Diagnostic imaging methods routinely used in clinical practice (mainly multi-slice computed tomography, CT) are increasingly entering forensic practice, also in Poland. Typically these exams are performed prior to an appropriate external examination and autopsy. The aim of the study is to present a case in which computed tomography examination performed only after forensic medical autopsy turned out to be useful in the diagnosis of an abused child syndrome. The CT examination showed, inter alia, nighstick injury/fracture of the ulna in its distal part, and deformation of the base of the phalanx of the distal finger of the fourth left hand, corresponding to a fracture/crush. Post-mortem imaging may be useful in the case of a suspected abused child syndrome.

In forensic investigations estimation of age is a crucial part. Age estimation assists in narrow downing the search possibilities in the case of unidentified bodies and living individuals, it can also help in the determination of preparators and deciding the penalty for any criminal liability. Different body parts are often investigated at the crime scene, so estimating the age using different areas of the body is important. Hence, we conducted this study for age estimation from costal cartilage calcification. Only posterior-anterior (PA) digital chest radiographs are taken, and the first rib of the left side is evaluated. The degree of calcification and age showed a positive correlation; similarly, the value of Spearman’s rho showed significant results (for the whole sample =0.914, p < 0.01 (for male subjects was =0.925, p < 0.01. For females was =0.905, p < 0.01). The degree of calcification is useful in estimating age groups and becomes more determined with advancing age. Prediction of age using the radiological method gives the advantages of ease, inexpensiveness, rapidity, and high accuracy. In developing countries, this type of study will be very useful because infrastructure and lack of sources are major issues. The article provides a non-destructive method of age estimation in a forensic context that may act as a preliminary method of age estimation in mass disasters and dismembered bodies when a thoracic cage is only present.

Classifying handwriting samples according to their type (i.e. natural, disguised, traced, simulated or unintentionally unnatural) is an important task in handwriting analysis. It may facilitate the collection of writing standards and also help experts to assess the differences between questioned material and comparative samples or to choose the best writing features and the most relevant examination protocol for the case. Current research aimed to create a method for classifying the type of a handwriting sample using discriminant analysis. Five basic types (i.e. natural, disguised, traced, simulated and unintentionally unnatural) and some subtypes were included in this study. Participants (N = 139) wrote their full signatures, fictional signatures or a short sentence. Motor and dimensional features were assessed. The methods proved to be more than twice as accurate in classifying samples according to their type than a random choice probability (e.g. 44% as opposed to 17% for the 6-types classifier). This proof-of-a-concept study demonstrates that handwriting samples may be classified according to their type with satisfying accuracy based on their writing features and statistical tools of discriminant analysis. However, further studies are necessary to improve the accuracy of the method.

The data from the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers (CEPiK) shows that currently 22,071,753 citizens have driving licenses in Poland. In 2021, nearly 23 thousand road accidents, occurring on public roads, in residential areas or in traffic zones, have been reported to the police. As a result, 2,245 people have been killed and 26,415 were injured, 8,276 of which heavily. At the Toxicological Analysis Section of the Institute of Forensic Research (PAT IES), for over a decade more than half of the cases are related to drivers. In 2021, the percentage was 53.3%, while earlier, before the COVID-19 pandemy, nearly 2/3 of all cases sent to the PAT IES concerned drivers (for example, in 2016 it was 65.8%). Taking into account only the drivers who were involved in a road accident, the number of cases has fluctuated around 40% over the last decade. Traffic safety depends on many factors including: drugs, alcohol consumption, some diseases that the person operating the vehicle may suffer from, medicines and even the age and sex of the driver, which have been the subject of research in Europe, including Poland over the years. It resulted in many guidelines of non-governmental institutions and reports from research projects like eg. IMMORTAL, ICADTS, DRUID, EMCDDA which are than reflected in European and Polish legislation. The reports of the aforementioned institutions and research projects show that the perpetrators of road accidents are more often young men (up to 24 years of age) than women of the same age. For drivers aged ≥25 years, women are more likely to cause accidents, especially those over the age of 75. Among the diseases that affect safety in land traffic there are, among others vision impairment, hearing impairment, mental illness and diabetes. The annually declining number of road accidents in Poland is somehow reflected in the PAT IES statistics. Despite this favourable trend, the factors influencing the risk of an accident remain unchanged. The occurrence of a real danger on the road is still mainly influenced by the so-called ‘human factor’, and in particular the broadly understood ‘state’ of the driver. However, other factors should also be taken into account, such as the technical condition of the vehicle which may also directly contribute to the occurrence of such an event. The guidelines and legal restrictions on road safety that have changed in recent years seem to have brought the desired effects, however, the subject still requires further research and implementation of new solutions, suitable for the dynamically changing situation.

Cannabis (or marijuana) is detrimental to humans because of its psychoactive effects. The plant materials of this genus have however been credited with its vast nutritional values. As its benefits outweigh harmful effects, some countries have legalized the use of fiber-type cannabis – a plant product called hemp. Hemp is deemed to contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) below the legal limit (e.g. <0.3% THC) and thus less psychoactive. It is safe to use hemp if it contains no or little THC. So the enforcement bodies must check its level to assure safety prior to sales. Notwithstanding this, hemp cultivation as well as consumption is not lawful in Malaysia. But recently, federal government has shown interest in growing and commercializing hemp. In this regard, an analytical method for identifying hemp must be developed. In the absence of hemp, a liquid chromatographic method was developed using cannabis plants as equivalent materials to mimic the target plant matrix. The validation procedure demonstrated that the method was able to achieve good selectivity with a detection limit =0.0005 mg/mL (or 0.008%) THC. It was precise (imprecision <3%) and accurate (recovery =98.76%) to quantify THC. The detector response was linear up to 0.05 mg/mL (0.8%) THC. This method is cheap and simple for routine application.