Numerous resources for digital camera forensics

Resources for Digital Camera Forensics.

S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Classification of digital camera-models based on demosaicing artifacts, Digital Investigation, Volume 5, Issues 1-2, September 2008, Pages 49-59 . [BibTex]
A. E. Dirik, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Identification From Traces of Sensor Dust, IEEE Trans. on Information Forensics and Security, Sept., 2008. [BibTex]
H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Overview of State-of-the-art in Digital Image Forensics, Part of Indian Statistical Institute Platinum Jubilee Monograph series titled 'Statistical Science and Interdisciplinary Research,' World Scientific Press, (expected publication date) 2008.
Y. Sutcu, B. Coskun, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Tamper detection based on regularity of wavelet transform coefficients, Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2007
A. E. Dirik, S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, New features to identify computer generated images, Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2007 [BibTex]
Y. Sutcu, S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Improvements on sensor noise based source camera identification, Proc. of IEEE ICME, 2007
A. E. Dirik, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Source camera identification based on sensor dust characteristics , Proc. of IEEE SAFE, 2007 [BibTex]
S. Bayram, I. Avcibas, B. Sankur and N. Memon, Image manipulation detection Journal of Electronic Imaging, 15(4) 041102, October-December 2006
S. Dehnie, H. T. Sencar and N. Memon, Identification of computer generated and digital camera images for digital image forensics, Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2006
S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon Improvements on source camera-model identification based on CFA interpolation,Proc. of WG 11.9 International Conference on Digital Forensics, 2006
O. Celiktutan, I. Avcibas, B. Sankur, and N. Memon, Source cell-phone identification,Proc. of ADCOM, 2005
S. Bayram, I. Avcibas, B. Sankur, N. Memon, Image Manipulation Detection with Binary Similarity Measures, 13th European Signal Processing Conference, Vol. I, 752-755, Antalya-TURKEY, 2005
S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, N. Memon, and I. Avcibas, Source camera identification based on CFA interpolation,Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2005
M. Kharrazi, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, Blind source camera identification,Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2004
I. Avcibas, S. Bayram, N. Memon, M. Ramkumar, and B. Sankur, A classifier design for detecting image manipulation,Proc. of IEEE ICIP, 2004

Can you be arrested if you are drunk inside your home?

If you live in Roanoke,VA the police may arrest you for being drunk in your own home.
George William Roberts, was in his home when the police knocked on his door...

"According to the lawsuit, Roberts' girlfriend answered and when asked if anyone else was home, she told them Roberts was getting dressed in a back room. As she spoke, Roberts walked into the living room where he could be seen from the door.
Officers pushed into the house, seized Roberts, dragged him outside and charged him with being drunk in public, the lawsuit says."


link: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/185681

Don't believe everything you read about "alcohol related fatalities"

A good example of the collaboration between MADD and NHTSA is the creation of the deliberately deceptive phrase “alcohol related fatalities.” This includes any fatal accident where one of the people involved had a measurable amount of alcohol in their system. It doesn’t mean that person caused the accident, or that the alcohol was a factor in causing the accident. It just means one of the participants had evidence of alcohol in their system. NHTSA issues a press release that says “Nationally, 13,000 lives were lost in alcohol related crashes.” Soon thereafter MADD picks up the drumbeat and proclaims far and wide that “drunk drivers killed 13,000 people.” MADD then predictably produces a family that has suffered a loss in a DUI incident and implies that they are representative of the typical “drunk driver” victim. The Journal-Sentinel series followed the same playbook.

Link: http://www.motorists.org/blog/vengeance-bad-data-make-for-terrible-dui-dwi-policy/

Why the FBI doesn't trust the results of polygraphs

An excerpt taken from the book titled "The Spy Within" Larry Chin and China's Penetration of the CIA.
Excerpt taken from pages 49-50:

