TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of chemical trace evidence on justice outcomes
T2 - Exploring the additive value of forensic science disciplines
AU - Woodman, Peter A.
AU - Spiranovic, Caroline
AU - Julian, Roberta
AU - Ballantyne, Kaye N.
AU - Kelty, Sally F.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was conducted with support provided by the following. Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD) , Victoria Police . The research presented in this report originated from a larger ARC funded project “The effectiveness of forensic science in the criminal justice system” (Project ID: LP0775393) and the following partners of this project are acknowledged. The National Institute of Forensic Science , The Australian Federal Police Forensic and Data Centres , University of Technology, Sydney . We particularly wish to acknowledge the passionate support that was provided by Dr Bryan Found and the Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, VPFSD.
Funding Information:
This research was conducted with support provided by the following. Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD), Victoria Police. The research presented in this report originated from a larger ARC funded project ?The effectiveness of forensic science in the criminal justice system? (Project ID: LP0775393) and the following partners of this project are acknowledged. The National Institute of Forensic Science, The Australian Federal Police Forensic and Data Centres, University of Technology, Sydney. We particularly wish to acknowledge the passionate support that was provided by Dr Bryan Found and the Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, VPFSD.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2020/2/1
Y1 - 2020/2/1
N2 - The focus of this research was to examine the contribution chemical trace evidence makes to criminal justice outcomes. The aim of this work was to place the discipline of chemical trace evidence under the spotlight as there is a dearth of robust research on the impact of this discipline. In this study, data relating to the forensic examinations in a sample of 238 cases which included chemical trace evidence, was collated with data from police investigations and court processes. The findings show that chemical trace evidence is frequently used in combination with other forensic disciplines to support the progress of high-level criminal cases through the justice system. Due to characteristics of how the criminal cases in the dataset were investigated and prosecuted, in combination with the methodology applied in this study, the impact of forensic evidence on the decision to charge suspects could not be analysed quantitatively. However, the impact of forensic evidence on court outcomes in the sample of cases was analysed using methodology that considered the results of the examinations, and the ability of the evidence to provide support for the inclusion or exclusion of persons of interest. The possibility of chemical trace evidence having impact when applied in combination with other forensic disciplines was also examined. It was found that biological examination results was a significant standalone predictor of court outcomes. In contrast, chemical trace examinations did not predict court outcomes when considered as a standalone predictor but examination results of chemical trace evidence in combination with ballistics/tool marks was significantly associated with court outcomes. The findings of this research indicate that, to assess the full impact of any discipline of forensic evidence on the criminal justice system, the analysis must take into account the potential for important synergies that may exist with other forensic and non-forensic evidence.
AB - The focus of this research was to examine the contribution chemical trace evidence makes to criminal justice outcomes. The aim of this work was to place the discipline of chemical trace evidence under the spotlight as there is a dearth of robust research on the impact of this discipline. In this study, data relating to the forensic examinations in a sample of 238 cases which included chemical trace evidence, was collated with data from police investigations and court processes. The findings show that chemical trace evidence is frequently used in combination with other forensic disciplines to support the progress of high-level criminal cases through the justice system. Due to characteristics of how the criminal cases in the dataset were investigated and prosecuted, in combination with the methodology applied in this study, the impact of forensic evidence on the decision to charge suspects could not be analysed quantitatively. However, the impact of forensic evidence on court outcomes in the sample of cases was analysed using methodology that considered the results of the examinations, and the ability of the evidence to provide support for the inclusion or exclusion of persons of interest. The possibility of chemical trace evidence having impact when applied in combination with other forensic disciplines was also examined. It was found that biological examination results was a significant standalone predictor of court outcomes. In contrast, chemical trace examinations did not predict court outcomes when considered as a standalone predictor but examination results of chemical trace evidence in combination with ballistics/tool marks was significantly associated with court outcomes. The findings of this research indicate that, to assess the full impact of any discipline of forensic evidence on the criminal justice system, the analysis must take into account the potential for important synergies that may exist with other forensic and non-forensic evidence.
KW - Ballistics
KW - Biology
KW - Chemical trace evidence
KW - Criminal justice outcomes
KW - Criminal justice system
KW - Quantitative analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077110836&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110121
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110121
M3 - Article
C2 - 31901462
AN - SCOPUS:85077110836
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 307
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
M1 - 110121
ER -
