The long term recidivism risk of young sexual offenders in England and Wales– enduring risk or redemption?

PurposeTo examine the long-term sexual recidivism risk of juvenile sex offenders in England and Wales, and to compare the risk to that of a first time sexual offense for non-convicted juveniles. Additionally, the study explores the long term sexual recidivism risk of other types of juvenile offenders, and the long term violent recidivism risk of these groups.MethodsThe England and Wales Offenders Index was used to extract birth cohort data. Life table methods were used to estimate cumulative recidivism risk, and discrete time hazard models were used to compare hazard functions.ResultsAt the five year period, 7% of juvenile sexual offenders have been reconvicted of a sexual offense; reaching 13% by the end of the 35 year follow-up. When the reconviction hazard of the juvenile sexual offenders was compared with the first sexual conviction risk of a non-convicted comparison group, the hazards converged statistically after 17 years.ConclusionsThe study has implications for the registration periods of juvenile sex offenders. Indefinite registration for some juveniles needs to be considered, and a review of registration after a conviction free period would provide more balance between the protection of the public and the rights of the offender.     

The Successful Onset of Sex Offending: Determining the Correlates of Actual and Official Onset of Sex Offending

PurposeThe current study investigates the covariates of age of onset (actual and official) and cost avoidance of sex offending in first-time convicted sex offenders.MethodsThe current study utilized a large sample (n = 332) of federally sentenced first-time convicted adult male sex offenders. Actual onset was measured using self-report, victim statements, and police investigation notes. Official onset was measured using age at first conviction. Cost avoidance was measured as the time gap between actual and official onset.ResultsFirst, while most offenders initiated their sexual criminal career in their early adult years (25–35 years) they were typically not arrested until middle adulthood. Second, the covariates for official onset are in line with cost avoidance, but not actual onset. Third, offenders best able to avoid costs were early starters with a conventional background (i.e., employed, absence of a conviction for a non-sex crime), targeting prepubescent children within the family context.ConclusionsWhile early actual onset offenders were more likely to target stranger victims, early official starters exhibited an unconventional background, prior criminal record, more extensive sexual criminal career, and targeted strangers. Thus, official, but not actual onset revealed a profile in line with prior research.     

Psychological distress and severity of personality disorder symptomatology in prisoners convicted of violent and sexual offences

Abstract

Background: There have been recent proposals in England and Wales to develop services aimed at reducing the risk to the public posed by offenders with so-called “severe personality disorder”. The emphasis of the proposals is on risk. However, prisoners with personality disorder may have psychiatric treatment needs other than those purely relating to public protection. The aim of the study was to examine the association between severity of self reported personality disorder pathology and psychological distress in serious offenders.

Method: All male prisoners in two prisons, convicted of violent or sexual offences, were sent the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4+(PDQ?4+) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R).

Results: High levels of self reported personality pathology were associated with high levels of psychological distress.

Conclusions: Offenders with the most severe self reported personality disorder pathology experience distress that may be clinically significant. Services for offenders with personality disorder will need to address their associated psychiatric symptoms.     

Multiple murder and criminal careers: A latent class analysis of multiple homicide offenders

PurposeTo construct an empirically rigorous typology of multiple homicide offenders (MHOs).MethodThe current study conducted latent class analysis of the official records of 160 MHOs sampled from eight states to evaluate their criminal careers.ResultsA 3-class solution best fit the data (?2LL = ?1123.61, Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) = 2648.15, df = 81, L² = 1179.77). Class 1 (n = 64, class assignment probability = .999) was the low-offending group marked by little criminal record and delayed arrest onset. Class 2 (n = 51, class assignment probability = .957) was the severe group that represents the most violent and habitual criminals. Class 3 (n = 45, class assignment probability = .959) was the moderate group whose offending careers were similar to Class 2.ConclusionA sustained criminal career with involvement in versatile forms of crime was observed for two of three classes of MHOs. Linkages to extant typologies and recommendations for additional research that incorporates clinical constructs are proffered.     

