26 Works
Reverse engineering technology for forensic use
Tomasz Kurzynowski, Grzegorz Ziółkowski, Karol Kobiela, Edward Chlebus & Henryk JuszczykDamage caused by projectiles shot from ZORAKI R1 model K-10 6 mm/10 mm calibre pistols
Maciej Kuliczkowski & Henryk JuszczykNile Red – contrasting colour cyanoacrylate
Ewa Rogoża & Katarzyna DrzewieckaEffect of selected fabrics on the appearance of bloodstains
Emilia Szabłowska-Gnap, Joanna Dąbrowska & Kamil Januszkiewicz
on their surfaces. This
applies particularly to absorbent surfaces, whose properties may have extreme influence on bloodstains.
Experiments have shown that the modifications are the result of the type, texture and weave of the fabric. It
has been proven that laundered or wet fabrics may change their properties, thus affecting bloodstain shape
and size. Bearing in mind how many factors can influence the appearance of bloodstains, it is crucial for the
BPA experts to properly...
Selected issues related to illegal cannabis cultivation
Anna Trynda & Anna Duszyńska
For a long time, cannabis-based products have been enjoying unwavering popularity. Not surprisingly, the
number of illegal cannabis plantations discovered in Poland and worldwide is increasing year on year. The
plantation sizes vary from single plants grown “for own needs” in pots or outside housing, or farm facilities to
professional, fully automated cultivations maintained by criminal groups. The article provides a summary of
data analysis concerning illicit cannabis plantations liquidated in Poland since 2012. Additionally,...
Test strips for examining reactivity of fingerprints visualization methods on absorptive surfaces with amino acids
Tomasz Szczepański, Urszula Więckiewicz & Krzysztof Klemczak
This article provides the results of research on the uniformity of amino acid test strips used with fluorescent
DFO method. Ready to use amino acid test strips made of the absorptive material containing four reactive
fields of exponentially decreasing amino acid concentrations, designed for DFO, ninhydrin, 1,2-indanedione
methods were used in the study. The test strips were treated with DFO solution in order to measure the
fluorescence emission level of DFO-amino acid reaction product for...
Examination of post-reaction residues of pyrotechnic material – p. 1: Smoke generators
Łukasz Matyjasek, Wiktor Dmitruk & Łukasz Cichosz
The work contains a review of literature data referring to the methods of generating pyrotechnic smokes with
inclusion of chemical composition of widely used smoke generating substances and, in particular, specifications
of dyes used in pyrotechnic products. Construction of such devices, the manner of initiating ignition and
possibilities of identification of residues resulting from their use were explained basing on 79 examined smoke
generators. Analyses of smoke generating mixtures were executed with use of classical...
Sebaceous and sweat secretions and age person’s age
Ewa Rogoża & Katarzyna Drzewiecka
The article presents results of the relationship between the quantity of sweat and sebaceous secretions and the
age of a person. The study was carried out in a group of 70 persons of various ages and both sexes. Basing on
the results it may be concluded that the age and sex have a significant influence on the quantity of sweat and
sebaceous secretions. This can be used during preparation of various test samples, for example...
Damage to WALTHER P99 cal. 9 mm pistol during shooting
Henryk Juszczyk
The aim of this article is to warn against the possible injury hazard for the shooter, resulting from the wear
of the components of weapon during dry firing. The analyzed case presents the damages to a gun caused by
multiple dry firing, i.e. without a cartridge in the chamber. As a consequence of the shots, the breech face of the
pistol was damaged. Therefore, it should be considered to categorically ban dry firing with WALTHER...
Contrasting fingerprints with Basic Yellow 40 – a methological algorithm
Katarzyna Drzewiecka & Ewa Rogoża
Basic Yellow 40 is a fluorescent dye used to contrast fingerprints revealed by the cyanoacrylate-based method.
It is available as a yellow, crystalline, fluorescent powder. For visualization studies, Basic Yellow 40 is used
as a solution, which is obtained by dissolving the powdered substance in alcohol or water. The solution is
applied onto the surface by pouring, spraying, immersing or brushing. Excess of the solution can be rinsed
off the surface with water or, in...
Fingerprinting and improvement of the readability of the fingerprints of corpses
Artur Wójcik, Ewa Rogoża, Katarzyna Drzewiecka & Marcin Wudarczyk
Fingerprinting of corpses is always problematic even for experienced forensic experts and technicians. This
publication is a compendium of the knowledge about physical and chemical methods in dactyloscopy and
improving the readability of the friction ridges of corpses. It mentions the possibility of a very broad use of not
only dactyloscopic paints, but also fingerprinting powders, films, as well as silicone casts, latex matrices etc.
The publication also highlights the necessity of photographic documentation of...
Methods and markers used for human age estimation in forensics
Anna Woźniak
The article presents the previous and current methods and markers used for estimation of human age. The
analysis of biological material recovered from the scene of the event makes it possible to estimate the age of
a person who deposited traces. The new methods allow determining the depositor’s age, based on biological
traces commonly found at the scene, such as blood, saliva or sperm, with an accuracy of a few years. The
previously used age...
