scholarly journals Digital Forensic Science: A Manifesto

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S Olivier

Forensic examination of evidence holds the promise of making claims about the truth of certain propositions with the inherent accuracy and reliability that characterises scientific endeavours. The propositions may relate to the artefacts examined or related artefacts. The nature of propositions about which claims can be made depend on the extent to which given propositions fall within the ambit of scientific knowledge and on the extent to which the examined evidence is suitable for the application of established science. A continuing series of incidents illustrate that in many forensic disciplines that promise is not met — often because some branch of forensic science happen to not being scientific at all. In fact, serious assessments of forensic science have shown that many (if not most) branches of forensic science are not scientifically valid. Digital forensic science is one of the newest members of the family of forensic sciences. A number of reasons for concern exist that it is following in the footsteps of its more established footsteps and repeating many of the mistakes of those other branches of forensic science. This viewpoint is written in the form of a manifesto that is situated in the current discourse about digital forensic science and practice. If challenges the current developments in digital forensic science by positing a number of demands that digital forensic science have to meet to be deemed scientific. The demands are posited as necessary, but not sufficient to ensure that digital forensic science uses science to contribute to justice. Appropriate responses to the manifesto is a change in digital forensic developments or an informed debate about the issues raised in the manifesto.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Martire ◽  
Agnes Bali ◽  
Kaye Ballantyne ◽  
Gary Edmond ◽  
Richard Kemp ◽  
...  

We do not know how often false positive reports are made in a range of forensic science disciplines. In the absence of this information it is important to understand the naive beliefs held by potential jurors about forensic science evidence reliability. It is these beliefs that will shape evaluations at trial. This descriptive study adds to our knowledge about naive beliefs by: 1) measuring jury-eligible (lay) perceptions of reliability for the largest range of forensic science disciplines to date, over three waves of data collection between 2011 and 2016 (n = 674); 2) calibrating reliability ratings with false positive report estimates; and 3) comparing lay reliability estimates with those of an opportunity sample of forensic practitioners (n = 53). Overall the data suggest that both jury-eligible participants and practitioners consider forensic evidence highly reliable. When compared to best or plausible estimates of reliability and error in the forensic sciences these views appear to overestimate reliability and underestimate the frequency of false positive errors. This result highlights the importance of collecting and disseminating empirically derived estimates of false positive error rates to ensure that practitioners and potential jurors have a realistic impression of the value of forensic science evidence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel G. García ◽  
María D. Pérez-Cárceles ◽  
Eduardo Osuna ◽  
Isabel Legaz

ABSTRACT Numerous studies relate differences in microbial communities to human health and disease; however, little is known about microbial changes that occur postmortem or the possible applications of microbiome analysis in the field of forensic science. The aim of this review was to study the microbiome and its applications in forensic sciences and to determine the main lines of investigation that are emerging, as well as its possible contributions to the forensic field. A systematic review of the human microbiome in relation to forensic science was carried out by following PRISMA guidelines. This study sheds light on the role of microbiome research in the postmortem interval during the process of decomposition, identifying death caused by drowning or sudden death, locating the geographical location of death, establishing a connection between the human microbiome and personal items, sexual contact, and the identification of individuals. Actinomycetaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Alcaligenaceae, and Bacilli play an important role in determining the postmortem interval. Aeromonas can be used to determine the cause of death, and Corynebacterium or Helicobacter pylori can be used to ascertain personal identity or geographical location. Several studies point to a promising future for microbiome analysis in the different fields of forensic science, opening up an important new area of research.


Author(s):  
Gary C. Kessler ◽  
Gregory H. Carlton

Digital forensic methodology deviates significantly relative to the methods of other forensic sciences for numerous practical reasons, and it has been largely influenced by factors derived from the inception and evolution of this relatively new and rapidly changing field. Digital forensics methodology was developed more by practitioners in its early days rather than by computer scientists. This led to accepted best practices in the field that may not represent the best or, at least, tested, science. This paper explores some of these differences in the practice and evolution between digital and other forensic sciences, and recommends scientific approaches to apply to many digital forensic practice rituals.


