Prevalence and Recovery of Microorganisms from Containers used for the Collection of Forensic Biological Samples

Background: Microbes play a significant role in the degradation of biological evidence collected for forensic analysis. The present study is aimed to isolate and identify the microbes present inside the empty container used for the biological evidence collection. Methods: Bacterial isolation from the selected containers was done by cotton swab over the inner surface of the containers. Streaking was done on the surface of the three different culture plates as a Blood agar plate, Nutrient plate and MacConkey plate. The plates were placed in an incubator shaker at 37ºC for 48 hours. The colonies grown on the surface of the media were counted on and used for further study. Various biochemical assays were performed to characterize isolated bacteria. Results: Staining results suggested that the presence of Gram-positive stain (Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Clostridium) and Gram negative stain (E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Stenotrophomonas, Bdellovibrio, Acetic acid bacteria). The Catalase and Coagulase test suggested the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis and S. sapropyticus. Moreover, the indole test suggested the presence of Citrobacter koseri, Kebsiella oxytoca, Proteus vulgaris etc. Some of the bacteria were urea metabolizing, including Proteus spp, Helicobacter pylori, Cryptococcus spp, Corynebacterium spp. Conclusion: This study recommends that there should be proper maintenance of the chain of custody from the collection to analysis so that evidence properly prevents degradation or contamination in the biological evidence. Extra care is needed for the collection and packing of biological evidence from the crime scene. Moreover, the collection containers, if left wide open, lead to contamination and degradation of biological evidence.

DNA as ‘ready-made evidence’: An analysis of Portuguese judges’ views

The introduction of biological evidence in judicial settings raises particular modes of entanglement between professional cultures and perceptions of the probative value of evidence. When DNA evidence reaches court, it also challenges the perceived margins of critical assessment of the work and understandings of previous links in the chain of custody, like the criminal police, forensic experts and the public prosecution services. Given the apparent neutrality of judicial institutions, how do Portuguese judges perceive and value biological evidence? And how do judges see their articulation with other operators of the criminal justice system? An analysis of 14 interviews carried out with Portuguese judges reveals the challenges in the evaluation of biological evidence, which is characterised as a ‘safe haven’, grounded as it is on an indisputable scientific authority. The suggestion of the presence of a cultural rift emerges, which, taken with the work of other epistemic cultures, leads to biological evidence being seen as ‘ready-made evidence’ on its arrival in court, thus limiting the role of judges in its appraisal.

Digital Forensics in Cyber Security—Recent Trends, Threats, and Opportunities

The rapid technological advancement has led the entire world to shift towards digital domain. However, this transition has also result in the emergence of cybercrimes and security breach incidents that threatens the privacy and security of the users. Therefore, this chapter aimed at examining the use of digital forensics in countering cybercrimes, which has been a critical breakthrough in cybersecurity. The chapter has analyzed the most recent trends in digital forensics, which include cloud forensics, social media forensics, and IoT forensics. These technologies are helping the cybersecurity professionals to use the digital traces left by the data storage and processing to keep data safe, while identifying the cybercriminals. However, the research has also observed specific threats to digital forensics, which include technical, operational and personnel-related challenges. The high complexity of these systems, large volume of data, chain of custody, the integrity of personnel, and the validity and accuracy of digital forensics are major threats to its large-scale use. Nevertheless, the chapter has also observed the use of USB forensics, intrusion detection and artificial intelligence as major opportunities for digital forensics that can make the processes easier, efficient, and safe.

The “Magnificent Seven Errors” in Forensic Autopsy Practice: The Italian Context

According to the Italian legal system, forensic autopsies are performed by a medical doctor specialized in legal medicine, otherwise known as a medicolegal expert (MLE), who has a range of very complex responsibilities. Indeed, the quality of forensic autopsy activity is always questioned in courts of law; incorrect assessments are dangerous because they can jeopardize the validity of a criminal investigation and thus affect the outcome so that a real culprit may be acquitted or an innocent person convicted. Nonconformities also discredit the professionalism of the specialist who performs the autopsy. The work of a MLE implies a series of assignments and duties that should be given constant consideration, but when certain aspects of this activity are underestimated or overlooked, this can lead the expert to make mistakes with irreparable consequences for the judicial investigation. In this article, for the first time, we present a summary of seven known errors related to autopsy activity following death by unnatural causes, with the purpose of alerting MLEs who work under the Italian judicial system to the potential dangers of such errors. These relate to: oversights in autopsy technique, incorrect collection of photographic and video material, unauthorized attendance at the autopsy, missing/mistaken reporting at any stage of the forensic activity, failure to notify the party forensic consultant, using histological or toxicological nonaccredited laboratories for forensic activities, and lack of observance of the chain of custody.

Chain of Custody Implementation on Public Service Administration in Indonesia: A Framework

Proses administrasi dapat dilihat melalui proses umum, sedangkan tindakan administratif dapat dilihat pada tingkat program tertentu. Chain of custody (CoC), dalam konteks hukum, mengacu pada dokumentasi kronologis atau jejak kertas yang mencatat urutan penahanan, kontrol, transfer, analisis, dan disposisi bukti fisik atau elektronik. Dalam proses layanan, CoC berfungsi untuk melacak dokumen layanan atau jejak dokumen sesuai dengan prosedur yang ditentukan. Dalam pelayanan publik, kegiatan administrasi dilakukan untuk mengendalikan upaya instansi pemerintah agar tujuannya tercapai. Makalah ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji penerapan CoC dalam penyelenggaraan pelayanan publik di Indonesia. Berdasarkan pendekatan kuasi-kualitatif yang dilakukan, diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa penerapan CoC dalam penyelenggaraan pelayanan publik dapat memberikan kerangka kerja yang berguna untuk memahami dan meningkatkan upaya pengurangan masalah administrasi dalam pelayanan publik.Administrative processes can be seen through a general process, while administrative action can be examined at a certain program level. Chain of custody (CoC), in the context of law, refers to chronological documentation or paper traces that record the sequence of detention, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. In the service process, the CoC serves to track service documents or document traces according to the procedures specified. In public services, administrative activities are carried out to control the efforts of government agencies so that their objectives are achieved. This paper aims to examine the application of CoC to the administration of public services in Indonesia. Based on the quasi-qualitative approach taken, it was produced that the application of CoC to the administration of public services can provide a useful framework for understanding and improving efforts to reduce administrative problems in public services.

Maintaining and Evaluating the Integrity of Digital Evidence in Chain of Custody

The Chain of Custody is an intrinsic part of any inspection. Maintaining and evaluating the integrity of evidence procured from a crime scene is an important part that needs to be done properly by following a certain set of protocols to make the evidence admissible in the court. Keeping track of the evidence right from the moment it was collected from the crime scene till the time it reaches court is also a major task. It is important for the investigator to know how, where and who handles the evidence during analysis at each phase in order to safeguard the integrity of the evidence. Over a period of time, various tools and technologies have been created to handle evidence. Researchers from across the globe have presented various techniques on how evidence should be handled. Many researchers have even incorporated blockchain technology with the chain of custody or life cycle of evidence to make the process stronger. The growth in this domain has been at a rapid pace. This paper presents a method on “Maintaining and Evaluating the Integrity of a Digital Evidence in Chain of Custody” using a global positioning system. The methodology focuses on the use of global positioning system tags or chips which when embedded with the collected evidence enables an investigator to track the evidence throughout its life cycle. The proposed methodology aims to help the investigators to keep track of the evidence throughout its life cycle using very basic tools like FTK Imager and technology like a global positioning system.