scholarly journals Crime-Fighting Sensors

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (01) ◽  
pp. 66-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Paula
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Explosives Detection ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Crime Lab ◽  
Plastic Explosives ◽  
Explosive Chemicals

This article discusses crime fighting sensors that are being designed to identify ceramic weapons, plastic explosives, chemical weapons, and organic materials. They are also being developed to help protect citizens from terrorism and aid police in solving crimes. One organization leading the development of innovative antiterrorism sensing technologies is Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. Among Sandia’s projects is an explosives-detection portal, designed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The portal is intended to help prevent airliner hijackings and bombings by identifying passengers, airport visitors, and employees who have been recently working with any of a wide variety of explosive chemicals. Upcoming tests with the Albuquerque Police Department’s crime lab are designed to help work out any bugs in the technique, define what kinds of evidence it can help find, and determine whether the system will be practical as a tool for law enforcement. Its most promising features are its portability and the fact that it does not contaminate evidence.

scholarly journals UAV Forensics: DJI Mini 2 Case Study

Drones ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Miloš Stanković ◽  
Mohammad Meraj Mirza ◽  
Umit Karabiyik
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Personally Identifiable Information ◽  
Multiple Devices ◽  
Forensic Tools ◽  
Recreational Use

Rapid technology advancements, especially in the past decade, have allowed off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that weigh less than 250 g to become available for recreational use by the general population. Many well-known manufacturers (e.g., DJI) are now focusing on this segment of UAVs, and the new DJI Mini 2 drone is one of many that falls under this category, which enables easy access to be purchased and used without any Part 107 certification and Remote ID registration. The versatility of drones and drone models is appealing for customers, but they pose many challenges to forensic tools and digital forensics investigators due to numerous hardware and software variations. In addition, different devices can be associated and used for controlling these drones (e.g., Android and iOS smartphones). Moreover, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the adoption of Remote ID is not going to be required for people without the 107 certifications for this segment at least until 2023, which creates finding personally identifiable information a necessity in these types of investigations. In this research, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of DJI Mini 2 and its data stored across multiple devices (e.g., SD cards and mobile devices) that are associated with the drone. The aim of this paper is to (1) create several criminal-like scenarios, (2) acquire and analyze the created scenarios using leading forensics software (e.g., Cellebrite and Magnet Axiom) that are commonly used by law enforcement agencies, (3) and present findings associated with potential criminal activities.

Organization economics explains many forensic science errors

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROGER KOPPL
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Law And Economics ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Wrongful Convictions ◽  
Crime Lab ◽  
Organizational Features

Abstract:Judge Posner (2010) has identified an important lacuna in law and economics, namely a tendency to ignore organization theory. I will apply the tools of organization theory to an area almost completely neglected in law and economics, forensic science. Posner points us to tools we should make use of; I am pointing to an application we have neglected. Forensic science today is characterized by a twofold monopoly. First, evidence is typically examined by one crime lab only. Second, that same lab will normally be the only one to offer an interpretation of the results of the examination it performs. Crime labs today are typically organized under law enforcement agencies, which may create conscious and unconscious biases in favor of police and prosecution. These organizational features of forensic science today encourage errors and wrongful convictions.

Integration and Information Sharing in E-Government

2010 ◽  
pp. 729-734
Author(s):  
Asli Yagmur Akbulut ◽  
Jaideep Motwani
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
Local Law Enforcement ◽  
State And Local ◽  
And Performance

Citizens around the globe are demanding better services and more responsiveness from their local, state, and national governments. Governments are responding to this challenge by implementing a vast range of information technologies (IT) that crosses departmental and organizational boundaries. Integration and information sharing among government agencies have the potential to increase the productivity and performance of government operations, improve policy-making, and provide better services to citizens (Akbulut, 2003; Dawes, 1996; Landsbergen & Wolken, 2001). For example, September 11, 2001 terrorist-related events have shown the importance of integration and information sharing among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in order to protect the safety of citizens by combating crime and terrorism. As Whiting and Chabrow (2001) pointed out, “The intelligence gaps among law enforcement agencies became obvious in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Two of the suspected hijackers, for example, reportedly were on an INS watch list. But that information never found its way to the Federal Aviation Administration…” (p. 2). As the investigation into these attacks continues, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs Service, the INS, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, as well as other law enforcement and intelligence agencies are trying to share information on an extraordinary scale.

