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Articles 1 - 29 of 29
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
How Gun Control Laws Affect Homicide, Abbey Maloney
How Gun Control Laws Affect Homicide, Abbey Maloney
Honors Theses
Homicide is an ever-prevalent problem in the United States (U.S.). One solution that is often turned to is the implementation of stricter gun control laws. This causes much divide as many citizens are not in agreement about whether or not these laws do what they are intended to. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not gun control laws have an effect on homicide, and, if so, what this effect is. The U.S. states were evaluated in several different categories to determine how strict or lax their gun laws were. They were scored using the number of …
Effect Of 17a - Ethynylestradiol On The Pupation Rate, Emergence Rate, And Sex Ratio Of Phormia Regina (Calliphoridae), Bethany K. Hoschar
Effect Of 17a - Ethynylestradiol On The Pupation Rate, Emergence Rate, And Sex Ratio Of Phormia Regina (Calliphoridae), Bethany K. Hoschar
Honors Theses
After death, blowflies are attracted to decomposing remains for feeding and reproduction purposes. Since blowflies are usually the first species to colonize a set of remains, they are important to forensic scientists when estimating the time since death. Using the knowledge of the life cycle of a blowfly and any interferences of the environment that can affect the development, forensic entomologists can estimate the time since the arrival of blowflies, otherwise considered time since deposition. This research investigated how a specific estrogen, 17 a-ethynylestradiol, present in pollutants affects the development time of blowflies, and therefore the time since death estimation. …
Impact Of High Profile Police Use Of Force Incidents On Violent Crime Rates, Megan Galante
Impact Of High Profile Police Use Of Force Incidents On Violent Crime Rates, Megan Galante
Honors Theses
This research study examined the relationship between high-profile police use of force incidents and local violent crime rates. It is important to analyze the impact that police use of force has on the respective community in regard to crime rates. This study analyzed three incidents of police use of force that have received extensive coverage in the media in order to determine if there was a change in the rates of violent crime in that city. The theory of de-policing suggests that in the aftermath of a high-profile incident of police brutality, police departments in the area change their behaviors …
Founding The Domain Of Ai Forensics, Ibrahim Baggili, Vahid Behzadan
Founding The Domain Of Ai Forensics, Ibrahim Baggili, Vahid Behzadan
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
With the widespread integration of AI in everyday and critical technologies, it seems inevitable to witness increasing instances of failure in AI systems. In such cases, there arises a need for technical investigations that produce legally acceptable and scientifically indisputable findings and conclusions on the causes of such failures. Inspired by the domain of cyber forensics, this paper introduces the need for the establishment of AI Forensics as a new discipline under AI safety. Furthermore, we propose a taxonomy of the subfields under this discipline, and present a discussion on the foundational challenges that lay ahead of this new research …
Evaluation Of Dna From Blood And Saliva Overtime, Janine Smalling
Evaluation Of Dna From Blood And Saliva Overtime, Janine Smalling
Honors Theses
In this research, we will examine the quantity of DNA over time. In John M. Butlers, "Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing", he charts out the average amount of DNA extracted from different bodily fluid samples. Examples include blood, semen, saliva, urine, etc. Though valuable, the values presented are in the cases of a fresh extraction of the sample. It is important to note that in most cases when DNA is being extracted from crime scene evidence, the samples are not fresh and have been degraded to some extent. On a crime scene, time is only one of the factors affecting …
Haplotype Analysis For Irish Ancestry, Heather Miller Coyle, Robert Whiting
Haplotype Analysis For Irish Ancestry, Heather Miller Coyle, Robert Whiting
Forensic Science Publications
Forensic haplotype analysis of the male Y chromosome is currently used to establish the number of male donors in sexual assaults, the number of male bleeders in blood pattern analysis, and for ancestry correlation to genetic founder populations in biogeographic studies. In forensic laboratory applications, its primary use is for DNA profile generation with trace amounts of male DNA in the presence of excess female DNA (e.g. spermatozoa identification, male component of fingernail scrapings). Our study supports the potential use of the Y chromosome in a “dragnet” approach (most haplotypes are unique) similar to that described by Kayser in 2017 …
