Problems of Forensic Sciences 2006 Vol. 67 (LXVII) 255-272
RAPE CASE MANAGEMENT AT THE SWEDISH NATIONAL LABORATORY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
Ricky ANSELL
Biology Unit, Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science, Linköping, Sweden
Streszczenie
In Sweden, rape case investigations at the national forensic laboratory have increased considerably following more strict legislation introduced in 2005. It is anticipated that more than 1,200 individual cases will be handled by the laboratory in 2007. Forensic investigation of sexual crime is more time consuming than average forensic DNA case investigation, but with considerably lower levels of useful DNA results and with lower match rates. Efforts have been made to increase quality as well as to optimise the use of laboratory resources in these cases. One central parameter is having a modern standardised rape care kit, which in Sweden today is used by most medical examiners performing trace evidence sampling after rape. Case related information provided by the police is important for a relevant focus. The national DNA database is another central factor that allows ongoing comparison between generated DNA profiles from biological traces in unsolved crime and DNA profiles of any suspect or convicted person entered into the database. In several cases, the offender DNA profile is entered for a minor offence, which matches DNA profiles from sexual assault or other severe crime.
Słowa kluczowe
Rape; Rape-care kit; Biological samples; DNA evidence; DNA database; Cold case management; Intelligence led screens.