Imaging in forensic science: Five years on

• Published in: Journal of forensic radiology and imaging 2019-03, Vol.16, p.24-33
• Main Authors: Carew, Rachael M., Errickson, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bias; Courtroom; Data; Ethics; Evidence; Imaging; Non-Contact; Three-dimension; Visualisation
• ISSN: 2212-4780; 2212-4799
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jofri.2019.01.002

•We discuss the application of 3D imaging within the context of forensic science.•We highlight the available documentation techniques assessing their advantages and disadvantages.•This article provides several recommendations for future best practice. The Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging was launched in 2013 with the aim to collate the literature and demonstrate high-quality case studies on image-based modalities across the forensic sciences. Largely, the focus of this journal has been on the transmissive aspect of forensic imaging, and therefore a significant number of high-quality case studies have been published focusing on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. As a result, the ‘and imaging’ aspect is often neglected. Since 2013, technology has fundamentally evolved, and a number of new techniques have become accessible or have been demonstrated as particularly useful within many sub-disciplines of forensic science. These include active and passive surface scanning techniques, and the availability of three-dimensional printing. Therefore, this article discusses non-contact techniques, their applications, advantages, and considerations on the current state of play of imaging in forensic science.