Community re-entry and the path toward desistance: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study of dynamic factors and community risk management of adult sex offenders

PurposeA successful community re-entry is a step toward desistance from sex offending. The re-entry phase is critical because it can trigger dynamic risk factors that can lead to a re-offense. In that context, community risk management is seen as pivotal to moderate the impact of community re-entry and associated stressors. The current study, therefore, examines the dynamic factors associated with a successful community re-entry, taking into account the type of community supervision offenders were subjected to.MethodologyThis prospective longitudinal study is based on a quasi-experimental research design where offenders (n = 169) were subjected to different types of community supervision (intensive supervision versus regular probation services). Community re-entry outcomes were assessed through the presence of technical violations and/or a new criminal offence.FindingsCox proportional hazards showed that offenders with negative community re-entry outcomes were younger, at-risk of sexual violence, under intensive community supervision, and had more negative social influences and self-regulation deficits. Of importance, intensive community supervision significantly moderated the impact of negative social influences but negatively impacted those with self-regulation deficits.ConclusionsThe study provides evidence that dynamic risk factors are important during re-entry and may operate differently under different supervisory conditions.     

Prison life: Television,sports, work,stress and insomnia in a remand prison

ObjectiveTo compare how prisoners complaining of insomnia and prisoners without sleep problems describe their daily activities, stress factors and the perceived reasons for their sleep quality in prison.Method102 randomly chosen remanded prisoners complaining of insomnia and 61 randomly chosen prisoners who did not complain of insomnia.ResultsPrisoners complaining of insomnia and those reporting good sleep differed significantly in their lifestyle in prison. A significantly higher percentage of the former than of the latter reported writing letters, diaries or a book in prison, as well as doing “arts-related” activities such as painting and listening to music. A significantly higher percentage of non insomniac prisoners than of prisoners complaining of insomnia practiced sports in prison, watched television, and spent their day discussing and meeting other detainees. PSQI and GHQ scores were significantly different between insomniac and non insomniac prisoners. Insomniac prisoners complained significantly more often than non-insomniac prisoners about sleep disturbances, in the first place by roommates, but also by guards. Activities in prison and stressful events were significant factors associated with the variable “insomnia versus no insomnia” Worries about medical problems (odds ratio: 12.9), being separated or divorced (odds ratio: 8.8), having experienced stressful events during the past week (odds ratio: 8.7), “art” activity (odds ratio: 8.6), and having a GHQ score > 10 (odds ratio: 7.7) had the highest odds ratios among the tested covariates. No sports in prison and some activities were also predictors of insomnia when entered separately or conditionally.ConclusionOur study provides arguments on how to alleviate insomnia in prison: changing conditions of imprisonment is of public health benefit. Increased opportunities to practice sports in prison as well as adequate care for medical problems and psychological support to reduce context related stress should be routinely offered to insomniac prisoners.     

Determination of amphetamine-type stimulants,ketamine and metabolites in fingernails by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous qualification and quantification of methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AP), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-amphetamine (MDA), ketamine (KET) and norketamine (NKT) in fingernails. Fingernail samples (20 mg) were washed with distilled water and methanol, digested with 1.0 M sodium hydroxide at 95 °C for 30 min, and then extracted with ethyl acetate. Extract solutions were evaporated to dryness, derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) at 60 °C for 30 min, and analyzed by GC–MS. The linear ranges were 0.1–20.0 ng/mg for AP, MDMA and NKT, 0.2–20.0 ng/mg for MA and MDA, and 0.4–20.0 ng/mg for KET, with the coefficients of determination (r² ≥ 0.9989). The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 7.1% and 10.6%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies were ?10.9% to 0.8% and ?4.3% to 4.5%, respectively. The limits of detections (LODs) and the limits of quantifications (LOQs) for each analyte were lower than 0.094 ng/mg and 0.314 ng/mg, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 72.3–94.9%. The average fingernail growth rates of two subjects for three years and six subjects for two months were 3.12 mm/month and 3.16 mm/month, respectively. The method proved to be suitable also for the simultaneous detection and quantification of MA, MDMA, KET and their metabolites in fingernails.     