2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Yasemin Balcı ◽  
Gürcan Altun ◽  
Muharrem Teyin

Bilim insanlarının kendi alanlarındaki gelişmeleri izlemeleri kadar, yapmış oldukları araştırmaları diğer araştırmacılarla paylaşmaları da önemlidir. Uzun zaman alan ve yoğun emek ürünü olan bilimsel çalışmaların sonuçlarmı, bilim insanları ile paylaşmak ve kalıcılığını sağlamak açısından en doğru yol uluslararası kabul gören seçkin dergilerde yayınlamaktır. Bu çalışmada; 2000-2004 yılları arasındaki 5 yıllık süreçte, ülkemizdeki adli tıp uzman ve asistanlarının katkılarıyla yapılan uluslararası yayınları TUBITAK-Uluslararası Bilimsel Yayınları Teşvik Programı ölçütlerine göre değerlendirmek ve bu yayınların Türkiye adresli Science Citation Index - Journal Citation Reports kapsamındaki yayınlara katkısını araştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, “Pubmed” ve “Web of Science” veri tabanlarından yararlanılmıştır. 01.01.2000 - 31.12.2004 tarihleri arasındaki 5 yıllık sürede, Web of Science veri tabanı kapsamındaki dergilerde, yazarları içinde ülkemizden adli tıp alanında çalışanların bulunduğu toplam 86 yayın yapılmıştır. Türkiye kaynaklı tüm yayınlara olan katkı oranı, son iki yılda binde 1.1’den binde 2.3’e yükselmiştir. Yayınların 70’inin (%81.4) tam makale, 15’inin (%17.4) tam makale dışı olduğu saptanmıştır. TÜBİTAK-Uluslararası Bilimsel Yayınları Teşvik Programı ölçütlerine göre, yayınların 3’ü (%3.5) A Grubu, 54’ü (%62.8) B Grubu, 23’ü (%26.7) C Grubu dergi listelerinde yer almaktadır. Yazar sayısı 4 ve daha fazla olan yayınlar, toplam yayınların %79.1’i oluşturmaktadır. Forensic Science International, 24 (%27.9) yayınla en fazla yayının yapıldığı dergi olup adli tıp alanındaki dergilerde (Forensic Science International, American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Journal of Forensic Sciences, International Journal of Legal Medicine) yapılan yaymlar toplam yayınların %39.5’ini oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmanın, adli tıp alanmdaki uluslararası yayınların geliştirilmesine katkıda bulunacağı düşünülmüştür.Anahtar kelimeler: Adli tıp, Science Citation Index, Türkiye


Author(s):  
P. Baranov ◽  
R. Kirin ◽  
S. Shevchenko

The article addresses general issues of applying the regulatory adopted term “precious stones” regarding forensic examination practice in Ukraine, including in the field of subsurface resources management and gemological evaluation of jewelery. It is shown that domestic legal framework requires to introduce a separate law on gemstones circulation taking into account general principles of property valuation and consumer rights protection. The Article Purpose is to formulate an author’s contribution to the analysis of problems connected with disclosure of gemstones legal nature in the field of forensic science and the development of proposals for their possible overcoming. The necessity in special legal regulation of activity on mining, production, use, storage of gemstones and manufactures thereof, forensic examination and control over operations with it, is defined by intensity of its circulation as well as by the character of legal objects: their rarity in nature, high cost, easy falsification, and, consequently, by increased attention from fraudsters and criminals. The current situation demands to adopt corresponding regulatory measures aimed at ensuring valuables economic use, protecting gemstone consumers from fraud, preventing the use of valuables while legalizing acquired illegally funds. According to the authors, the article outlines three components of which legal nature of a stone is formed in forensic science: 1) the meaning content in which the term “precious stones” is used in gemological legislation; 2) criteria which are the basis of gemstones classification; 3) unambiguity and clarity of definitions associated with gemstones in forensic legislation. The term “gemstones” in forensic science has subsidiary meaning, since in this case the stone cost should possess a dominant meaning as an object of forensic gemological analysis. Existing gemological classifications are not of modern scientific and practical interest, as the lack of a gemstone cost indicator makes them declarative in terms of forensic science. Forensic gemological analysis should be guided by the requirements of gemological, forensic and procedural branches of legislation, and precious stones acting as its object should be considered as property (goods) which is characterized by specific signs of a physical, economic and legal nature as well as an identifier.


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