Paint and tape: collection and storage of microtraces of paint in adhesive tape

The collection and preservation of microtrace evidence with the aid of an adhesive tape is a method of choice in forensic science. This technique is rapid and easy and allows the concentration of microtraces on a carrier, which facilitates further investigations in the laboratory. Adhesive tapes are currently used to secure microtraces of fibers and glass, but hardly for traces of automotive paint and other lacquers for fear of interference with the analysis of binders. A collection of automotive paint consisting of original and repair lacquers collected by tape has been evaluated. After various times of storage within the tape, these samples were compared with untreated references by microscope FT-IR and microspectrophotometry (MSP). Another set of paints was collected in 1984, stored within the tape until 1995, and examined the same way. About 170 layers of lacquer with various types of binder were examined. With the exception of one clear lacquer no difference between treated samples and references was detected. This small difference observed could be correlated to the exposure to xylene (extractant) and was not caused by the storage within the adhesive tape.     

Analysis of pressure sensitive adhesive tape: I. Evaluation of infrared ATR accessory advances

Attenuated total reflection (ATR), also known as internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS), is a forensically accepted method for infrared (IR) analysis of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes. Advancements of ATR accessories in the last decade have provided the forensic examiner several ATR methods to choose from. These accessories offer a variety of ATR crystal choices with a variety of prices and capabilities. Four different types of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes including duct tape, electrical tape, packaging tape and office tape have been used to compare six different ATR methods. Each of the methods tested offers both benefits and limitaltions which must be considered for the type of sample to be analyze. The intent of this paper is to assist the reader in better understanding ATR techniques, the many differences among currently available ATR accessories and how the method is applied to the analysis of pressure sensitive adhesive tape.     

Transfer of signatures with transparent pressure tape: Some experiments

This article presents a possible mode of forgery by transferring an original signature written either with a pencil or with an Eraser Mate pen by means of transparent pressure tape. It also describes the characteristics of this kind of forgery and proposes some methods of disclosing it.     

Identification of pressure-sensitive adhesive polypropylene tape

Identification of colorless, transparent, pressure-sensitive adhesive polypropylene tape (PP tape) was performed using infrared absorption spectrometry (IR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to determine the pressure-sensitive adhesive. Twenty different products of colorless, transparent PP tapes were examined in this study, and the results of analysis of IR spectra and Py-GC/MS were classified into twelve groups. In addition, the tapes were classified into 14 groups on the basis of IR measurement of release agent present in the backside. The results indicate that colorless, transparent PP tapes can be distinguished in terms of manufacturer, thereby demonstrating that this method of identifying colorless, transparent PP tape is effective. Moreover, the method was applied to the analysis of an actual forensic sample.     

绝缘胶带的检验

目的建立常见绝缘胶带的种属检验和比对检验的方法。方法用傅立叶显微红外光谱仪检验绝缘胶带,并分析不同品牌胶带红外谱图的差异。结果对聚氯乙烯类和聚烯烃类绝缘胶带的检验快速而准确,通过比对分析还可对绝缘胶带进行比对认定。结论该方法对绝缘胶带检材用量少、检验准确率高,且操作简便,具有很强的实用性。     

Adhesive tape analysis: establishing the evidential value of specific techniques

This study investigated the evidential value of specific methods of analysis for packaging tapes and clear adhesive tapes available in Australia. Fifty-eight adhesive tapes were analyzed using a wide range of optical, physical, and chemical techniques. The results were collated for the purpose of creating an Australian database of adhesive tapes, which would be of assistance in criminal investigation. Each technique was evaluated for its discriminating power, both for comparative purposes and for the identification of adhesive tapes by comparing unknown samples with the database. The combined discriminating power of the techniques applied is very high. It is possible to individually identify the source of an unknown adhesive tape sample in many instances by searching the database. It is also possible to form an opinion on the significance of a failure-to-discriminate result in comparative casework. Further work is still needed to expand and update the database, as well as compiling data on the relative market share of various products.     

Use of liquid nitrogen to remove duct tape from a homicide victim.

Removal of duct tape or similar adhesive products from a homicide victim may be facilitated by rapidly chilling the tape surface with liquid nitrogen. Physical separation of tape layers can be performed using the same technique. Cyanoacrylate glue (i.e., "super-glue") may be used to preserve fingerprints on the outer surface of the tape for recovery, or other techniques may be used to recover fingerprints from the outer surface prior to tape removal.     

