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Problems of Forensic Sciences

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141

2025 Next

Publication date: 26.08.2025

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence icon

Editorial team

Editor-in-Chief Prof. Józef K. Gierowski

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Prof. dr hab. Dariusz Zuba

Sekretarz redakcji Anna Sałatarow-Kraciuk

Editors Dr Agnieszka Haś, Dr Tomasz Kupiec, Prof. Grzegorz Zadora

Issue content

Filip Szumski

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 141, 2025, pp. 5-20

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.25.001.22203

Introduction: Sexual recidivism risk factors, both static and dynamic stable and acute, can be taken into account when sentencing and influence the penal response to the perpetrator. This can take place at two moments: along with the sentencing of the perpetrator for the committed act (front-end sentencing) or during the enforcement proceedings (back-end sentencing).

Results: The analysis of Polish criminal law and related norms has shown that this takes (in both above-mentioned moments) three forms: (1) comprehensive and explicit consideration of risk factors for sexual recidivism when the act refers to the probability of committing another act, (2) selective and free consideration of risk factors as an element of criminogenic prognosis, and (3) decision-making based on one selected risk factor: sexual preference disorders.

Conclusions: Newer regulations more often than older ones assume a comprehensive assessment of the risk of sexual recidivism by experts, but indirect and fragmentary assessment still dominates. Current solutions of the front-end sentencing type allow for better adjustment of the applied measures than solutions of the back-end sentencing type. Norms concerning the sexual recidivism risk assessment and sex offenders management are scattered in various legal acts and are poorly coordinated.

Recommendations: A coherent system for assessing sexual risk and management of sex offenders is needed. Assessments should be carried out by expert teams and all offenders should be subjected to them immediately after conviction. No measures should be applied based on the identification of a single risk factor.

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Uwe Fuerbeth

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 141, 2025, pp. 21-52

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.25.002.22204
Recent years’ developments have brought a considerable number of battery electric vehicles (BEV) onto the road. As the engine compartment does not contain a combustion engine representing a stiff mass block, it raises the question whether the structural stiffness compared to combustion engine vehicles (CEV) has changed or not and if so, how. In accident reconstruction, the crashworthiness of CEVs of the various types has been the focus of attention for decades. However, there is no data relating to the practice of accident reconstruction that directly compares CEVs with BEVs. The frontal impact crash tests as part of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) allow a comparison of measurement data of CEVs and BEVs. Therefore, 32 crash tests including 16 BEVs and 16 CEVs were evaluated.
The results from barrier force and acceleration data are indicating remarkable differences between the two vehicle concepts. Acceleration data can be trustworthy for representing the motion of the vehicle structure but in many cases, especially with CEVs, the acceleration data show local vibrations of the accelerometer’s surrounding structure also after data post processing. Regarding barrier force as the more reliable data source for evaluating vehicle’s frontal stiffness, it was found that in the mean CEVs are 14% stiffer than BEVs. The CEVs experienced a 12% lower crush depth than the BEVs. Vehicle linearized stiffnesses are provided section by section. This data can be helpful for the reconstruction of real traffic accidents with a force based impact model.
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Varunika Venkatesh, Priya Sharma , OmPrakash Jasuja

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 141, 2025, pp. 53-73

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.25.003.22205
Handwriting is a complex neuromuscular activity, with writing complexity being one of the key features impacting the ease of imitation. Generally, higher complexity signatures are more difficult to replicate without revealing signs of simulation. However, some low-complexity signatures can be harder to simulate, suggesting unexplored factors influencing complexity. This study aimed to differentiate between genuine and simulated pen-paper signatures across various styles by examining handwriting characteristics, including absolute size, slant, lateral expansion, and the number of pen lifts. Signature complexity is often believed to correlate with forgery difficulty, yet existing literature presents conflicting evidence. By analyzing different signature styles and their characteristics, this study sought to enhance understanding of the factors influencing signature imitation. Findings confirmed that pen lifts are not significant indicators for distinguishing between genuine and simulated signatures in text-based and non-complex stylized categories. Complexity features, such as the number of turning points and line intersections, provided more reliable differentiation. Higher complexity scores were associated with genuine signatures, while simulated signatures typically exhibited fewer turning points and intersections. This study indicated a potential for further research to uncover additional factors affecting signature complexity and imitation, ultimately contributing to more effective forensic examination practices.
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Suneel Prajapati, Niyati Sevak, Lakshmi Panicker, Aditi Mishra, Megha Sapkota, Mahipal Singh Sankhla

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 141, 2025, pp. 75-100

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.25.004.22206
Nowadays, forensic DNA analysis plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system, particularly in cases of sexual assault, rape, murder, homicide, and mass disasters. The quality of the DNA used for subsequent forensic DNA analyses is an important factor and depends on the collection and preservation of samples prior to DNA extraction. Ideally, tissue samples are preserved immediately upon collection. However, if samples are collected in the field, suitable preservation methods might be limited due to the unavailability of resources or the remoteness of field sites. Moreover, the use of inappropriate chemical preservatives, inadequate storage conditions, and extended sample transit or long-distance shipping can lead to the degradation of DNA quality. This study reviews the collection and preservation of products of conception, fetal and other body tissues, as well as the processes involved in product of conception (POC), fetal tissue decomposition and DNA degradation, and the subsequent challenges in preservation and storage prior to DNA analysis. It also examines the use of centralized evidence storage facilities for the effective preservation of nucleic acids within tissue samples prior to forensic DNA analysis.
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Nataliia Martynenko

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 141, 2025, pp. 101-117

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.25.005.22207
The purpose of this article is to study the problems associated with the introduction of digitalisation into forensic expert activity in Ukraine.
The methodological basis of the study was the dialectical approach of scientific knowledge of phenomena and processes in their interconnection, mutual dependence, repeatability and advance of their development, which reveals the unity of the object in its complex and diverse manifestations. The study of digitalisation for forensic activities was largely guided by such general categories of dialectics as essence and phenomenon, form and content, possibility and reality.
The issues of legal regulation of the digitalisation of forensic expert activity should be addressed in conjunction with the development of digital economy legislation. The author considers the relevant legislative provisions which affect the issues of digitalisation of forensic expert activity in the context of digital economy development.
The status of experts who are employees of state specialised institutions is ambiguous: on the one hand, an expert of a state specialised institution is personally responsible for the expert opinion provided on the matters under investigation, and on the other hand, he or she must comply with the requirements of the management of the state specialised institution where he or she works.
The court should be able to send rulings on the appointment of an expert examination both to the Unified Judiciary Information Telecommunication System e-Cabinet of a state specialised institution and to the Unified Judiciary Information Telecommunication System e-Cabinet of a particular forensic expert of a state specialised institution.
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