Use of Detection Dogs in Forensic Investigations: The Italian Scenario

Abstract

This paper describes the latest advancements of forensic odorology, a technique that uses canine units to detect forensic evidence at a crime scene. For a long time, dogs' olfaction has been used to find missing persons, dead bodies, and explosive substances. These dog skills have been further de-veloped to identify olfactory fingerprints at crime scenes. Currently, forensic odorology plays an important role in pyromania and arson investigations, computer and electronic material searches, fugitive location, currency, tobacco and weapon recovery, as well as poaching fighting. During the Scent Detection activity, the dog is trained to detect the smell of a previously imprinted substance (substance odor imprinting). When the dog sniffs traces of a specific substance, it focuses on the track and follows itn to identify the odor source. Thus, the dog will reproduce a previously ac-quired behavioral response to signal the handler the presence of the substance. In this review, we touch upon canine forensic odorology, highlight the most innovative forensic activities carried out with dogs, and discuss how these investigative tools can be used in criminal trials.

The role of digital technologies for the canine units involved in the law enforcement in European countries

“…The studies of Ricci et al (2021) and Lazarowski et al (2020) used in the paper emphasize the role of recent advances in forensic odorology, a method that uses dogs to detect evidence at crime scenes, and the improvement and standardization of assessment technology to identify and improve behavioural characteristics of dogs.…”

“…Dogs also began to play an important role in the investigation of arsons, the search for computer and electronic materials (Petersen and Schoon, 2021). The search for currency, tobacco and help in the fight against poaching occupy a special place (Ricci et al, 2021).…”

Forensic olfaction employment for solving crimes

“…The issues of searching for missing persons, corpses, and explosives with the help of special dogs were also studied; the role of properly trained dogs in investigating pyromania and arson, searching for computer and electronic materials, locating fugitives, detecting currency, tobacco, and weapons, and combating poaching were highlighted. Recommendations on how special dogs, as special investigative tools, can be used in criminal proceedings were provided (Ricci et al, 2021).…”