Enhancing contrast of fingerprints on plastic tape

Many of the currently available fingerprinting methods have limited ability to visualize fingerprints on plastic tape without expensive equipment or significant handling of the sample. This is especially true for visualizing fingerprints on black electrical tape. This study sought a hands-off method to produce easy visualization of fingerprints on different types of plastic tape, including black electrical tape, without the need for expensive equipment. The methods selected were to sublime disperse dyes into the tape, both with and without the fuming of cyanoacrylate, everywhere except for where the fingerprint was applied. The resulting color contrasts provided enough differentiation to visualize fingerprints on plastic tape under ambient light. Sequential fuming with cyanoacrylate followed by disperse dyes provided the best visualizations on all tapes, and cyanoacrylate followed by disperse yellow 211 clearly visualized fingerprints on black electrical tape.     

Adhesive tape on the face--criminalistic aspects

Under forensic differential diagnostic aspects postmortem findings of adhesive tape in the face suggest either suicide, an autoerotic accident or homicide, in which case the adhesive tape could have been used for sealing the mouth or as a means to commit the homicide itself. 9 autopsy cases are described as examples with this constellation and discussed under criminological aspects.     

Red tape and technology transfer in US government laboratories

The purpose of this paper is to gauge the effects of red tape and bureaucratization on the technology-transfer activities and effectiveness of government laboratories in the United States. Two central questions are addressed: Do laboratories involved significantly in technology transfer have more red tape than others? and Does the level of red tape have an effect on technology-transfer success? Objective and perceptual measures of red tape are used. Technologytransfer effectiveness is measured in terms of getting other organizations to adopt technology developed in the laboratory (“out the door” success) and of the commercial impact of transfers. Data are derived from questionnaire responses provided by directors of 276 federal- and state-government laboratories. Results indicate that laboratories involved in technology transfer do not have higher levels of red tape. Out-the-door technology-transfer success relates strongly to low degrees of perceived red tape, whereas high ratings for commercial impact are associated with actual low levels of red tape in acquiring project funding and lowcost equipment.     

Criminologists,duct tape,and Indigenous peoples: quantifying the use of silencing research methods

A recent quantitative evaluation of mainstream criminological research found that there is a dearth of research on “Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice context” conducted in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States and published in elite criminology journals while these nations continue to incarcerate Indigenous peoples at markedly disproportionate rates. Although the silence prohibits public attention to this social issue, counter-colonial critics have mostly focused on criminologists who deliberately marginalize Indigenous peoples through use of inappropriate research methods. This study is a first attempt to quantify the use of “silencing research methods” in contemporary mainstream criminology. It involves a comprehensive review of research published in elite criminology journals over the past decade (2001–2010). The findings reveal that although mainstream criminologists generally prefer non-silencing research tools, they primarily employ silencing research methods when studying Indigenous peoples. Also, studies that focus on Native American peoples use silencing research tools more often than studies on other disproportionately incarcerated social groups, i.e., African and Hispanic Americans. The study concludes that by using “silencing research methods,” elite mainstream criminology has contributed to the marginalization of Indigenous peoples to varying degrees in all four countries over the past decade.     

Fingerprints and DNA: STR typing of DNA extracted from adhesive tape after processing for fingerprints

An exhibit that is often received for examination in cases of robbery or terrorist activity is adhesive tape. This type of exhibit can often, but not always, be successfully processed for fingerprints. The question arises whether or not it is possible to extract and type DNA after the tape has been sequentially processed for fingerprints. In this work, various donors left fingerprints on the adhesive side of tapes. The tapes were then sequentially processed for fingerprints using an alternate light source, cyanoacrylate fuming, and staining with BY-40 and then crystal violet. DNA was subsequently successfully extracted, amplified and typed for six STR loci.     

论"家庭型"共同受贿犯罪若干疑难问题

家庭成员共同受贿是当前受贿犯罪的重要表现形式,在刑法理论和司法实践中都存在较多争议,论文在考察“家庭型”共同受贿犯罪理论的基础上,对“家庭型”共同受贿的形式进行了详尽的分析,并探讨共同受贿犯罪数额的认定问题。     

同色电工胶带的光谱成像技术检验

目的研究同种颜色电工胶带的区分方法。方法应用光谱成像技术对同色（选取红、黄、蓝、绿4种颜色）不同品牌的电工胶带进行区分。结果蓝色电工胶带的区分率最高,达到99.0%,红色、绿色、黄色样品的区分率相差不大,分别为94.3%、93.8%及93.3%。结论光谱成像技术可以实现同种颜色电工胶带的快速区分,从色度学角度为法庭科学领域电工胶带物证的区分提供了一种新的方法。     

The effect of tape type,taping method and tape storage temperature on the retrieval rate of fibres from various surfaces: An example of data generation and analysis to facilitate trace evidence recovery validation and optimisation