Systematical method for polyacrylamide and residual acrylamide detection in cosmetic surgery products and example application

IntroductionIn this paper, the authors presented a case of acrylamide poisoning in a middle-aged woman who had underwent unsuccessful cosmetic surgery six years earlier. The victim was told that the product that had been injected into her face was Restylane®, which mainly contained sodium hyaluronate and was the first and only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved dermal filler for lip enhancement in the USA for more than 20 years. Widespread facial infections occurred several years post-injection; finally, the victim had to undergo removal surgery. Acrylamide poisoning was strongly suspected based on the victim's clinical manifestation. The product that had been injected into the victim's face was probably polyacrylamide hydrogel-based product, which had been prohibited by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in China in 2006. To confirm this suspicion, a systematical method was established to differentiate varieties of cosmetic surgery products and identify residential acrylamide.MethodsThe removed objects, original products and a certified reference sample of Restylane® were collected for examination. A direct microscopic examination was applied as a rapid screening method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy analysis was subsequently performed to distinguish the main components from each sample. Automated solid phase extraction, ultra high performance liquid chromatography (SPE UHPLC) analysis was ultimately utilised and optimised to detect the residual acrylamide. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UHPLC HSS T3 column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.01% aqueous formic acid solution and acetonitrile. The tunable UV (TUV) detection wavelength was at 202 nm.ResultsThe microscopic examination indicated that different samples had different morphological characteristics, depending on their main components. The FTIR spectrum showed that different polymers could be distinguished according to the CO stretching vibration (1655 cm^? 1), NH bending vibration (1540 cm^? 1) and CO stretching vibration (1078 and 1045 cm^? 1). The UHPLC results demonstrated that the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.5–20.0 μg/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The average recoveries of the method were 99–107% with an RSD of 1.6–6.3%. The detection limit was 0.1 μg/mL (S/N = 3). The analytical time was 6 min per sample. Acrylamide was detected in the allegedly Restylane® injection.ConclusionsThis systematical method provides a rapid, accurate and sensitive determination of polyacrylamide and residual acrylamide. The microscopic and FTIR spectroscopic examinations help to verify the existence of polyacrylamide quickly and easily. The optimised SPE UHPLC-TUV method offers a simpler and more sensitive approach to confirm the amount of acrylamide, comparing to the methods in the literature.     

Prevalence of blood alcohol in fatal traffic crashes in Shanghai

The objective of this project was to investigate the incidence of alcohol consumption in fatal traffic deaths in Shanghai, one of the largest cities in China. A study was conducted on 803 individuals killed in road accidents during the period 2009–2011, in terms of alcohol-positive rate, mean blood alcohol content (BAC), gender, age, vehicle type, pedestrian alcohol problem, single-vehicle vs multiple-vehicle crashes, and time of day. It was found that 28.9% of the drivers involved had a BAC ≥ 0.20 mg/mL (limit of civil offense) and 21.8% had a BAC ≥ 0.80 mg/mL (limit of criminal offense). The mean BAC of alcohol-positive drivers (with a BAC ≥ 0.20 mg/mL) was 1.51 mg/mL. The vast majority of the drivers involved were males. With regards to age, the largest group was of drivers aged between 40 and 49 years group in both alcohol-negative cases (26.8%) and alcohol-positive cases (26.2%). Motorcycles were most likely to be involved, representing 34.4% of alcohol-negative crashes and 51.6% of alcohol-positive crashes. Very high BACs were common among alcohol-positive pedestrians, yet all female pedestrians were alcohol-negative. Single-vehicle crashes were over-represented in alcohol-positive cases. Alcohol-negative crashes and alcohol-positive crashes most often happened during the time period of 17:00–18:59 and 19:00–20:59, respectively.     

Seasonal variation of seclusion incidents from violent and suicidal acts in forensic psychiatric patients

BackgroundA seasonal variation in violence and suicidal behaviour has been reported in several studies with partially congruent results. Most of forensic psychiatric patients have a history of severe violent behaviour that often continues in spite of regular treatment. In the forensic psychiatric hospital environment aggressive and suicidal acts are often sudden and unpredictable. For reasons of safety, rapid and intensive coercive measures, such as seclusion and restraint, are necessary in the treatment of such patients.ObjectiveTo examine whether these involuntary seclusions have a seasonal pattern, possibly similar than the reported seasonal variation in violence and suicidal behaviour. By investigating the possibility of a seasonal variation of seclusion incidents from violent and suicidal acts, it may become possible to improve the management of forensic psychiatric patients.MethodsThe hospital files of all secluded patients at Niuvanniemi Hospital from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2002 were examined. In total, 385 patients (324 male and 61 female) were identified as being secluded at least once in 1930 different incidents (1476 from male and 454 from female patients). Seasonal decomposition and linear regression with dummy month variables were used to examine the possibility of annual variations for seclusions.ResultsThe seasonal variation of involuntary seclusion incidents was statistically significant. According to the linear regression model, most of the seclusion incidents, affecting many different patients, began in July and August, and were concentrated throughout the fall until November. The sum of all seclusion days was lowest in January and highest between July and November (difference + 31% to + 37%).ConclusionsThese findings are mainly in agreement with results from other studies on seasonal variation and violent behaviour. The allocation of staff for late summer and fall might enhance the management of forensic psychiatric patients, thus leading to possible decreases in seclusion incidents. The factors affecting violent, aggressive and suicidal behaviours are complex and more investigation is needed to understand, identify, intervene and effectively reduce such behaviours.     