Development of a technologically advanced IT system enabling automated processing of information collected in forensic biometric databases in order to combat crime or identify people
Edyta Kot
Forensic biometric databases are an out of court tool to support the work of law enforcement agencies. They
are used to detect the perpetrators of crimes, indicate the connections of a person with previously committed
crimes, and allow the identification of living persons and corpses with unknown identity or individuals trying
to hide their identity. In police practice, among the methods of identification of living persons and corpses,
fingerprint and DNA tests are mainly used....
Firearms – three in one
Henryk Juszczyk
The article presents guns that depending on assembly can be regarded as different types of weapons. The
ZORAKI mod. 906 and mod. 914-S pistols include sets of plugs, which, depending on the configuration of their
installation, make the above-mentioned pistols play the role of alarm, gas or combat firearms.
Problems encountered in the dactyloscopic investigation of anonymous corpses with fingerprint patterns preserved in silicone molds and the attempt to solve them
Paweł Malinowski
The article describes experiments conducted using the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS),
which demonstrated that replacing the standard search type TP/TP (card/card) with the type LT/TP (trace/
card) in conducting dactyloscopic investigations with fingerprint patterns preserved in silicone molds leads to
optimal results. Moreover, a series of practical tips for investigators are included, covering the AFIS tools that
should be used to obtain correct search results in the system and minimize the risk of errors.
Cases of automatic firing with semiautomatic pistols
Henryk Juszczyk & Michał Borusiński
The article presents cases of endangering shooters and bystanders caused by wear of firearms parts or their
incorrect assembling. The Authors analysed examples of disorders in P-83 and P-64 pistols. In P-83 pistol
firing as if in an automatic mode became possible because of incorrect mounting of the firing pin in the slide
while in P-64 pistol it resulted from wear of the firing pin and the safety block.
Improving the readability of fingerprints of corpses using Ardrox and stamp ink
Artur Wójcik, Ewa Rogoża, Katarzyna Drzewiecka & Marcin Wudarczyk
Fingerprinting of corpses is more difficult than fingerprinting of living people. The level of difficulty of
fingerprinting the fingertips depends on the condition of the corpse. Despite a variety of known methods of
skin elastification and improvement of readability of fingerprints, better and more effective methods providing
higher level of identification corpses are being sought.
This publication presents the course and results of the analysis involving the potential use of Ardrox and
stamp ink to...
Legality of owning WALTHER P22 and P99 9 mm cal. 9 mm gas pistols on the territory of Poland
Henryk Juszczyk
The article describes the problem of selling WALTHER P22 and P99 cal. 9 mm P.A. gas pistols to people not
possessing appropriate permission. People who purchase such weapons, without permission to possess
them, expose themselves to the charge of illegal possession of firearms. The article presents arguments why
these types of weapons are treated as firearms the possession of which requires permission.
Passive magnetic methods – introduction to forensic research
Krzysztof Borkowski, Krzysztof Ćwik & Krzysztof BiskupCustomized weapons identification tests
Grzegorz Bogiel
The article raises the issue of individual weapons identification tests which can be performed, including when
it is not possible to fire shots in order to obtain comparative material. The article describes one of such cases,
involving bursting of the cartridge chamber of a shotgun during the shooting.
Acquisition of data encrypted in electronic components of vehicles and machinery for pre-court proceedings
Krzysztof Biskup, Krzysztof Ćwik & Tadeusz Neumann
The article presents results obtained during research on acquisition of data encrypted in electronic components
of vehicles to be used in pre-court proceedings, as well as identifies the possibilities of their use in further
practice by forensic toolmaker examiners and police officers dealing with combating vehicle related crime.
Specific cases of bullet ricocheting off a ballistic wall
Grzegorz Bogiel & Paweł Dudek
The phenomenon of bullet reflection from a ballistic wall has not yet been described or investigated in forensic
practice. The article presents the method of conducting such tests, including the results thereof. The tests
were carried out using a high-speed camera, video analysis software and a Doppler radar. As a result of the
study, the velocities of bullets for which the phenomenon of reflection from the ballistic wall is observed, were
determined.
Developing fingermarks on porous surfaces with the use of genipin in the gaseous phase
Tomasz Szczepański, Sławomir Zubański, Antoni Siejca, Urszula Więckiewicz, Krzysztof Klemczak & Patryk Brzeziński
The article presents the results of studies on the method of sensibilizing dactyloscopic traces directly from
the gaseous phase. The detection of dactyloscopic traces on absorbtive surfaces requires specific revealing
methods, whose essential aspect is the need to deliver reagent to the place of occurrence of the corresponding
component of trace forming substance. In practice, for many years, various types of solutions have been used
for this purpose, such as DFO, ninhydrin and 1,2-indanedione. Within...