This paper aspires to assist those tasked with data generation and analysis for the purpose of the validation and/or optimisation of trace evidence recovery. It does so via a detailed report of the authors’ approach to this problem in the context of target fibre retrieval using self-adhesive tapes.Textile fibres can provide valuable evidence at both source and activity levels. This ability stems from their near ubiquity in the man-made environment, their potential for high levels of discrimination (especially when found in combination) and their reproducible transfer and persistence behaviours. To realise this value for the criminal justice system, it is vital that police forces and forensic providers are collectively able to search for, recover and analyse fibres found at crime scenes and correctly evaluate their evidential value.ISO accreditation provides quality assurance for such activities. The work reported in this paper was part of a study to validate crime scene fibre retrieval processes for the purposes of ISO17020 accreditation. However, it is hoped that it will be of assistance to those wishing to validate and/or optimise forensic fibre recovery whether at the crime scene or in the laboratory. Further, the methods described may be of value to those who need to validate and/or optimise the recovery of other types of trace evidence.This paper outlines a series of experiments that investigated the effect of four factors on the rate at which target fibres could be recovered from surfaces by tape lifting. The factors were tape type (with two levels, namely: J-LAR and Crystal Tabs), tape storage temperature (three levels: −5 °C, room temperature [19 ± 1 °C] and 35 °C), taping method (two levels: zonal and one-to-one) and surface (12 levels: each being a surface type commonly encountered at crime scenes). This resulted in 144 unique experimental conditions. For each of these, five repeat fibre recovery rate determinations were carried out, generating 720 data points. All surfaces were clean and dry prior to target fibres being transferred and recovered. In all cases, the tapes were applied to the surfaces at 19 ± 1 °C.These experiments showed that the surfaces can be divided into three stable clusters based on the median and interquartile range of the fibre retrieval rate achieved from each of them. Also, they showed that, in terms of the proportion of the target fibres retrieved, typically and setting aside interaction effects:

• •Crystal Tabs outperformed J-LAR;
• •rolls of tape stored at −5 °C and 35 °C outperformed those stored at room temperature;
• •one-to-one taping outperformed zonal taping.

However, notably, a good degree of between-condition overlap was also apparent in the data. To understand this, a four-way factorial ANOVA model was built which revealed significant and substantive effects for all four main effects and for 10 of the 11 interactions. Importantly, the four-way interaction term was amongst those found to be significant. The interplay between the effects of the four factors was analysed by means of simple effects tests and pairwise contrasts. Tables and interactive parallel coordinate plots have been created. Using these it can easily be seen which of any given pair of levels of each of the four factors resulted in the higher fibre retrieval rate under any one of the unique conditions of the study, and the effect size and statistical significance of this observation.Qualitative evaluations of the effect of tape storage temperatures on tape pliability and its propensity to tear in use were also made.     

胶带的红外光谱检验

目的建立胶带的种类检验、方法。方法应用傅利叶显微红外光谱仪,分别对胶带的胶质、基质(基材)及整体(胶质和基质同时存在)进行检测分析。结果不同种类胶带,红外吸收图谱存在差异,相互间图谱匹配率不同。通过比对分析,可对不同种类的胶带进行鉴别。结论该方法检验胶粘带(胶带),检材用量少、结果准确,操作简便,具有很强的实用性。     

A validation study for duct tape end matches

Fracture matches are considered to be the strongest association achievable in forensic examinations of glass, metal, wood, plastic, paint, tape, and other trace evidence. Despite being fairly routine examinations, few publications exist to support their admissibility in court. This study was designed, using duct tape as the fractured medium, to determine the validity and error rate associated with conducting end match (fracture match) examinations on this material. Five test designs, which varied either the source roll of tape or manner of separation (torn or cut) from the roll, were administered to four analysts with instructions to examine the assigned test sets for end matches. If an end match was not identified by the initial analyst, the entire test set was independently evaluated by the remaining three analysts. Results indicated that while tape grade did not hinder end match identification, the manner of separation could affect results.     

Applicability of DNA analysis on adhesive tape in forensic casework

Adhesive tape is commonly used in crimes and is often the subject of forensic evaluation. DNA analysis of adhesive tape can provide DNA profiles of suspects. The object of this study was to evaluate the applicability of DNA analysis on adhesive tape samples in forensic casework. We retrospectively reviewed all cases involving adhesive tape or similar items received by our institute for DNA analysis during the past 11 years. From 100 forensic cases reviewed, 150 adhesive tape samples were examined. A total of 98 DNA profiles were obtained from these samples. Sixty-two of the profiles provided feasible case-relevant information. In conclusion, DNA profiling of adhesive tape samples can be useful in a variety of forensic cases.     

Selection of an adhesive tape suitable for forensic fiber sampling

Five commercial adhesive tapes were tested for fiber uptake and saturation, for recovery and for ease of analysis. On the basis of the results, a high tack adhesive tape has been selected to be used for forensic fiber sampling. This adhesive tape is used as sampling material in two different micro trace kits. The first tape lifting kit is used mainly for the sampling of cars and the second is a 1:1 tape lifting kit for the collection of fibers on a corpse.