Forensic Science and Technology Commons^™

Investigation Of Postmortem Methamphetamine Cases Submitted To The New York City Office Of Chief Medical Examiner, Isaiah Jewell

Student Theses

Methamphetamine (N-methylamphetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant (CNS) and sympathomimetic drug with a high addiction potential. In the United States, there has been a significant increase in the presence of methamphetamine in recent years, specifically in the Northeastern region of the country. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (NYC-OCME) postmortem methamphetamine casework from 2018 and 2019 was analyzed and revealed that the presence of the drug increased drastically within a span of one year, jumping from 65 cases in 2018 to 99 cases in 2019. Males were overwhelmingly responsible for much of the casework, taking up …

Bullet Ricochet Of Polymer Coated Bullets, Stephen Daly

Student Theses

Polymer coated bullets were designed to limit a shooter’s exposure to lead. However, despite the advantages that these bullets give there are still difficulties which arise in a forensic firearms examination. Unlike in a typical metal coated bullet, individualizing striations will typically not be imparted to a polymer coated bullet making it unable to be linked to a specific firearm. Due to this difficulty any information that can be gained at the scene of the crime could be crucial. Some obtainable information includes the angle of ricochet and the angle of incidence of the discharged bullet as well as traces …

Editorial Introduction To The Special Issue: Supporting Future Scholarship On Cybercrime, Jaeyong Choi, Brandon Dulisse, Richard L. Wentling, Nathan Kruis

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

This editorial introduction will present an overview of the three papers published in this special issue of the International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime. The winners of the student paper competition during the 2021 Whitehat Conference have prepared their papers for this special issue. Their research directs our attention to key issues regarding cybercrime that have often been overlooked in the literature ranging from North Korean cyberterrorism to the relationship between COVID-19 and cybercrime and to fear of online victimization.

North Korean Cyber Attacks And Policy Responses: An Interdisciplinary Theoretical Framework, Jeeseon Hwang, Kyung-Shick Choi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

Malware Infections In The U.S. During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study, Sydney Gero, Sinchul Back, Jennifer Laprade, Joonggon Kim

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in many ways, especially in the landscape of cyber threats. The pandemic has pro-vided cybercriminals with more opportunities to commit crimes due to more people engaging in online activities, along with the increased use of computers for school, work, and social events. The current study seeks to explore cybercrime trends, in particular malware infections, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study examines the relationship between the number of malware in-fections, COVID-19 positive cases, closed non-essential businesses, and closed K-12 public schools in the United States. Data utilized in this study derives from (1) …

Level Of Engagement With Social Networking Services And Fear Of Online Victimization: The Role Of Online Victimization Experiences, Yeonjae Park, Lynne M. Vieraitis

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

Increasing Accountability For Rape In Liberia: The Need For A Forensic System To Increase The Success Rates Of Prosecution, Pela Boker Wilson

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

The need for a fully functioning forensic system has been identified by the Liberian government and international partners, but it has not been addressed. This Article argues that despite a robust framework put in place to create accountability for rape, Liberia needs a system of collecting and processing forensic evidence to increase the success rate of prosecutions that currently fail due to the inadequacy of non-forensic evidence.

Amino Acid Composition Analysis As A Means To Differentiate Hair Samples From Individuals Of Similar Demographics And The Effect Of Hair Treatments, Trisha Brady

Honors Theses

Hair is a forensically-relevant exhibit due to its ability to be shed, torn, or transferred during a crime. Current forensic hair analysis includes microscopic hair comparison and mitochondrial or nuclear DNA analyses, each with limitations. Novel methods, such as those evaluated herein, have potential to complement conventional techniques. These include evaluating functional groups with infrared (IR) spectroscopy, elements with laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and amino acid ratios with gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Hair from two demographically similar individuals was divided into three sample groups per individual: untreated, bleached, and dyed. Spectral differences between individuals and treatments were evaluated …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of The Humic Acid Inhibitor On Forensic Genetic Investigations Of Human Skeletal Remains, Madeline King

