A latent fingerprint is a shred of inevitable evidence left on a scene of the crime by the offender. Being aware of fingerprints, offenders tend to deteriorate all possible pieces of evidence by different methods that include burning, immersing the evidence in water, and many more. Water-immersed latent fingerprints are still viable for the development process due to the presence of water-insoluble components (Lipids, oils, etc.) in the latent fingerprint. Different methods have been tested for the imaging of water-immersed latent fingerprints among which Small Particle Reagent (SPR) was found to be the most efficient by many researchers. This method involves the application of fine particles suspended in a reagent based liquid medium onto the surface containing latent prints immersed in water, resulting in the development of highly detailed fingerprint impressions. The reagent comprised of hydrophobic head and hydrophilic tails that adhere to latent fingerprint and suspended particle respectively and thus act as a junction among them. The diverse composition of Small Particle Reagent, various surfaces for taking impressions of latent fingerprint (followed by immersing in water), the Shelf life of SPR, immersion time of latent fingerprint, and various immersion medium studied by researchers has been reviewed in this paper. The maximum shelf life of SPR reported by a researcher is 6 months and the maximum immersion time is 45 days. Furthermore, the need for green synthesis of SPR is emphasized due to its toxicity caused by long-term exposure.

When a firearm is shot, apart from the bullet, a mass of particulates, called gunshot residue is thrust out. Chemically, the mass is composed of a legion of elements, ions and molecules. It travels both in forward and lateral directions. The portion of the residue which is pushed forward spawns a pattern on the target surface which received the shot; the portion which extrudes laterally settles down on the person of the shooter, mainly on the hand that held the gun, but also on hair and garments. Herein lies the forensic importance of gunshot residue: The analysis of the pattern on the target reveals the range of fire, while detection of particles on the body of shooter places him or her at the crime scene.

It may be asserted that there is no more effective deterrent to crime than the certainty of detection. Equally true is that there is no surer way to establishing identity than by fingerprints. The detection of fingerprints at the scene of crime is therefore one of the most powerful tools available in casework investigations. However, if the crime evidence is deliberately or accidentally exposed to water, the fingerprints get washed out and cannot be detected by conventional techniques. In this communication, we describe a simple experiment that enables the visualization of fingerprints on moist items.

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to control pests and improve crop yields, but they pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to potential residues in biological matrices. This study presents an innovative ultrasonicator-aided cartridge-based extraction method specifically designed for detecting pesticides in simulated biological samples, utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). To address the need for reliable analytical techniques in forensic science, we developed a robust method for determining Tetramethrin (TMT) and Dimethoate (DMT) in simulated gastric fluid and urine samples using UPLC-MS/MS. While various methods have been employed to analyze biological materials with different solvents, salt combinations, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents, there is limited research focused on optimizing conditions for detecting TMT and DMT using ultra sonicator aided cartridge based extraction method by following design of experiments. Moreover, no previous studies have reported on their detection in simulated urine and gastric fluid. Our approach involved ultrasound-facilitated HLB cartridge-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) to effectively extract the pesticides across a concentration range of 2.5 to 160 ng/mL and showed high sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, meeting the validation criteria established by the Scientific Working Group of Toxicology (SWGTOX). Its practicality and efficiency make it a valuable tool for analyzing pyrethroid and organophosphorus pesticides in forensic matrices, due to its efficient, rapid and straightforward sample preparation process.