Reconciliation Potential Of Rwandans Convicted Of Genocide, Kevin Barnes-Ceeney, Laurie Leitch, Lior Gideon
Reconciliation Potential Of Rwandans Convicted Of Genocide, Kevin Barnes-Ceeney, Laurie Leitch, Lior Gideon
Criminal Justice Faculty Publications
This study examines the reconciliation potential of Rwandans incarcerated for the crime of genocide. Utilising survey data from 302 male and female prisoners incar‐ cerated in the Rwandan Correctional System, this study explores genocide perpe‐ trators’ depression, anxiety, anger-hostility and somatic symptoms, levels of post‐ traumatic stress, degree of social support and attitudes towards unity and reconci‐ liation. The data demonstrate that engaging in killing can have deep psychological impacts for genocide perpetrators. The data indicate that although more than two decades have passed since the genocide, perpetrators are experiencing high levels of genocide-related posttraumatic suffering. Perpetrators are persistently re-experi‐ …
The "Great American Crime Decline": Possible Explanations, Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo
The "Great American Crime Decline": Possible Explanations, Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo
Criminal Justice Faculty Publications
This chapter examines the most important features of the crime decline in the United States during the 1990s-2010s but also takes a broader look at the violence declines of the last three centuries. The author argues that violent and property crime trends might have diverged in the 1990s, with property crimes increasingly happening in the online sphere and thus traditional property crime statistics not being reflective of the full picture. An important distinction is made between ‘contact crimes’ and crimes that do not require a victim and offender to be present in the same physical space. Contrary to the uncertainties …
Map My Murder: A Digital Forensic Study Of Mobile Health And Fitness Applications, Courtney Hassenfeldt, Shabana Baig, Ibrahim Baggili, Xiaolu Zhang
Map My Murder: A Digital Forensic Study Of Mobile Health And Fitness Applications, Courtney Hassenfeldt, Shabana Baig, Ibrahim Baggili, Xiaolu Zhang
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
The ongoing popularity of health and fitness applications catalyzes
the need for exploring forensic artifacts produced by them. Sensitive
Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is requested by the applications
during account creation. Augmenting that with ongoing
user activities, such as the user’s walking paths, could potentially
create exculpatory or inculpatory digital evidence. We conducted
extensive manual analysis and explored forensic artifacts produced
by (n = 13) popular Android mobile health and fitness applications.
We also developed and implemented a tool that aided in the timely
acquisition and identification of artifacts from the examined applications.
Additionally, our work explored the type of …
Iot Ignorance Is Digital Forensics Research Bliss: A Survey To Understand Iot Forensics Definitions, Challenges And Future Research Directions, Tina Wu, Frank Breitinger, Ibrahim Baggili
Iot Ignorance Is Digital Forensics Research Bliss: A Survey To Understand Iot Forensics Definitions, Challenges And Future Research Directions, Tina Wu, Frank Breitinger, Ibrahim Baggili
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
Interactions with IoT devices generates vast amounts of personal data that can be used as a source of evidence in digital investigations. Currently, there are many challenges in IoT forensics such as the difficulty in acquiring and analysing IoT data/devices and the lack IoT forensic tools. Besides technical challenges, there are many concepts in IoT forensics that have yet to be explored such as definitions, experience and capability in the analysis of IoT data/devices and current/future challenges. A deeper understanding of these various concepts will help progress the field. To achieve this goal, we conducted a survey which received 70 …
Multiple Contacts Of Drug Contaminated Fingermarks And Their Analysis With Raman Microspectroscopy, Victoria Deprimo
Multiple Contacts Of Drug Contaminated Fingermarks And Their Analysis With Raman Microspectroscopy, Victoria Deprimo
Master's Theses
This thesis research aimed to determine if substrate, enhancement technique, and multiple contacts affect the detection and identification of drugs in fingermarks using Raman Spectroscopy. It has the potential to be of great importance in forensic science as fingermarks are one of the most important traces left behind at crime scenes and illicit drugs are a significant criminal justice problem. Thus, being able to associate illicit drugs with a specific fingermark has great potential for forensic science, as it can put the drugs in the hands of a specific individual.
