Forensic Analysis

Crime Scene Investigation: In the elucidation of a criminal incident, the timely and accurate examination of the crime scene to identify findings that may contribute to the resolution of the incident is crucial. This stage involves the appropriate collection, preservation, packaging, and sending of these findings to the relevant forensic science laboratory. It is one of the most critical stages in these forensic incidents.

Forensic Medicine: Forensic medicine is a branch of medical science that utilizes general principles and developments in medicine for the resolution of forensic incidents. Although its scope is broad, its main areas of study include examining death and postmortem changes, autopsy, evaluation of traumatized individuals, assessment of disability cases, assessment of sexual assault cases, age determinations, and investigations into human rights violations, conducting determinations, and evaluations.

Forensic Toxicology: Forensic toxicology is one of the most important subfields of forensic sciences, involving the identification, analysis, and evaluation of poisons and drugs in human tissues, organs, and body fluids. The subject of forensic toxicology is the detection of any substances that may have harmful effects on a living organism.

Forensic Chemistry: It involves the examination and qualitative and quantitative definition of a wide range of findings requiring chemical analysis and their correlation with each other. It includes analyses of drug substances, toxicological examinations (drug analyses in body fluids, blood alcohol analyses, etc.), analyses of explosive substances and explosive residue, accelerator analyses in arson incidents, gunshot residue analyses in crimes committed with firearms, comparison of findings obtained from the crime scene, such as glass, soil, paint, metallic materials, fabric and fibers, plastic materials, adhesives, with similar findings obtained from suspects or their belongings to determine if there is any relationship, and the identification of unknown substances.

Forensic Biology: It is the identification of any biological evidence obtained from the crime scene (blood, semen, sweat, tissue fragments, hair, etc.) by examining its association with evidence that can be obtained from suspects and other environments (cigarette butts, cups, bottles, toothbrushes, razors, etc.) and the detection of DNA.

Forensic Ballistics: Forensic ballistics involves the examination of ballistic evidence obtained from crime scenes where firearms and non-firearms are used. The examination is conducted in accordance with the basic principles of sub-disciplines, and the obtained findings are used to prove their evidentiary value. It includes internal ballistics, external ballistics, target ballistics, and the reconstruction of the shot, encompassing examinations such as determining the firing point, firing angle, and firing distance.The following examinations are carried out in the field of forensic ballistics:

Forensic Entomology: Forensic entomology is the forensic science that involves the examination of insects and insect larvae, especially in various events, particularly in cases of suspicious deaths, to determine the time of death.

Forensic Anthropology: Forensic anthropology is the process of identification through the examination of bones and skeletons, and the identification of individuals, especially in various events where charred or destroyed bodies are examined through dental analysis to determine identity.

• Mobile Device Examinations
These are examinations conducted on mobile devices such as cell phones, smartphones, and tablets. The examinations involve accessing the contents of the devices, recovering deleted data, and detecting interactions and communications with other devices.

• Content Identification
Content examinations involve accessing hidden or non-hidden, crime-related or unrelated information in computers or other recording devices. It may include searching for traces and codes subject to copyright within a product.

•Internet and Social Media Examinations
These examinations involve filtering and detecting unwanted data related to specific individuals on social media and the internet, as well as associating content with crimes and criminals.

•Encryption Processes
Encryption examinations deal with resolving issues related to accessing hardware and software in both mobile and non-mobile devices, and establishing their relevance to legal proceedings, if applicable.

Forensic Psychiatry: Forensic psychiatry is a sub-discipline that evaluates the psychological characteristics and behaviors of suspects to shed light on the crime, and its main subject is to determine whether the person is mentally sound. Mental health can be impaired not only due to various illnesses but also due to different other reasons. Factors such as age, various psychological or psychiatric disorders, the analyzed individual’s past experiences, and many other factors can make it difficult for the person to make rational and sane decisions. In such cases, the person is often not held fully responsible for their actions. To hold the accused responsible for their actions, it is necessary to establish that their mental balance is intact. This is where forensic psychiatry experts come into play and actively participate in the analysis process. Forensic psychiatric examination is necessary for various types of cases, some of which are listed below:
•To understand the condition of the driver or pedestrian in traffic accidents,
•To determine the psychological and psychiatric competence of doctors, healthcare professionals, or authorized persons in malpractice cases,
•To determine whether the suspect has criminal responsibility in criminal cases,
•To determine whether the defendant or plaintiff in inheritance and compensation cases, or the deceased, is mentally competent,
•To identify the party at fault in divorce and custody cases.
Forensic psychiatry may also be required to determine whether individuals will be granted certain authorities in modern times.

