forensic science – International Institute of Forensic Expertise (IIFE)

How Reliable Is a Fingerprint? A Forensic Deep Dive into Science, Tech and Real-World Challenges

Over the years, one question has followed me through countless conversations, courtrooms, and conferences: How reliable is a fingerprint? It’s the kind of query that sounds simple but unravels into a tangle of science, technology, and human judgment. That’s why I teamed up with my colleague, Dr. Maria-Louise Morgott, to tackle it head-on in our latest paper, Forensic Fingerprint Analysis: Evaluating Scientific Foundations, Technological Innovations, and Judicial Implications. This blog post pulls out the key threads from that work, offering a detailed rundown for forensic buffs, legal minds, and anyone curious about the gritty reality behind those ridges on your fingertips.

22/03/2025/by George A. Rauscher

Antrometric v2.1 for Precision Stature Estimation

anthropology

Introduction: The Challenge of Stature Estimation in Forensic Contexts – Forensic anthropologists, archaeologists, criminalists, pathologists, and forensic medical examiners frequently encounter the critical need to estimate stature from skeletal remains across a diverse range of challenging environments. Whether carefully excavating ancient burial sites in remote field locations under harsh weather conditions, analyzing skeletal evidence within the controlled setting of a laboratory, or conducting assessments on the move during travel to crime scenes or archaeological digs, the ability to determine stature swiftly and accurately remains a cornerstone of forensic and anthropological investigation. Stature estimation serves as a vital tool in the identification of unknown individuals, providing key biometric data that can be cross-referenced with missing persons records to aid in criminal investigations or disaster victim identification. In archaeological contexts, it offers profound insights into the biological and demographic profiles of past populations, illuminating aspects such as health status, nutritional adequacy, and socio-economic conditions that shaped their lives.

16/03/2025/by George A. Rauscher

POSSESSION AND OWNERSHIP OF HUMAN SKULLS A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

general

Although it remains a fascinating and sometimes macabre question whether one is allowed to possess a human skull, behind it unfolds a dense and intricate forest of ethical, legal, and cultural considerations. Law enforcement agencies, lawyers, and even private collectors sometimes find themselves confronted with human remains, whether in the course of professional forensic investigations, academic research, or simply out of a passion for collecting. Drawing on my extensive experience and profound knowledge of this subject, I aim to illuminate the legal, ethical, and cultural-historical foundations that must be considered in this context in a comprehensive and neutral guide for those who wish to explore the phenomenon of the death cult more closely.

06/02/2025/by George A. Rauscher

The Application of C14 Analysis on Human Remains in Forensic Science

anthropology

Forensic science – this fascinating, multifaceted realm in which natural scientific techniques are employed to solve criminal activities – harbors secrets and insights that captivate the mind. One of the brightest stars in the forensic firmament is the dating of human remains, a process that is indispensable in criminal investigations. Radiocarbon dating, widely known as C14 analysis, stands out for its precision and reliability. Let us illuminate the magical potential and the inevitable limitations of this method in the context of modern forensics.

01/02/2025/by George A. Rauscher

When Teeth Speak: How Forensic Odontology Reveals the Darkest Secrets

anthropology

It was a foggy winter morning as I trudged through the thicket of a dark forest with a police officer, the leaves crunching under my boots. The world seemed to be sunk in a gloomy silence, only the distant rustling of the wind in the tree canopies breaking the stillness. Suddenly, I stopped. A strange smell wafted into my nose – not just damp earth, but a mixture of decay and something metallic. My heart began to beat faster, and my gaze fell on a pile of leaves that were oddly disturbed.

27/09/2024/by George A. Rauscher

The Secrets of Cranial Sutures: How We Can Determine Age at Death from Bones

anthropology

Reading Death in the Bones: How Cranial Sutures Reveal Age at Death – Imagine you’re holding a skull in your hands. There’s no hint of the life this person once led, no skin, no muscles, no eyes to tell tales. But the bones themselves, the lines that connect them, speak their own language. In forensic anthropology and archaeology, there is a method that seems like an art but is firmly rooted in science: determining the age at death by examining the cranial sutures, or sutures. These finely ossified connections that stretch across the skull give us crucial clues about how old a person was when they died.

07/09/2024/by George A. Rauscher

The Skull in the Garden: Hidden Corpses Unveiling Centuries-Old Secrets – and Why Modern Forensics Brings the Truth to Light

anthropology, criminalistic

It was one of those warm summer afternoons when the air was heavy and the heat oppressive. In the idyllic suburb at the edge of town, where most gardens were blooming oases of tranquility, the new homeowner had big plans. The old garden, which until then had been little more than a collection of wild bushes and patches of grass, was to give way to a chic pool. A dream project meant to give the property the final polish. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare when the excavator’s bucket suddenly hit something hard – a human skull.

05/09/2024/by George A. Rauscher

Identity According to Schwarzfischer in Percentages: A Scientific Overview

anthropology

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Friedrich Schwarzfischer (1921 to 2004) was a key figure in modern forensic anthropology and human genetics in Germany. His work revolutionized the scientific practice of identity determination and attracted international recognition. In particular, his 1992 classifications concerning the probability of identity have become a standard reference in forensic science. This report highlights the importance of his predicate classes and provides an extensive overview of his life and scientific achievements.

13/08/2024/by George A. Rauscher

Folds and Wrinkles: Identification of Individuals Through Analysis

anthropology

Folds and wrinkles, the subtle manifestations of skin morphology, offer an extraordinary range of unique identification features. They serve as precise reference points between the identifying model and the subject to be identified. The complexity and individuality of these features allow for remarkable precision in identification.

17/05/2023/by George A. Rauscher

Corpse Stains: Formation, Persistence and Significance in Forensic Photography

anthropology, criminalistic, image forensic

Corpse stains, also known as livores, form a complex mosaic of discolorations that has left the forensic world in awe for centuries. These postmortem markings, which occur as blood accumulates in the lowest parts of the body after death, offer a treasure trove of information invaluable for determining the time of death and conducting extensive forensic investigations. But what exactly lies behind these enigmatic stains that appear like silent witnesses after a person’s passing?

16/04/2023/by George A. Rauscher

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