The ridges of fingerprints trap trace amounts of material that …
Determining The Interference Of Lactate And Lactate Dehydrogenase In An Ethanol Enzyme Assay, Julia Liebl
Determining The Interference Of Lactate And Lactate Dehydrogenase In An Ethanol Enzyme Assay, Julia Liebl
Master's Theses
Enzymatic ethanol assays are widely used to determine blood alcohol content for individuals admitted to a hospital. In some instances, this hospital data is later used as evidence in a court of law, most commonly in DUI cases. As the enzymatic assay targets, but does not exclusively measure ethanol, it is theoretically possible that interference could occur and produce a falsely elevated result, leading to wrongful convictions or other consequences. This project examined the potential of clinically relevant levels of one potential interferant, lactate and the hepatic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to cause significant and falsely elevated results. Threshold levels …
Dna Methylation Methods For Donor Age Prediction Using Touch Dna, Emily Neverett
Dna Methylation Methods For Donor Age Prediction Using Touch Dna, Emily Neverett
Master's Theses
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated over 30 million individuals fall victim to human trafficking each year, of which, 50% are children below the age of 16. In 2012, the ILO reported there to be 168 million child laborers worldwide, with many trafficked into hazardous conditions to manufacture consumer products that are sold in developed countries. This is a modern form of slavery with poor working conditions, no access to education, and low wages. The hidden nature of this crime, however, makes it extremely difficult to identify and locate victims of forced child labor, and thus making it challenging to …
Detection Of Larval Aggregations Using A Drone Mounted Thermal Imaging Camera, Megan Descalzi
Detection Of Larval Aggregations Using A Drone Mounted Thermal Imaging Camera, Megan Descalzi
Master's Theses
When a body’s temperature reaches ambient temperature after death, remote detection of the body can become difficult. At this point, useful search tactics include the use of cadaver dogs, search parties and aerial imaging devices, all of which can be costly and time-consuming for every day law enforcement use. This study investigated the potential of a novel search technique in which a small, unmanned aerial system (drone) mounted with a forward-looking infrared radar (FLIR) was utilized to detect decomposing animal carcasses via the heat generated by associated Diptera larval aggregations. Hot water baths were utilized as analogs for larval aggregations …
Forensic Characterization And Discrimination Of Manila Envelopes, María Isabel Sánchez Melo
Forensic Characterization And Discrimination Of Manila Envelopes, María Isabel Sánchez Melo
Master's Theses
Envelopes can be found at crime scenes when ransom, threat letters or potentially harmful substances are sent to victims. Therefore, they are important probative items of evidence analyzed by forensic document examiners. Manila envelopes are commonly used in the United States to transport or send documents as they are made of thick and durable paper. Although there are many studies on the forensic analysis of office paper and paper-based banknotes, and only a few on white envelopes, there does not exist previously published research on the physical or chemical characterization of manila envelopes. The goal of this research was to …
Mapping Sex Offenders And Treatment Centers In Relation To Social Disorganization, Amber Amin
Mapping Sex Offenders And Treatment Centers In Relation To Social Disorganization, Amber Amin
Master's Theses
Research shows that the clustering of Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) is connected to social disorganization. Residential patterns disrupt the reintegration of the RSO population. Utilizing data from Queens and the Bronx, NYC, this study examines RSO clustering in the two boroughs and explores the proximity of community resources to RSO addresses that may assist reintegration. Using data from the New York Megan’s Law and census data for Queens and Bronx Counties, maps were created to study the residential patterns of RSOs. The results show clustering of RSOs in areas with variables pertaining to high social disorganization and a lack of …
Investigating The Masking Effects Of Blood On Organic Gunshot Residue Using Gc/Ms, Raman, And Atr-Ftir, Tyler Willits
Investigating The Masking Effects Of Blood On Organic Gunshot Residue Using Gc/Ms, Raman, And Atr-Ftir, Tyler Willits
Master's Theses
Gunshot residue (GSR) can be an indicator for determining the distance of a firearm discharge and linking potential suspects and witnesses to a shooting event. However, the evidentiary value of inorganic gunshot residue (IGSR), commonly used to detect GSR, has been called into question due to the potential for false negatives and false positives. Organic gunshot residue (OGSR) acts as supporting evidence; this increases the overall confidence of the examiner, as well as the value of gunshot residue evidence as a whole.