Static screening instruments for risk of minor and major violence

Background: Screens for violent convictions that are simple, accessible and parsimonious are needed, as a first stage in identifying those at high risk for further assessment. Aims: To construct and validate screening tools for minor and major violence convictions for released prisoners. Methods: Internal validation sample of 1647 serious offenders and an external validation of 46,704 general prisoners. The outcomes were binary indicators for having at least one conviction for minor and major violence. Risk factors were convictions for violence and age. Results: In the external validation sample, the instrument for risk of minor violence (PMIV) identified correctly 60.8% of male and 66.2% of female general prisoners. For risk of major violence, the instrument (PMAV) identified correctly 68.0% of male and 79.3% of female prisoners. Conclusions: The PMIV and PMAV will efficiently assist practitioners in a first stage of screening before in-depth clinical assessment of risk for future violent convictions.     

Estimation of legal age using calcification stages of third molars in living individuals

The increased number of adolescents and young adults with unknown or inaccurately given date of birth is a current issue in justice and legal medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which third molar calcification stages assessed on panoramic X-rays could be useful as additional criteria for forensic age estimation in living individuals, focusing on the legally important ages 17 and 18.In a retrospective multi-center study, the developmental stage of each individual's third molar was analyzed using Demirjian's scale in 2360 cases. Additionally, sex, age and ancestry were assessed.Individuals with the lowest calcification stage of all present molars in stage H were ≥ 18 years with a likelihood of ≥ 99.05% in the female (n = 388), and ≥ 99.24% in the male (n = 482) population.The lowest calcification stage of all present third molars proved to be useful as an additional reliable criterion for the determination of an age ≥ 18 years.     

Attitudes towards personality disorders: Comparison between prison officers and psychiatric nurses

Objectives. This study investigates the effects of working with dangerous and severely personality disordered (DSPD) prisoners and patients on the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of staff, which may be important therapeutic variables in the management and treatment of prisoners and patients. Method. The attitudes of prison officers working in a DSPD prison unit and psychiatric nurses working in high‐security psychiatric hospitals were compared using the Attitude to Personality Disorder Questionnaire (APDQ) and the Staff Attitude to Personality Disorder Interview (SAPDI). Results. Prison officers and nurses differed in their attitudes. Prison officers' attitudes were more positive than those of psychiatric nurses in all aspects of the APDQ. Prison officers indicated that they felt more liking for and interest in contact with personality disordered prisoners, less fear and helplessness, less anger, were more optimistic regarding treatment, and less frustrated. The SAPDI revealed that nurses expressed more concern about caring for and managing personality disordered patients, and felt more vulnerable and less accepting towards them. Prison officers conveyed more confidence in their own abilities and felt less vulnerable. Conclusion. Differences found in attitudes towards personality disordered prisoners/patients are discussed in terms of personal, environmental and experiential influences, and implications for DSPD services. Attitudes towards personality disordered prisoners/patients between nurses and officers differed. They are likely to be influenced by a combination of experience with personality disorder, organisational culture and personal characteristics.     