Other Fields
Forensic Economics is a subfield of forensic sciences that applies economic theories and methods to solve legal issues. Forensic economists do not investigate illegal activities but rather apply economic theories to understand the incentives underlying crimes. Forensic economics can be examined in the following three main areas:
Areas of Practice
•Corruption,   •Fraud Examination,   •Litigation Support,   •Deception

It has become one of the more emphasized fields in Turkey in recent years. It plays a significant role in providing accurate and fair decisions in financial cases where assistance is needed, particularly in cases related to financial crimes and commercial disputes. It involves examining documents related to taxes and commercial transactions. Experts initiate the examination and review process when there is a legal process or complaint related to a business.

A forensic economist, based on the practical and theoretical knowledge they can perform various tasks including:

• Examination of Bank Accounts
• Invoice Analysis,
• Examination of Declarations and Presentation Documents,
• Social Security Institution (SGK) Investigations,
• Investigation of Fraud committed by Institution Employees,
• Fraud Audit.

Forensic Art involves using artistic skills to modify drawings and images for forensic identification based on witness testimonies, creating draft profiles from witness descriptions, or facial reconstruction using skeletal remains.

Forensic Engineering includes the examination of materials, products, or structures that fail to perform their required function or are inherently flawed in their design. It also investigates transportation accidents and plane crashes with the aim of determining the cause of the error.

Forensic Astronomy utilizes astronomical and partly meteorological data related to the crime scene, date, and time. Unlike other evidence at the crime scene, these data are less susceptible to deterioration or loss. The application of meteorological findings in court helps resolve cases.

Document Examination involves investigating the authenticity and integrity of any document with value and official status. This examination is conducted using the most current methods and devices to determine if the document is forged or altered, verify handwritings and signatures, and identify the source of machine-generated writings. Here are some scenarios where document examination can be helpful:

• If your signature is forged and used in a document,
• If you suspect that your signature has been digitally transferred onto a valuable document,
• If there are alterations in the amount or payment date on a promissory note or check,
• If your writing is imitated, and a criminal act is being attributed to you,
• If you have doubts about the authenticity of a seal or stamp on a document,
• If you are unsure about the accuracy of a report in your investigation file,
• If you want to identify favorable aspects in the document examination.

To examine the authenticity and integrity of valuable documents, whether they are forged or tampered with, as well as to determine if handwriting and signatures are produced by the same person, it is necessary to conduct a document examination. Additionally, machine-generated writings need to be analyzed.

Trace examination, which holds significant importance in forensic cases and investigations, is conducted in a laboratory environment using precise devices and tools. Physical evidence plays a crucial role in shedding light on the events.

• Tool or Cutting Mark Examination,
• Physical Examination and Fracture Surface Examination,
• Vehicle Traffic License Plate Examination,
• Shoeprint Examination,
• Vehicle Tire Mark Examination,
• Motor-Chassis Number Examination,
• Firearm Serial Number Examination

Fingerprint analysis involves detecting and comparing fingerprints and palmprints found on evidence with tenprints and palmprints of individuals. Fingerprints are unique, unchangeable, and can persist at crime scenes, making them a valuable piece of evidence in criminal investigations. However, these commonly encountered pieces of evidence in investigation files are not only useful for proving guilt but also for proving innocence.

Determining the location of the fingerprint at the crime scene, when it was left there, and whether it was transferred from another location are crucial aspects to establish innocence.

• Fingerprint identification in threat letters,
• Comparison and reporting of fingerprints,
• Examination and identification of favorable aspects in fingerprint reports,
• Evaluation of fingerprint evidence in forensic files,
• Comparison of palm and fingerprint impressions with known or unknown individuals to determine ownership,
• Assessing the probative value of fingerprint evidence in forensic files,
• Enhancement and visualization of indistinct prints,

Evidence obtained through various investigations.