"In accordance with standard practice, the CIA polygraphed Larry. The FBI was told he passed with flying colors. Not content to take the agency's word for it, Carson requested the original test result for the bureau's own experts to analyze.
We found it was inconclusive, at best he says. They even admitted, but only later on, that yes there were some problems. Indeed, the bureau would eventually learn that one of the sensor needles had malfunctioned completely.
Mark Johnson, who transferred from the China squad to the polygraph unit following this investigation, explains that the polygraph is not an absolutely objective process. Different polygraphers will get different physiological measures- heart rate, blood pressure, skin palpitations- based on how they calibrate their machines. Also, how the control questions are structured can affect the outcome. And there is the analytic component: An examiner who senses deception on the part of the subject may push harder on the relevant issue than one who accepts his honesty.
Larry would later concede that he might have had a tougher time passing the lie detector had the questions been posed in Mandarin, his mother tongue, as opposed to English. Having to concentrate harder to ensure he fully understood the questions, translating them in his head, his responses were more controlled, less reflexive.
There is also a cultural element that leads people to react differently to the lie detector. Western, or Judeo-christian, cultures are guilt- based. Eastern cultures are shame-based. It is perfectly reasonable that, where a Westerner might feel guilt, Larry didn't feel shame when questioned, and therefore didn't react in such a way as to cause the needles to skitter in alarm."

"The Spy Within"
Larry Chin and China's Penetration of the CIA
Written by Tod Hoffman
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publisher: Steerforth
ISBN: 978-1-58642-148-9 (1-58642-148-4)
On Sale: September 9, 2008
Price: $26.95


http://www.randomhouse.com/acmart/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781586421489

West Virginia State Police have a ticket quota, how many other states have them?

The West Virginia Legislative Auditor announced yesterday that a performance review of the West Virginia State Police found significant evidence that the agency imposes traffic ticket quotas to boost the number of citations issued. Nearly a third of all troopers involved in patrol duties statewide told the auditors that troopers are punished if they failed to generate a specified number of citations each month. In Troop 4, one of the six surveyed, 55 percent of the law enforcement officers admitted that they were under a ticket quota. The auditor confirmed this admission with documents, including a September 12, 2005 memo from Troop 4 commanders that ordered supervisors to impose a quota.

Link: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2601.asp

Policeman charged with assaulting three underage girls, the real story is the videotapes of sex acts he commited with cows.

The 45-count indictment stems from incidents with three girls at Melia's Cottage Avenue home in Moorestown between June 2000 and January 2008, authorities said.

Authorities allege Melia engaged in sex acts with cows at an undisclosed location in Southampton in 2006. According to court document, investigators found video of the incident and other pornographic materials when they searched Melia's house in April.

Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-11182008-1623316.html

Court appointed attorney's under fire in Massachusetts are private investigators next?

"Taxpayers are spending more than twice as much to defend murderers than to prosecute them as the budget to hire court-appointed lawyers for flat-broke suspects spirals out of control.
A Herald investigation shows half a billion taxpayer dollars have been lavished on private attorneys to defend killers, rapists and other indigent suspects over the past five years - even as worried district attorneys are slashing budgets in the face of declining state revenues."

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_11_18_main_lawyer_story/srvc=home&position=1
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_11_18_defense_attorneys/

Two websites allow you to list your valuables and search if they are stolen.

These are national websites with a large database, which allows anyone to post or search for valuables.
The Boston Police are partnering with citizens, the FBI and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to better share stolen property information to aid in the speedy recovery of Bostonians’ valuables and to allow citizens to protect themselves from purchasing stolen property by searching http://www.trace.com/ before they buy.
MyThings.com allows you to make a registry of your valuables online. Saving important information about your belongings. MyThings is the best way to get them back if they’re stolen. You also get appraisals, manuals, warranties, deals on accessories and much more free!

Links:
http://www.mythings.com/Register.aspx
http://www.trace.com/

The Curbside Investigator offers new private investigators Podcast hints, suggestions

New Private Investigators can listen to audio suggestions and hints on podcast.


Link: http://www.curbsideinvestigator.com/

On the lighter side, you can still mail yourself out of prison

A manhunt is under way in western Germany for a convicted drug dealer who escaped by mailing himself out of jail.
The 42-year-old Turkish citizen - who was serving a seven-year sentence - had been making stationery with other prisoners destined for the shops.
At the end of his shift, the inmate climbed into a cardboard box and was taken out of prison by express courier. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7730018.stm?/23

Thirty one videos of a private investigator, providing tips on mobile surveillance etc.

Thirty one videos are a great resource for the new private investigator, searching for tips on mobile surveillance etc.