Psychopathy among prisoners in England and Wales

Most research into psychopathy among prisoners is based on selected samples. It remains unclear whether prevalences are lower among European populations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychopathy, and the distribution and correlates of psychopathic traits in a representative national sample of prisoners. Psychopathy was measured using the revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) in a second stage, cross-sectional survey of prisoners in England and Wales in 1997 (n = 496). Poisson regression analysis was carried out to examine independent associations between correlates and PCL-R total and factor scores. The prevalence of categorically diagnosed psychopathy at a cut off of 30 was 7.7% (95%CI 5.2–10.9) in men and 1.9% (95%CI 0.2–6.9) in women. Psychopathic traits were less prevalent among women. They were correlated with younger age, repeated imprisonment, detention in higher security, disciplinary infractions, antisocial, narcissistic, histrionic, and schizoid personality disorders, and substance misuse, but not neurotic disorders or schizophrenia. The study concluded that psychopathy and psychopathic traits are prevalent among male prisoners in England and Wales but lower than in most previous studies using selected samples. However, most correlates with psychopathic traits were similar to other studies. Psychopathy identifies the extreme of a spectrum of social and behavioral problems among prisoners.     

Validity of Demirjian and Willems methods for dental age estimation for Malaysian children aged 5–15 years old

BackgroundOne of the most commonly used method for dental age assessment is the method reported by Demirjian and coworkers in 1973. It was later modified by Willems and coworkers whereby they “performed a weighted ANOVA” in order to adapt the scoring system.AimTo evaluate the applicability of Demirjian and Willems methods for dental age estimation for Malaysian children and to correlate the accuracy of the findings with the chronology of tooth development of premolars and second molars.Materials and methodsA total of 991 dental panoramic radiographs of 5–15-year-old Malaysian children were included in the study. The mean Demirjian and Willems estimated ages were compared to the mean chronological age.ResultsThe mean chronological age of the sample was 10.1 ± 2.8 and 9.9 ± 3.0 years for males and females respectively. Using the Demirjian method, the mean estimated dental age was 10.8 ± 2.9 years for males and 10.5 ± 2.9 years for females. For Willems method, the mean estimated age was 10.3 ± 2.8 years males and 10.0 ± 3.0 years respectively.ConclusionsWillems method was more applicable for estimating dental age for Malaysian children. Overestimation in Demirjian method could be due to advanced development of second bicuspids and molars.     

Cross-validation of the risk matrix 2000 sexual and violent scales

The predictive accuracy of the newly developed actuarial risk measures Risk Matrix 2000 Sexual/Violence (RMS, RMV) were cross validated and compared with two risk assessment measures (SVR-20 and Static-99) in a sample of sexual (n= 85) and nonsex violent (n= 46) offenders. The sexual offense reconviction rate for the sex offender group was 18% at 10 years follow-up, compared with 2% for the violent offenders. Survival analyses revealed the violent offenders were reconvicted at twice the rate compared to sexual offenders. The RMV significantly predicted violent recidivism in the sex and combined sex/violent offender groups. Although the RMS obtained marginal accuracy in predicting sexual reconviction in the sex offender group, none of the scales significantly predicted sexual reconviction. An item analysis revealed four factors not included in the risk scales that were significantly correlated with sexual and violent reconviction. Combining these factors with Static-99, RMV, and RMS increased the accuracy in predicting sexual reconviction.     

Age estimation by pulp/tooth area ratio in canines: Cameriere's method assessed in an Indian sample using radiovisiography

Age estimation of an individual whether living or dead is an intimidating task in forensic investigations. Since teeth are more resistant to most peri- and post-mortem changes, they are frequently used for identification and age estimation when skeletal remains are in poor condition. However, most methods are destructive and warrant extraction of teeth which is not feasible in living individuals. Cameriere's et al. put forth a radiographic method of age estimation by pulp to tooth area ratio (AR) in canines and revealed a linear regression between age and the AR. In the present study, we estimated the AR in 456 canines (upper, lower and both) in an Indian sample (114 males and 114 females) using radiovisiography technique. Linear regression equations were derived for upper canine, lower canine and both using the AR to estimate chronological age. Additionally, the efficacy of these equations was also evaluated in younger age group (<45 years). The formulas derived, i.e., age = 96.795 ? 513.561x₁ (Eq. (1)) for upper canine, age = 88.308 ? 458.137x₂ (Eq. (2)) for lower canine and age = 99.190 ? 283.537x₁ ? 306.902x₂ + 400.873x₁x₂ (Eq. (3)) for both the canines were applied to predict the chronological age. The mean value of residuals using these regression equations ranged from 4.28 to 6.39 years with upper canine equation generally giving a precise result. When these equations were applied for younger ages (<45 years), the regression equation derived from both canines gave a better result (mean residual 2.70 years). Overall these equations were better able to predict the age in younger ages, i.e., up to 45 years.     