Current research has focused on three main areas for OGSR. The first is what compounds we should identify …
Recovery After Genocide: Understanding The Dimensions Of Recovery Capital Among Incarcerated Genocide Perpetrators In Rwanda, Kevin Barnes-Ceeney, Lior Gideon, Laurie Leitch, Kento Yasuhara
Recovery After Genocide: Understanding The Dimensions Of Recovery Capital Among Incarcerated Genocide Perpetrators In Rwanda, Kevin Barnes-Ceeney, Lior Gideon, Laurie Leitch, Kento Yasuhara
Criminal Justice Faculty Publications
Utilizing survey data from 302 men and women incarcerated in the Rwandan correctional system for the crime of genocide, and structured interviews with 75 prisoners, this mixed methods study draws on the concept of recovery capital to understand how individuals convicted of genocide navigate post-genocide healing. Genocide smashes physical and human capital and perverts social and cultural capital. Experiencing high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms with more than two-thirds of the sample scoring above typical civilian cut-off levels, raised levels of depression, and high levels of anxiety, and failing physical health, the genocide perpetrators require multiple sources of recovery capital …
On Efficiency Of Artifact Lookup Strategies In Digital Forensics, Lorenz Liebler, Patrick Schmitt, Harald Baier, Frank Breitinger
On Efficiency Of Artifact Lookup Strategies In Digital Forensics, Lorenz Liebler, Patrick Schmitt, Harald Baier, Frank Breitinger
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
In recent years different strategies have been proposed to handle the problem of ever-growing digital forensic databases. One concept to deal with this data overload is data reduction, which essentially means to separate the wheat from the chaff, e.g., to filter in forensically relevant data. A prominent technique in the context of data reduction are hash-based solutions. Data reduction is achieved because hash values (of possibly large data input) are much smaller than the original input. Today's approaches of storing hash-based data fragments reach from large scale multithreaded databases to simple Bloom filter representations. One main focus was put on …
Small Rna Sequencing And Rt-Qpcr Validation Of Forensically Relevant Body Fluids, Karly Johannsen
Small Rna Sequencing And Rt-Qpcr Validation Of Forensically Relevant Body Fluids, Karly Johannsen
Master's Theses
Body fluid identification is an important aspect of forensic investigations because it assists with the reconstruction of crime scenes and can refute and/or support witness statements. Currently, there is no universal method for body fluid identification. Each body fluid has several tests for its identification, both presumptive and confirmatory. A universal method for body fluid identification that is sensitive, specific, efficient, and minimally destructive is necessary.
In recent years miRNAs have been heralded as novel biomarkers for the identification of body fluids. Several research groups across the US and internationally have been formed to determine which miRNAs are suitable for …
Immersive Virtual Reality Attacks And The Human Joystick, Peter Casey, Ibrahim Baggili, Ananya Yarramreddy
Immersive Virtual Reality Attacks And The Human Joystick, Peter Casey, Ibrahim Baggili, Ananya Yarramreddy
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
This is one of the first accounts for the security analysis of consumer immersive Virtual Reality (VR) systems. This work breaks new ground, coins new terms, and constructs proof of concept implementations of attacks related to immersive VR. Our work used the two most widely adopted immersive VR systems, the HTC Vive, and the Oculus Rift. More specifically, we were able to create attacks that can potentially disorient users, turn their Head Mounted Display (HMD) camera on without their knowledge, overlay images in their field of vision, and modify VR environmental factors that force them into hitting physical objects and …
Frameup: An Incriminatory Attack On Storj: A Peer To Peer Blockchain Enabled Distributed Storage System, Xiaolu Zhang, Justin Grannis, Ibrahim Baggili, Nicole Lang Beebe
Frameup: An Incriminatory Attack On Storj: A Peer To Peer Blockchain Enabled Distributed Storage System, Xiaolu Zhang, Justin Grannis, Ibrahim Baggili, Nicole Lang Beebe
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
In this work we present a primary account of frameup, an incriminatory attack made possible because of existing implementations in distributed peer to peer storage. The frameup attack shows that an adversary has the ability to store unencrypted data on the hard drives of people renting out their hard drive space. This is important to forensic examiners as it opens the door for possibly framing an innocent victim. Our work employs Storj as an example technology, due to its popularity and market size. Storj is a blockchain enabled system that allows people to rent out their hard drive space …
Construction Of A Reference Allelic Ladder For An Odocoileus Str Multiplex, Jolene Strand
Construction Of A Reference Allelic Ladder For An Odocoileus Str Multiplex, Jolene Strand
Master's Theses
Odocoileus is a genus of Cervidae (deer) consisting of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmerman, 1780), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus, Rafinesque, 1817) and blacktailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus, Rafinesque, 1817). Hunting Odocoileus is only legal with proper permits according to laws that dictate when, where, how, and what can be hunted. Anything outside the legal limits is considered to be poaching. A useful tool for investigating poaching cases is Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA analysis. This is commonly used in human forensic casework to link DNA evidence found at crime scenes to either victims or suspects. In poaching cases, it can …
The Potential Interference Of Body Products And Substrates To The Identification Of Ignitable Liquid Residues On Worn Clothing, Gina Guerrera, Erika Chen, Robert Powers, Brooke Weinger Kammrath