Link: http://vimeo.com/horsemeninc/videos/sort:date

Accused cop killer dies in jail, the video camera malfunctions when guards arrived?

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) -- Internal reports at the Prince George's County jail reveal that a video camera failed to record the first five minutes when guards arrived in a cell to find a dead inmate.

Link: http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=298E2C3BF230E50C2B213595C90A6B6C?contentId=7824852&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

Find a Fugitive, Investigative Research Online game.

This online game is a great tool for new Investigators, find a Fugitive.
"Welcome to Fugitive Hunter the free online game that tests your investigative skills. Your goal is to find the fugitive. In order to do this, you will have to interview individuals, conduct surveillances, sort through various records, and utilize other investigative techniques. All good criminal investigators take notes. Therefore, you will want to have a pen and paper in hand or you can print out various pages. This is a text based game designed to see if you have what it takes to be a detective. You will obtain information using a search box. You will enter your request and click on the submit button. You will then receive a page telling you what information you gained from your interview, surveillance, record check, etc. This information will lead you to other sources which will help you catch your fugitive. If lose the fugitive's trail, there are eight hints for each fugitive to help you get back on track."

Link: http://www.fugitivehunter.com/

Surveillance pdf. offers tips and pictures for Private Investigators

Let’s explore what we do different to have successful
stationary surveillance.
- Arrive early. As early as possible. 6AM at the
latest.
- Establish a surveillance position with a view of
the residence.
- Look for clues!
- Document vehicle information, the layout of the
area, anything that will help later. Read on…
“Under the cover of night” – An investigator can obtain
much more information discretely before the sun
comes up. We take advantage of the dark to establish
a good surveillance position and find a position with a view of the
residence. This may involve camouflage or an aggressive stationary
position within your surveillance vehicle. A position on the route of
departure should be very rare and the last option.

For the complete article, click on the link below.
http://www.nationalsi.com/upload/Employment%20Issue.pdf

Do some brands of photocopiers retain pdf's. in their memory?

According to the michpi, blog some photcopiers retain recent pdfs in their memory.
Excerpt:
"On the Canon, after exploring the various menus and sub menus I found my way to a "recall" option where the last three items printed were still available! I picked one and it started printing out 60 copies of an actress's resume!"




http://michpi.blogspot.com/

Extremely useful surveillance pdf. for Private Investigators

This pdf. provides tips, procedures and ethical answers for the Private Investigator.

The role of the surveillance investigator is to collect information for the furtherance of an investigation. Accurate observation and credible reporting should be considered the final product and the overall objective of a successful surveillance case. The differences between police and the private investigator help to clarify the importance of surveillance in the investigative process. Surveillance may be considered a skill or a task for the police officer. Private security is more function specific, being the protection of an organization through proactive and preventive services. The function of a private investigator is more specific and more reliant on the specific tasks of observation and surveillance.

The investigator will need to write a detailed narrative report based on observations. The report should be written with the understanding that most people will not see the video or pictures unless they are included with the report. Many judges will review video footage privately but will not permit the showing in court in the interest of time. This is most common in worker’s compensation cases. Most criminal jury trials, however, will set up a device to display the video footage. Plea bargains often are the result of video footage alone.
The investigator must also be prepared to testify about the photographs or video footage. One of the first questions a sharp defense attorney will ask is how the investigator knew the subject was actually the defendant. A credible answer to this question, such as referring to a photo or a formal meeting, will harden the investigator’s credibility.


Link: http://hits.astcorp.com/security/surveillance.pdf

Mobile vehicle surveillance tips for the PI

This site can be useful for new PI's conducting mobile vehicle surveillance.
Learn how to conduct vehicle surveillance, from videotaping to dealing with police and suspicious subjects, using the tips provided in this free mobile-surveillance video series.

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2789_vehicle-surveilance.htm

Online Private Investigator pdf. forms from John DeMarr PI

John DeMarr PI's link, provides basic forms helpful to the Private Investigator. Provides the Investigator with a rough outline on costs etc.

http://www.demarr.com/online_forms.html

Practical Handbook For Private Investigators

This is the Ebook or online readable version by Rory McMahon.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4623874/Practical-Handbook-for-Private-Investigators