Violent Sex Offenses: How are They Best Measured from Official Records?

In the United States, sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment statutes generally require assessment of an offender's risk of subsequent sexual violence. Current actuarial methods for predicting sexual reoffending were actually designed to predict something else—charges or convictions for offenses deemed sexual based on information obtained from police “rapsheets” alone. This study examined the referral and past offenses of 177 sex offenders. Results showed that police rapsheets (and data based on them) underestimated the number and severity of sexually motivated violent offenses for which sex offenders were actually apprehended. Rapsheet violent offenses seemed a more accurate index of the conduct addressed by SVP legislation than were rapsheet sex offenses. We suggest that, when evaluating sex offenders for SVP status, actuarial instruments designed to predict violent recidivism (as measured by rapsheet violent reoffenses) might be preferable to those designed to predict sexual recidivism (as measured by rapsheet sexual reoffenses).

Examining the Criminal History and Future Offending of Child Pornography Offenders: An Extended Prospective Follow-up Study

We examined police occurrence and criminal records data for a sample of 201 registered male child pornography offenders originally reported by Seto and Eke (Sex Abus J Res Treat 17:201–210, 2005), extending the average follow-up time for this sample to 5.9 years. In addition, we obtained the same data for another 340 offenders, increasing our full sample to 541 men, with a total average follow-up of 4.1 years. In the extended follow-up of the original sample, 34% of offenders had new charges for any type of reoffense, with 6% charged with a contact sexual offense against a child and an additional 3% charged with historical contact sex offenses (i.e., previously undetected offenses). For the full sample, there was a 32% any recidivism rate; 4% of offenders were charged with new contact sex offences, an additional 2% of offenders were charged with historical contact sex offenses and 7% of offenders were charged with a new child pornography offense. Predictors of new violent (including sexual contact) offending were prior offense history, including violent history, and younger offender age. Approximately a quarter of the sample was sanctioned for a failure on conditional release; in half of these failures, the offenders were in contact with children or used the internet, often to access pornography again.     

Detection of acute fentanyl exposure in fresh and decomposed skeletal tissues part II: The effect of dose–death interval

The effects of dose–death interval on the detection of acute fentanyl exposure in fresh and decomposed skeletal tissues (marrow and bone), by automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are described. Rats (n = 14) were administered fentanyl acutely at a dose of 0 (n = 2) or 60 μg/kg (n = 12) by intraperitoneal injection, and euthanized within 20, 45, 135, or 225 min. Femora and tibiae were extracted from the fresh corpses and marrow was isolated from the femoral and tibial medullary cavities. The remains were then allowed to decompose outdoors to the point of complete skeletonization, and vertebrae, pelvi and miscellaneous (humeri and scapulae) were recovered for analysis. In all cases, bones were cleaned in alkaline solution and then ground into a fine powder. Marrow was homogenized in alkaline solution. Fentanyl was extracted from ground bone by methanolic extraction. Extracts were adjusted to pH 6 and analyzed by ELISA. Perimortem heart blood was also collected and diluted in phosphate buffer prior to screening by ELISA. The effect of tissue type on ELISA response was examined through determination of binary classification test sensitivity and the relative decrease in absorbance (%DA, drug-positive tissues vs. drug-free controls) in each tissue type. Overall, the %DA varied significantly between extracts from different skeletal tissues at a given dose–death interval, according to the general order of marrow > decomposed bone > fresh bone. Binary classification test sensitivity values for fentanyl in marrow, fresh epiphyseal (femoral and tibial) bone, fresh diaphyseal (femoral and tibial) bone, decomposed vertebrae, decomposed pelvic bone, and decomposed miscellaneous bone were 67–100%, 0–33%, 0–33%, 0–67%, 0–67% and 0–33%, respectively, over all dose–death intervals. Although group mean %DA values showed a strong negative correlation with dose–death interval in marrow, fresh epiphyseal bone, decomposed vertebrae, pelvic and miscellaneous bone (r = ?0.989, ?0.930, ?0.955, ?0.903, and ?0.974, respectively), the high variability in both fresh and decomposed bone precluded differentiation of the dose–death intervals based on %DA value alone. Overall, the results suggested that the type of skeletal tissue sampled may not be as important as the amount of residual marrow remaining in skeletonized remains.