“Just Bring Us the Real Ones”: The Role of Forensic Crime Laboratories in Guarding the Gateway to Justice for Sexual Assault Victims

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095130
Author(s):  
Rebecca Campbell ◽  
Giannina Fehler-Cabral
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Dna Testing ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Crime Lab ◽  
Rape Kits ◽  
Crime Laboratory ◽  
Forensic Dna Testing

Throughout the United States, hundreds of thousands of sexual assault kits (SAKs; also termed “rape kits”) have never been submitted by law enforcement personnel to a crime laboratory for forensic DNA testing. Prior research indicates that negative stereotypes about victims influence police decisions to submit kits for testing, but forensic crime laboratory personnel may also be involved in SAK submission decisions. The purpose of the current study was to explore the communication and collaboration between police and crime lab personnel regarding SAK submissions within a community with large numbers of unsubmitted rape kits. Drawing from 3 years of ethnographic observations and longitudinal qualitative interviews, we found that the police department’s crime lab did not have sufficient resources to test all rape kits in police custody, which is a problem forensic laboratories are facing throughout the United States. However, we also found that access to this limited resource was controlled by crime lab personnel and their rape myth beliefs about which victims and which cases were considered worthy of the time, effort, and attention of the criminal justice system. Lab personnel emphasized that police should only submit “real” cases for forensic DNA testing, which they typically defined as physically violent stranger-perpetrated sexual assaults; “shady” cases did not merit testing, which they defined as known-offender assaults, reports made by adolescent victims, and cases in which the victim may have been engaged in sex work. We noted marked similarities in police and lab personnel’s rape myth acceptance, and stakeholders readily agreed that they did have a common understanding about which victims were not credible and therefore which SAKs did not merit testing. We discuss these findings in light of recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences for the independence and autonomy of the forensic sciences from law enforcement.

scholarly journals Impact of 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act on UASs

10.28945/4146 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Homeland Security ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
National Airspace System ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Department Of Homeland Security ◽  
Local Law Enforcement ◽  
Local Law

The commercial unmanned aircraft industry exists in a rapidly evolving and uncertain environment, with a multitude of well-established, well-financed stakeholders in associated industries each vying to influence that environment. Although influence can come in many forms, Congress holds the ultimate power, and gives agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a recurring authorization to regulate air travel and associated research. On October 5, 2018, this authorization was extended until 2023 In a variety of draft forms since introduced by Senator Schuster in June of 2017, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 grants an additional 5 years to the FAA, and with it a multitude of new directives related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs). The House and Senate had versions under review for over a year, each with unique amendments that impact UAS operations and address many of the concerns of stakeholders, but not all of them will assist the industry in its efforts to integrate within the National Airspace system with manned traffic. Some like the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement agencies, and commercial passenger operators all have differing interests that may slow the growth and integration of UASs. With this final bill, the industry gets the opportunity to operate as it wishes in some areas, but loses some of the freedoms it once had.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF DOG TRAINING IN HIGH EXPLOSIVES DETECTION

2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-64
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Żmuda-Gołębiewska ◽  
Radosław Szmigielski ◽  
Magdalena Czerwińska ◽  
Piotr Prasuła ◽  
Wawrzyniec Pniewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Explosives Detection ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Service Dogs ◽  
Dog Training ◽  
Great Support ◽  
Innovative Solution ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Detection Of Explosives

A nose of a dog is an invaluable help to humanity thanks to its excellent sensitivity and ability to recognize and distinguish odours, i.e. volatile substances emitted by a given material. In comparison with the increasingly advanced technology of electronic detection devices, it still ranks first on the “podium”. Due to its special abilities the dog is a great support in the fight against terrorism, where the early detection of explosives plays a key role in security. In the training process of a dog for the detection of explosives in Polish uniformed services genuine explosives samples are used. However, international studies have shown that this approach does not give 100% guarantee of HE detection by a dog. In addition, the use of classic HE samples in training involves a risk associated to the safety of both the operator and the dog and is burdened by law enforcement restrictions related to storage, use and transportation. An innovative solution developed during the implementation of the subject “Reference set of explosives samples for training and validation of service dogs” allows for more flexibility while handling the sample, increases the safety of use and provides a better detection of the explosive by the dog.