Honors Theses

Postmortem survival of DNA in human skeletal remains occurs due to the compact microstructure of the skeleton and its ability to provide a strong, protective physical barrier to environmental insults. On a molecular level, DNA preservation in bones/teeth involves electrostatic interactions between the negatively-charged DNA backbone and positively charged calcium residues in hydroxyapatite, the latter of which is one of the main components of bone microstructure. Despite these protections, over time endogenous DNA becomes damaged, limiting our ability to detect it and affecting its utility in making a positive identification. Hence, forensic genetic investigations of unidentified human remains (UHRs) are …

Extraction Of Human Dna From Soil In A Simulated Clandestine Grave, Arely Joaly Parra Lopez

Honors Theses

Locard’s Exchange Principle states that “every contact leaves a trace.” The same principle applies when a perpetrator of a homicide decides to bury a victim in a clandestine grave. If a perpetrator originally buried a murder victim in haste to prevent discovery and then decided to later move the victim’s body to a remote location for disposal, decomposition fluids from the victim’s body (which contain cellular material and therefore DNA) would remain in the surrounding grave soil at the original burial site. It is possible that investigators could: 1) prove that a human body had once laid in that location …

Investigating The Use Of Saligae® To Identify Expirated Blood On Various Material, Maria Bigos

Honors Theses

Expirated bloodstains and impact bloodstains have very similar physical characteristics. The main way Blood Pattern Analysts identify bloodstains in based on their physical characteristics. This can lead to difficulty distinguishing between expirated blood and impact spatter. Expirated blood can be identified through the presence of air bubbles, however these are often only present on non-porous surfaces. However, if expirated bloodstains can be identified through the presence of saliva, this can provide an alternative way to identify expirated bloodstains. This study examined if SALIgAE can be accurately used to identify the presence of saliva in blood and thus, be a way …

Correlation Between Tooth Root Translucency, Crystallinity, And Dna Preservation In Teeth For Unidentified Human Remains (Uhr) Investigations, Paul Yount

Master's Theses

Endogenous genetic material protected by the rigid, mineralized hard tissues of bones and teeth is often targeted for forensic DNA testing in missing persons and unidentified human remains (UHR) investigations. Although standard approaches have narrowed sample selection to a few optimal skeletal elements (i.e., weight-bearing long bones, teeth), subsampling and decisions beyond this can be challenging due to the non-uniform, heterogeneous pattern of postmortem diagenesis. One particular component of skeletal microstructure — the inorganic mineral matrix [hydroxyapatite (HAp), Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] — is purported to play a major role in DNA preservation. The potential correlation between molecular changes to skeletal microstructure and …

Determination Of Human Shedding Propensity Based On Str Results, Genevieve Trapani

Student Theses

Trace DNA evidence may be discovered at a crime scene after having been deposited by a person of interest via active or passive transfer. Based on previous studies, passive transfer of one’s DNA is influenced by their shedding propensity, or probability of depositing a detectable amount of DNA through touch. Determining the shedding propensity of a person of interest can aid in trace DNA interpretation in forensic casework. This study explored STR profile quality and the presence of a DNA mixture for different skin surface locations, including fingertips before and after handwashing. As expected, unwashed fingers showed a higher prevalence …

Criterion Validity Of The Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method In A Criminal Justice Sample, Sarah M. Monaghan

Student Theses

The purpose of the current study was to determine the clinical utility of the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method (OSU-TBI-ID) in a criminal justice sample, by evaluating the criterion-related validity of this instrument. It was hypothesized that this tool could differentiate between incarcerated individuals with or without a history of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on measures evaluating important TBI-related sequalae. The sample consisted of 95 incarcerated men detained at a private correctional facility in a Mid-Atlantic state. Measures used in this study to evaluate executive functioning difficulties, psychiatric difficulties, substance use problems, institutional misconduct and recidivism were …

