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,...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...