Application of Improved Voltage Compensation in the SEM to Imaging of Organic Materials

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 444-445
Author(s):  
P.J. Killingworth ◽  
M. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Beam Diameter ◽  
Incident Electron Beam ◽  
Specimen Material ◽  
Voltage Compensation ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Scanning Electron

Ultimate resolution in the scanning electron microscope is determined not only by the diameter of the incident electron beam, but by interaction of that beam with the specimen material. Generally, while minimum beam diameter diminishes with increasing voltage, due to the reduced effect of aberration component and magnetic interference, the excited volume within the sample increases with electron energy. Thus, for any given material and imaging signal, there is an optimum volt age to achieve best resolution.In the case of organic materials, which are in general of low density and electric ally non-conducting; and may in addition be susceptible to radiation and heat damage, the selection of correct operating parameters is extremely critical and is achiev ed by interative adjustment.

200kv superconducting cryo electron microscope

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 642-643
Author(s):  
M. Iwatsuki ◽  
Y. Kokubo ◽  
Y. Harada ◽  
J. Lehman
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Structure Analysis ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Crystal Fields ◽  
Special Skill ◽  
Long Time

In recent years, the electron microscope has been significantly improved in resolution and we can obtain routinely atomic-level high resolution images without any special skill. With this improvement, the structure analysis of organic materials has become one of the interesting targets in the biological and polymer crystal fields.Up to now, X-ray structure analysis has been mainly used for such materials. With this method, however, great effort and a long time are required for specimen preparation because of the need for larger crystals. This method can analyze average crystal structure but is insufficient for interpreting it on the atomic or molecular level. The electron microscopic method for organic materials has not only the advantage of specimen preparation but also the capability of providing various information from extremely small specimen regions, using strong interactions between electrons and the substance. On the other hand, however, this strong interaction has a big disadvantage in high radiation damage.

Pyrotechnic Residues in Gunshot Residue Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 128-129
Author(s):  
H. M. Sagara ◽  
S. A. Schliebe ◽  
M. C. Kong
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Residue Analysis ◽  
Gunshot Residue ◽  
Particle Analysis ◽  
Dry Skin ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Skin Cells ◽  
Smokeless Powder ◽  
Carbon Coated ◽  
Detailed List

Particle analysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x- ray analysis is one of the current methods used in crime laboratories to aid law enforcement in identifying individuals who have recently fired or handled a firearm. During the discharge of a firearm, the high pressure caused by the detonation of the cartridge materials forces a portion of the generated gases through leaks in the firing mechanism of the weapon. These gases contain residues of smokeless powder, primer mixture, and contributions from the projectile itself. The condensation of these hot gases form discrete, micrometer-sized particles, which can be collected, along with dry skin cells, salts, and other hand debris, from the hands of a shooter by a simple adhesive lift technique. The examination of the carbon-coated adhesive lifts consist of time consuming systematic searches for high contrast particles of spherical morphology with the characteristic elemental composition of antimony, barium and lead. A detailed list of the elemental compositions which match the criteria for gunshot residue are discussed in the Aerospace report.

Forensic applications of IR infrared microscopic internal reflection spectroscopy

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1528-1529
Author(s):  
Edward G. Bartick ◽  
John A. Reffner
Keyword(s):  
Specular Reflection ◽  
Forensic Analysis ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflection ◽  
Internal Reflection ◽  
Standard Size ◽  
Ir Microscopy ◽  
Ir Analysis ◽  
Plastic Explosives ◽  
Internal Reflection Spectroscopy ◽  
Reflectance Measurements

Since the introduction of commercial Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopic systems in 1983, IR microscopy has developed as an important analytical tool in research, industry and forensic analysis. Because of the frequent encounter of small quantities of physical evidence found at crime scenes, spectroscopic IR microscopes have proven particularly valuable for forensic applications. Transmittance and reflectance measurements have proven very useful. Reflection-absorption, specular reflection, and diffuse reflection have all been applied. However, it has been only very recently that an internal reflection (IRS) objective has been commercially introduced.The IRS method, also known as attenuated total reflection (ATR), has proven very useful for IR analysis of standard size samples. The method has been applied to adhesive tapes, plastic explosives, and general applications in the analysis of opaque materials found as evidence. The small quantities or uncontaminated areas of specimens frequently found requiring forensic analysis will often be directly applicable to microscopic IRS analysis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document