Unraveling The Mummy: The Effects Of Natural Mummification On The Recovery And Degradation Of Dna, Marissa Gandolfo-Muller

Honors Theses

As demonstrated through casework and research studies (Hawass et al., 2010; Gielda & Rigg, 2017), anthropogenic mummification and modern-day embalming can expedite degradation of DNA. Current research in the field of forensic mummification is sparse and little research has been done on quantifying naturally mummified DNA (Leccia et al., 2018; Shved et al., 2014). This research focuses on observing and quantifying the differences in the recovery and degradation of DNA from specimens that have been naturally mummified. This research on natural, forensic mummies is a blend of experimental archeology and postmortem DNA analysis.

In this study, two control specimens and …

Investigation Of Palatal Rugoscopy For Forensic Human Identification, Cameron Filipe

Honors Theses

Human identification is critical to the field of forensic science as well as in many sub-disciplines, including forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, and forensic odontology. While few widely-accepted methods of identification dominate the discipline (primarily fingerprint and dental record analysis), the study of palatal rugae patterns (rugoscopy) is an emerging tool in human identification. Some studies suggest that patterns of the palatal rugae are an individualizing characteristic among humans. While the use of rugoscopy for identification has been explored as an identifying marker in the dental and orthodontic communities, its use for forensic applications is not widely recognized. Also, while some …

The Opportunities And Challenges Of Internet Of Things Evidence In Regard To Criminal Investigations, Nathan Mcclaran

Honors Theses

As internet-connected devices become more prevalent, the need for police and law enforcement to be able to utilize these devices when solving crimes steadily increases. Law enforcement agencies are already aware of the opportunities and challenges when interacting with computers and mobile cellular devices, but many agencies are unable to utilize these avenues of evidence because of limited access to resources able to forensically examine computing devices. In addition, the introduction of internet of things devices, such as Amazon Alexa and other microphone or camera connected devices, allows new opportunities for law enforcement agencies to gather digital forensic evidence either …

Cyberbullying: Its Social And Psychological Harms Among Schoolers, Hyeyoung Lim, Hannarae Lee

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Criminal justice around the world has prioritized the prevention and protection of bullying and its victims due to the rapid increases in peer violence. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have examined what treatments or assistance are effective for peer victims to reduce and recover from their social and psychological suffering, especially in cyberbullying cases. Using data derived from the National Crime Victimization Survey-School Crime Supplement data in 2011 and 2013 (N=823), the current study examined the impact of two emotional support groups (i.e., adult and peer groups) on cyberbullying victims' social and psychological harm. The findings indicated that both adult and …

Cyber-Victimization Trends In Trinidad & Tobago: The Results Of An Empirical Research, Troy Smith, Nikolaos Stamatakis

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Cybertechnology has brought benefits to the Caribbean in the form of new regional economic and social growth. In the last years, Caribbean countries have also become attractive targets for cybercrime due to increased economic success and online presence with a low level of cyber resilience. This study examines the online-related activities that affect cybercrime victimization by using the Routine Activity Theory (RAT). The present study seeks to identify activities that contribute to different forms of cybercrime victimization and develop risk models for these crimes, particularly the understudied cyber-dependent crimes of Hacking and Malware. It also aims to explore if there …

Assessing The Credibility Of Cyber Adversaries, Jenny A. Wells, Dana S. Lafon, Margaret Gratian

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Online communications are ever increasing, and we are constantly faced with the challenge of whether online information is credible or not. Being able to assess the credibility of others was once the work solely of intelligence agencies. In the current times of disinformation and misinformation, understanding what we are reading and to who we are paying attention to is essential for us to make considered, informed, and accurate decisions, and it has become everyone’s business. This paper employs a literature review to examine the empirical evidence across online credibility, trust, deception, and fraud detection in an effort to consolidate this …