Drug-facilitated crimes

TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF HAIR IN THE INVESTIGATION OF DRUG FACILITATED CRIMES... 

In drug-facilitated crimes (DFCs), the victim is unknowingly administered drugs by the perpetrator with the aim of subduing the victim to then commit a crime against that person. These crimes range from sexual assault, robbery (money, credit cards, jewelry), to mistreatment of children and the elderly. 

Kintz P. Bioanalytical procedures for detection of chemical agents in hair in the case of drug-facilitated crimes. Anal Bioanal Chem 2007 388 1467—74. 

Deveaux M, Cheze M, Pepin G. The role of liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC—MS/MS) to test blood and urine samples for the toxicological investigation of drug-facilitated crimes. Ther Drug Monit 2008 30 225-8. 

Kiniz P, Villain M, Cirimele V, Pepin G, Ludes B. Windows of detection of lorazepam in urine, oral fluid and hair, with a special focus on drug-facilitated crimes. Forensic Sci Int 2004 145 131-5. 

Cheze M, Villain M, Pepin G. Determination of bromazepam, clonazepam and metabolites after a single intake in urine and hair by LC-MS/MS. Application to forensic cases of drug facilitated crimes. Forensic Sd Int 2004 145 123-30. 

Cheze M, Duffort G, Deveaux M, Pepin G. Hair analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in toxicological investigation of drug-facilitated crimes report of 128 cases over the period June 2003—May 2004 in metropolitan Paris. Forensic Sci Int 2005 153 3-10. 

In recent years, drug-facilitated sexual assault has become a growing concern among health and community educators. A number of drugs have become known as date rape drugs or predatory drugs because they are used to debilitate individuals for the purposes of committing a crime, often sexual assault. 

The Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996 provides criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for any person who distributes a controlled substance, such as Rohypnol, to another person with the intent to commit a violent crime. The act does not criminalize any new conduct in that the distribution of a controlled substance is already a federal crime. It does, however, establish the basis for harsher penalties under federal law if the distribution facilitates a violent crime. 

II. Drugs utilized. Contrary to the popular belief that specific date rape drugs are involved In these crimes, a variety of drugs with amnestic or CNS depressant effects can be used to facilitate assault, including benzodiazepines, other sedative-hypnotic drugs, skeletal muscle relaxants, anticholinergics, hallucinogens, and of course, ethanol (Table 1-45). 

In homicides committed with a gun it is important to find out the shooting range. A great deal of corroborative evidence can be collected by detecting red blood cells and spermatozoa at the scene of a crime. The search for illicit drugs is greatly facilitated by selective spot tests in their preliminary identification. 

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