The Potential Interference Of Body Products And Substrates To The Identification Of Ignitable Liquid Residues On Worn Clothing, Gina Guerrera, Erika Chen, Robert Powers, Brooke Weinger Kammrath
Forensic Science Publications
The question of whether deposits on clothing as well as their chemical composition are being mistaken for ignitable fluids is a concern for forensic analysts. Body products and oil secretions can have similar chemical profiles to ignitable liquid residues (ILRs) as a result of comparable chemical compounds that may be found in both sources. This study investigated whether substrates of unworn and worn clothing, with endogenous body secretions and body products could interfere with ILR analysis. Sample extraction was completed by passive headspace concentration with activated charcoal strips (ACS) and desorption with carbon disulfide followed by analysis with gas chromatography-mass …
A Practitioner Survey Exploring The Value Of Forensic Tools, Ai, Filtering, & Safer Presentation For Investigating Child Sexual Abuse Material, Laura Sanchez, Cinthya Grajeda, Ibrahim Baggili, Cory Hall
A Practitioner Survey Exploring The Value Of Forensic Tools, Ai, Filtering, & Safer Presentation For Investigating Child Sexual Abuse Material, Laura Sanchez, Cinthya Grajeda, Ibrahim Baggili, Cory Hall
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
For those investigating cases of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), there is the potential harm of experiencing trauma after illicit content exposure over a period of time. Research has shown that those working on such cases can experience psychological distress. As a result, there has been a greater effort to create and implement technologies that reduce exposure to CSAM. However, not much work has explored gathering insight regarding the functionality, effectiveness, accuracy, and importance of digital forensic tools and data science technologies from practitioners who use them. This study focused specifically on examining the value practitioners give to the tools …
Evaluating Project Safe Neighborhoods In Connecticut: A Youth Opportunity Initiative, Sara A. Jeffries, David Myers, Jonathan A. Kringen, Ron Schack
Evaluating Project Safe Neighborhoods In Connecticut: A Youth Opportunity Initiative, Sara A. Jeffries, David Myers, Jonathan A. Kringen, Ron Schack
Criminal Justice Faculty Publications
Despite containing numerous wealthy geographic areas, the state of Connecticut continues to struggle with social and economic distress, along with gun-related crime. Problem analysis in urban areas revealed a critical need for services aimed at deterring violent and gun-related crime in two target populations: serious juvenile offenders, aged 14–17 years, and at-risk youth, aged 11–13 years. Using a quasi-experimental design, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) on youth in two cities in Connecticut. Implementation resulted in 133 young people receiving a variety of services in New Haven and Bridgeport. Evaluation research assessed intervention efforts …
The Impact Of Environmental Degradation On The Analysis Of Manufactured Fibers, Alexis R. Weber
The Impact Of Environmental Degradation On The Analysis Of Manufactured Fibers, Alexis R. Weber
Master's Theses
The analysis of fiber evidence involves the ability to link a questioned fiber back to its known source. But before the collection and analysis of questioned fibers, they could be potentially exposed to various environmental conditions for an extended period of time. There has been little research on how manufactured fibers are affected by various environments and if this interaction affects the ability to link a questioned fiber back to its known source. Changes to the manufactured fibers are essential to be aware of, in order to avoid the possibility of erroneous exclusions when performing fiber comparisons. A six-month time …
Inception: Virtual Space In Memory Space In Real Space, Peter Casey, Rebecca Lindsay-Decusati, Ibrahim Baggili, Frank Breitinger
Inception: Virtual Space In Memory Space In Real Space, Peter Casey, Rebecca Lindsay-Decusati, Ibrahim Baggili, Frank Breitinger
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications
Virtual Reality (VR) has become a reality. With the technology's increased use cases, comes its misuse. Malware affecting the Virtual Environment (VE) may prevent an investigator from ascertaining virtual information from a physical scene, or from traditional “dead” analysis. Following the trend of antiforensics, evidence of an attack may only be found in memory, along with many other volatile data points. Our work provides the primary account for the memory forensics of Immersive VR systems, and in specific the HTC Vive. Our approach is capable of reconstituting artifacts from memory that are relevant to the VE, and is also capable …
Assay Development For The Identification Of Species And Bioactive Compounds Of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) In Dietary Supplements By Rt-Qpcr, Dna Sanger Sequencing And Spectroscopy (Uv-Vis/Ftir), Ricardo L. Fernandez Walker
Assay Development For The Identification Of Species And Bioactive Compounds Of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) In Dietary Supplements By Rt-Qpcr, Dna Sanger Sequencing And Spectroscopy (Uv-Vis/Ftir), Ricardo L. Fernandez Walker
Master's Theses
Regulation standards for dietary supplements lack greatly. Due to this, fraud during the manufacturing of these products might be committed. Previous investigations on herbal dietary supplements have shown that the main ingredient was not present in most of the herbal supplements tested and that these products also contained other substances not stated in the label The purpose of this study was to develop a fluorescent qPCR assay for the identification of Morinda citrifolia herbal species in dietary supplements. Primers for genetic regions rbcL and matK of M. citrifolia were designed. The potential of novel matK primer showed discrimination potential …