A review of crime-scene examination and the forensic investigation process in sexual crimes: the example of Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review crime-scene examination and forensic investigation in sexualcrimes, which have an important place among crimes against humanity. The application of forensic sciences starts at the crime scene, and crime-scene examination and forensic investigation are important in solving sexual-crime cases. During the forensic examination, DNA analysis provides the most significant evidence. Biological evidence, particularly DNA, is of primary importance and is most helpful in sexual-violence cases. Obtaining evidence immediately is indispensible for delivering criminals to justice and redressing victims’ losses. If the individuals involved in the incident cannot be located, the DNA extracted from the evidence cannot be compared to those individuals’ DNA samples. At this point, the importance of DNA banks comes to the fore. As is true of other crimes, DNA databanks are a necessity for fighting sexual crimes. One of the most significant deficits in Turkey’s crime-fighting arsenal is the non-existence of such DNA databanks.