The main purpose of this research is to assess the utilisation of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in rape crime scenes. First responders need to attend to the crime scene and secure it as soon as possible. Other role-players such as the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) investigator and LCRC fieldworkers should be activated by the first responder to the rape crime scene. Ideally, role-players should be activated as soon as the case is reported to the first responder. Members of the LCRC are responsible for recording the crime scene by taking photographs, making video recordings and drawing sketch plans of the scene. The LCRC is also responsible for processing the rape scene for physical evidence such as fingerprints, blood, hair, semen and saliva. The crime scene is a major source of information as far as physical evidence is concerned. The body of the victim is also a major source of physical evidence. It is therefore essential to have the rape victim examined by a medical examiner and the crime scene to be processed by the LCRC fieldworker timeously, in order to secure physical evidence that could be used to individualise a suspect. The discovery of physical evidence could place the suspect on the scene of crime and link such suspect to the crime committed. The physical evidence could also assist in corroborating the version of events from the victim. The physical evidence could also be used to exclude suspects as well. This dissertation seeks to highlight the importance of having the LCRC processing rape crime scenes for physical evidence and to emphasise the responsibility of the first responders to activate LCRC fieldworkers to process the scene of incident timeously, in order to maximise physical evidence recovery. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

In this research, the role of forensic science with the use of forensic photography in the crime scene reconstruction process was evaluated. The researcher identified how SAPS detectives and Crime Scene Technicians (CST‟S) are currently conducting crime scene reconstructions by adopting forensic photography; furthermore, other methods in which forensic photography could be used to conduct crime scene reconstructions were explored. The researcher made use of an empirical design, as the information available on the research topic was limited. The empirical design, together with a qualitative research approach, allowed for real-life observations. The simple random sampling method was used to select 20:10 partcipants for this research as follows: Ten (10) detectives that investigate murder cases, and another ten (10) CST‟S that conducted crime scene reconstructions in the Durban Policing Area (DPA). Data was obtained using qualitative data collection methods that included a literature study and interviews. The findings of this research provide that the value of forensic science, as well as the use of forensic photography in the crime scene reconstruction process, was established. Evidently, detectives and CST‟S are not doing everything possible to reconstruct murder crime scenes. For recommendation, this research suggests that SAPS detectives and crime scene technicians (CST'S) adopt the fundamentals of forensic science when reconstructing murder crime scenes. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

It is sincerely hoped that this work will motivate other researchers and in particular my colleagues to do further research in the field of cellphone technology, especially how it can be mapped to enable it to be utilised as evidence in our courts. This research aims to develop the mapping of cellphone technology as an aid in the investigation of crime. The mapping of cellphone technology refers to how cellphone technology can be utilised in crime investigation and in particular how a criminal can be placed at the scene of a crime, as a result of a cellphone call that was either made or received. To place the suspect at the scene of a crime as a result of a call made or received, cellphone records and technology of the relevant cellphone company, as well as present computer programmes can be utilised. Shortly, it can be said that a criminal can geographically be placed within a space some where on this earth. / Criminology and Security Science / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / This research explores the potential value for the application of the visual expressionistic arts, as well as the application of forensic art for the emancipation of victims of violent crime. Qualitative research methods are used in order to make certain assumptions and recommendations for the application of the forensic arts in the emancipation of traumatized victims. The research is based on the view that human behaviour is influenced by different internal and external contextual influences. The theoretical basis for the research is further supported by the grounding principals of the psycho-analytic, symbolic interactionistic and the phenomenological theoretical approaches. The potential for the application of the forensic arts during crisis intervention and trauma counselling as a therapeutic technique and a communication medium are investigated. The potential forensic value of the victims’ art for the criminal justice system is also explored during the research. / Die navorsing ondersoek die potensiele waarde vir die aanwending van die tradisionele visuele beeldende kunste asook die aanwending van die forensiese kunste vir die emansipasie van slagoffers van geweldsmisdaad. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes word tydens die navorsing gebruik ten einde sekere afleidings en aanbevelings te maak aangaande die aanwending van die forensiese kuns vir die emansipasie van getraumatiseerde misdaadslagoffers. Die navorsing word teoreties gebaseer op die beskouing van die mens wie se gedrag beinvloed word deur verskillende interne en eksterne kontekstuele invloede. Die teoretiese basis vir die navorsing word verder ondersteun deur die grondbeginsels van die psigo-analise, simboliese interaksionisme en die fenomenologiese teoretiese benaderings. Die potensiaal vir die aanwending van forensiese kuns as 'n terapeutiese tegniek en kommunikasiemedium tydens krisisingryping en berading word ondersoek. Die potensiele forensiese waarde van misdaadslagoffers se kuns in die regsplegingstelsel word ook in die navorsing ondersoek. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

