated using a particular reagent, further testing was conducted to establish if the observed color would be detectable in the presence of various adulterants. The second aim of this research was to develop a rapid GC-MS method for the detection of 5-IAI and MDAI in contrived multi-component mixtures of selected adulterants. Standard color tests provided consistent results for 5-IAI and MDAI pure samples as well as mixtures with adulterants. 5-IAI produced a light brown color with both the Marquis and the methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) color reagent tests. The Mandelin reagent from the NARK® II test kit produced a greenish brown color and a light green color with the In-House preparations of the same reagent when tested with MDAI. Confirmatory analysis was performed using GC-MS with a temperature gradient. The analysis was performed on a non- polar (5% phenyl) methylpolysiloxane column with a total run time of 10 minutes. 5-IAI and MDAI were chromatographically separated and distinguishable from various adulterants based on retention time and mass to charge ratio.

Disposable gloves are often used by the perpetrators of a crime to prevent the deposition of fingerprints and epithelial cells at a crime scene. When removed and discarded at the scene, these items of evidence are often analyzed by a Trace Evidence Unit. By evaluating basic physical and chemical characteristics, a comparison to a known glove can be made. However, it is unclear whether temperature and weather conditions at a crime scene can alter the characteristics of the glove, and have a detrimental effect on this evidence comparison. In this study, a variety of disposable gloves made of nitrile rubber, natural rubber latex, and polyvinyl chloride were studied to assess the relationship between environmental conditions and polymer characteristics. Samples were placed in evidence envelopes or immersed in distilled water at three different temperatures, and were analyzed after 0, 3, and 6 weeks. Analysis included thickness measurements, stereomicroscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Results demonstrate that disposable gloves are susceptible to physical changes when exposed to various conditions. A majority of gloves exhibited an increase in thickness measurements at a variety of temperature and moisture conditions. Several gloves — spanning all types and different brands — displayed subtle changes in surface texture and spectral data. Analysis was complicated by the fact that no glove is 100% polymer, but instead contains a variety of additives, including stabilizers, plasticizers, and dyes. Additional characterization with a quantifiable separatory method, such as Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, is therefore recommended to further elucidate the changes that can occur.

A series of seven published peer-reviewed papers and reports are presented. The body of work to be considered is concerned with the reexamination of previously excavated Earlier Neolithic human remains from Southern Britain. These form the subject of a Synoptic Overview. The Synoptic Overview places the papers within the context of academic debate and knowledge as it stood in the mid 1980s and 1990s. The background events surrounding the writing of the papers and the extent of the author's involvement in collaborative papers are detailed. The papers present new information concerning Ecirlier Neolithic mortuary assemblages and their formation and subsequent taphonomic histories, new information concerning the extent of interpersonal violence in the Earlier Neolithic and new chronological data and interpretations. The contribution to knowledge of each of the papers is summarised and critically reflected on.

The thesis concerns an examination of victim engagement with the police investigation of domestic abuse. Notwithstanding the huge efforts being made in tackling the problem by police forces across the UK, national inspections still find that the services provided to victims are “not good enough” (HMIC, 2014, p.6). Subsequently, the thesis argues that in order to build an approach around empowering victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), there first needs to be further research into victim engagement with the police investigation (Birdsall et al., 2016; Hoyle & Sanders, 2000). Using the rationale, the research examined 540 cases of IPV to determine which factors were significantly associated with victim engagement. It controlled for suspect charging, cross validated the results with qualitative case file information and brought together the findings through an analysis of their co-occurrence. The process resulted in distinct themes and an overall model of victim engagement. The thesis concludes that the current risk assessment used routinely by the police to identify victim vulnerability does not take into account victim engagement. The thesis therefore proposes that the factors, themes and model of victim engagement developed throughout the thesis, as well as other means of assessing victim engagement, would need to precede the DASH risk assessment to provide a more effective evaluation of victim vulnerability. Doing so would allow the police to critically communicate and provide suitable support that is applicable to all victims of IPV. Crucially, the early indication of victim withdrawal would allow the police to identify some of the most vulnerable victims of abuse who would otherwise disengage from professional support and place themselves at greater risk of harm, injury and abuse.