With this study, the researcher wants to establish whether investigators are able to effectively interpret, report on, or pay cognisance to body language during interviews, and whether they are sufficiently trained therein. Knowledge of body language can provide the interviewer with vital clues during the interview process. Regardless of the availability of numerous literatures on nonverbal behaviour in interviewing, the application of this knowledge is lacking among investigators. An empirical research design and a qualitative research approach were used for this research. National and international literature sources were consulted, and the researcher conducted interviews with two experts, knowledgeable investigators and semi-structured interviews with detectives from the East London South African Police Service (SAPS) and forensic investigators from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in East London. The importance of the skill of interpreting body language during forensic interviewing was established. Evidently, many investigators do not apply their knowledge and skill to enhance the outcomes of a forensic interview. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

This study reflects a critical analysis of the procedures followed in child rape cases in Mpumalanga Province and in the process to enhance investigative capabilities with sound detective development. Empirical research was conducted with a literature review, docket analysis and interviews as methods to obtain information where the following important aspects were addressed: an overview of the field of forensic investigation, the shortcomings with regard to child rape investigations and correct procedures for conducting child rape investigations formulated. The study found that generally rape cases were not properly investigated, correct procedures were not followed (biological/physical evidence was not readily identified nor correctly handled) and applicable directives pertaining to child rape investigations not complied with. Investigators had a narrow understanding of the concept forensic investigation. In child rape investigations it would be of more evidential value and reliable to collect physical evidence such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and saliva as the child’s testimony at court might not be reliable, particularly when subjected to cross examination. Rape is both a contact crime as well as a psychologically motivated crime and both aspects of the trauma needs attention during the investigation process. Crimes against women and children are also a national concern, thus making child rape a priority crime for the South African Police Service. For any successful prosecution it is necessary that policy and correct procedures are not compromised but rather strictly adhered to. The Locard Principle in relation to physical evidence such as body fluids at the crime scene needs to be focussed on during the investigation process. The research suggests that the current standing operating procedures be amended to include the critical aspects of child rape investigation such as processing of the crime scene, the search for biological evidence as well as the packaging and preservation of biological evidence. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

This research is concerned with the value of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) as a technique in the identification of suspects. A problem was identified in the withdrawal of cases where suspects had been identified by means of fingerprints. The study attempted to determine the value of AFIS in the identification of suspects, to find new knowledge that could improve the situation and suggest ways to apply this knowledge to enhance the performance of AFIS experts, criminal investigators and the prosecution in a court of law. The study adopted a multi-method approach to data collection, with the researcher using a literature review, docket analysis and interviews with AFIS experts from Limpopo Province as his sources of data. The results of the study showed that AFIS is a valuable system for the identification of fingerprints in that it is fast and accurate but that in South Africa AFIS experts encounter a number of challenges with the system. The main challenges identified were the potential for the system to be attacked by computer hackers; the slowness of creating an SAPS 69 record, particularly when dealing with prints of poor quality; which leads to cases being closed where AFIS experts’ evidence is not tested/accepted; and the fact that in South Africa AFIS is not applied across government departments, which would allow a more comprehensive database. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends that steps be taken to improve the quality of prints taken at crime scenes, that attention be paid to speeding up the process of dealing with the relevant SAPS 69 records, that investigators and prosecutors be informed about the AFIS process and that the AFIS database be extended to include the fingerprints of all South Africans and immigrants to the country. Lastly, the study suggests that the databases of government departments such as Home Affairs, Public Works Roads & Transport and Safety Security & Liaison (Traffics) be combined to form one national database. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Today, the use of one's bank card to pay or withdraw money is common. Modern technology provides us with the convenience of instant transactions at the automated teller machine or point of sale but unfortunately, it has also brought the reality and risk of card skimming and counterfeit card fraud. Criminals have become very efficient and technologically advanced in skimming and counterfeiting cards, to such an extent that counterfeit card fraud has become a significant threat to the public, banking, retail and business in South Africa. Counterfeit card fraud is a complex, multi-faceted crime, requiring specific skills and knowledge of card counterfeiting methods from police and bank investigators. The scope of its investigation is wide. It includes different crime scenes and offenders, sophisticated equipment and various aspects that need to be identified positively. Investigators find it difficult to identify perpetrators and certain aspects unique to this crime and, as a result, many investigations are unsuccessful. This research endeavours to establish what identification methods are available to investigators and which are effective. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Os dentes rosados são um fenômeno que pode ocorrer em vida ou post-mortem. Ele resulta na pigmentação do dente pela hemoglobina que se difunde através dos túbulos destinatários. Vários pesquisadores vêm analisando esse fenômeno a fim de elucidar seu mecanismo e tentar relacioná-lo com a causa da morte e do tempo decorrido da morte, com o objetivo de auxiliar e agilizar o trabalho de investigação criminal na descoberta da real situação da morte. Nesse trabalho o autor procurou correlacionar o aparecimento de dentes rosados com a hora aproximada e a causa da morte, mensurando a coloração. Foi realizado um trabalho de campo no Instituto Médico Legal da cidade de Curitiba onde foram analisados 15 cadáveres, com diferentes causas da morte. Para estabelecer a coloração foi utilizada a escala de cores RGB Hex Triplet Color Chart e realizada a comparação visual dos dentes. Ficou constatado que os dentes da bateria labial, ou seja, de canino a canino, foram os dentes mais afetados e a região cervical dos dentes – colo do dente ou na região da junção cemento-esmalte, ou anda pescoço do dente, é a que apresenta uma coloração mais exuberante. É proposto o desenvolvimento de um colorímetro eletrônico como trabalho futuro, com o objetivo de automatizar a aquisição de cor nos dentes rosados. / Pink teeth are a phenomenon that can occur in life or post-mortem. It is resulted by pigmentation tooth by hemoglobin, which diffuses through the dentinal tubules. Several researches have analyzed this phenomenon, in order to elucidate its mechanism and try to relate to the cause of death and the time elapses from death, to assist and make faster the word of criminal investigation in discovering the real situation of death. In this work the author tried to correlate the appearance of the pink teeth with time and cause of death, measuring the color. Were conducted a field study at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Curitiba, where were analyzed 15 specimens with different causes of death. For the staining was used to measure the color gamut of RGB Hex Triplet Color Char and held visual comparison of the teeth. It was verified that the teeth of the battery lip, i.e. from canine to canine were the most affected teeth and the neck of the teeth – or the tooth neck region of the cementum-enamel junction, or neck of the tooth, it shows one more exuberant color. Is proposed the development of a electronic colorimeter as future work, with the subject to automate the capture the color in the pink teeth.

Os dentes rosados são um fenômeno que pode ocorrer em vida ou post-mortem. Ele resulta na pigmentação do dente pela hemoglobina que se difunde através dos túbulos destinatários. Vários pesquisadores vêm analisando esse fenômeno a fim de elucidar seu mecanismo e tentar relacioná-lo com a causa da morte e do tempo decorrido da morte, com o objetivo de auxiliar e agilizar o trabalho de investigação criminal na descoberta da real situação da morte. Nesse trabalho o autor procurou correlacionar o aparecimento de dentes rosados com a hora aproximada e a causa da morte, mensurando a coloração. Foi realizado um trabalho de campo no Instituto Médico Legal da cidade de Curitiba onde foram analisados 15 cadáveres, com diferentes causas da morte. Para estabelecer a coloração foi utilizada a escala de cores RGB Hex Triplet Color Chart e realizada a comparação visual dos dentes. Ficou constatado que os dentes da bateria labial, ou seja, de canino a canino, foram os dentes mais afetados e a região cervical dos dentes – colo do dente ou na região da junção cemento-esmalte, ou anda pescoço do dente, é a que apresenta uma coloração mais exuberante. É proposto o desenvolvimento de um colorímetro eletrônico como trabalho futuro, com o objetivo de automatizar a aquisição de cor nos dentes rosados. / Pink teeth are a phenomenon that can occur in life or post-mortem. It is resulted by pigmentation tooth by hemoglobin, which diffuses through the dentinal tubules. Several researches have analyzed this phenomenon, in order to elucidate its mechanism and try to relate to the cause of death and the time elapses from death, to assist and make faster the word of criminal investigation in discovering the real situation of death. In this work the author tried to correlate the appearance of the pink teeth with time and cause of death, measuring the color. Were conducted a field study at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Curitiba, where were analyzed 15 specimens with different causes of death. For the staining was used to measure the color gamut of RGB Hex Triplet Color Char and held visual comparison of the teeth. It was verified that the teeth of the battery lip, i.e. from canine to canine were the most affected teeth and the neck of the teeth – or the tooth neck region of the cementum-enamel junction, or neck of the tooth, it shows one more exuberant color. Is proposed the development of a electronic colorimeter as future work, with the subject to automate the capture the color in the pink teeth.