In the study a novel method for synthesis of a dark magnetic flake powder for detecting latent fingerprint has been developed. Even though, flake powders ,of aluminium, brass and highly reflective magnetic iron flake are already in use in crime scenes , it is highly desirable to develop a suitable darker variety of magnetic flake powder for print development on light background surfaces. In order to achieve rapid production of dark metal flakes, a new high energy prototype vibratory mill has been designed, manufactured and develo ed. The design concepts were developed following a comprehensive review of the various commercially available milling devices and undertaking some initial experimentation. The mechanical milling process which results in changing the particle morphology of starting atomised iron powder to flaky shaped powder was investigated in terms of different milling phases like micro forging, fracture and agglomeration. The effect of milling process parameters on the flake quality was investigated. It was shown that the amount of stearic acid content, ball packing fraction and weight loading were important parameters in determining the final flake qualities. The quality of latent fingerprint development with the dark flake powder was investigated. Some of the flake powders produced excellent ridge quality details with good adherence quality on a range of background surfaces. The present study has been able to establish the relationship between the visual characteristics ( dark) and adherence property of the flake fingerprint powder with respect to the particle dimensions and surface characteristics of the flakes. It was also found that finer flakes are darker in colour and the low weight percentage of stearic acid has produced the best adherence quality for the dark flake powder. Some unique relationship between the flake dimensions with the nature of the print deposit was also established as it was found that slightly coarser flakes are suitable for heavy print deposit whereas finer flakes are more sensitive to aged prints. Further, the role of process variables in influencing the milling process were established such that optimum conditions by vibration milling can be determined to obtain dark flakes of desired quality. While the weight loading significantly influenced the milling behaviour of the powder, the role of stearic acid as an additive was found to influence the surface quality of flakes, besides restricting particle welding. Increasing the pre determined theoretical ball size does not result in faster milling, but increasing the ball packing fraction from 50% to 70% has proved to be more effective. Some relation with the oxidising behaviour of the powder with vibration milling has also been established. Moreover, the study has demonstrated that high energy milling by a vibration mill can be utilised for consistent production of a novel dark magnetic flake powder.

Thesis (M.Med. (Psychiatry)) --University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2009 / INTRODUCTION There seems to be an increase in the crime rate in South Africa with substantial regional variations as the crime rate and trends differ between provinces and cities with Limpopo being hailed the safest province. In South Africa a defendant in a criminal case can be referred for 30 days of psychiatric observation at any stage of the process. This is to assess whether the accused has a mental illness or defect in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977) Section 79(2) as amended in the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 1998 (Act 68 of 1998). There is a perception that most of the accused referred for psychiatric observation are known Mental Health Care Users. OBJECTIVE To establish a profile of offenders referred for psychiatric observation in Limpopo from January 2005 to December 2006. METHOD A descriptive retrospective study was done. Information was collected from the computer database available in the Psychiatry Department Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex. The study population consisted of all 678 reports referred by the courts for observation during the period January 2005 to December 2006. Data were analyzed and summarized using frequencies and percentages. RESULTS Over 80% (85% in 2005, 86% in 2006) of the observations were done on an outpatient basis. Of the offenders referred 94% were males. The majority was in the 21-30 age groups. Mopani District had the highest number of referrals and the majority of them were found to be mentally ill. Of the offenders sent for observation in 2005 and 2006, 53% had previous psychiatric contact versus 47% with no previous psychiatric contact. • Of the offenders found fit to stand trial 41% had previous psychiatric contact. • Of those found not fit to stand trial 67% were known Mental Health Care Users. • Of those found not fit to stand trial 33% had never received any formal psychiatric treatment and entered the system through the criminal justice system. Most common mental disorders diagnosed were schizophrenia (42%), substance related disorders (33%) and mental retardation (19%). The majority of offences were assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property. This reflects the behaviour usually reported on by relatives of relapsed male Mental Health Care Users on admission to psychiatric hospitals or units in the Province. Of the witchcraft accusation offences 70% were committed by mentally ill mental health care users. CONCLUSION The majority of offenders referred for forensic observation had previous contact with the mental health services, yet 41 % of those Mental Health Care Users were found not mentally ill in relation to the alleged offence. Mopani District had the highest number of referrals who were found to be mentally ill. This finding needs to be further evaluated in terms of relationship to the effectiveness and accessibility of the Primary Health Care Service to Mental Health Care Users in Mopani.

No description available.

Thesis (M. S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Model prison, Lucknow

Thesis (M.S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2009. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.