Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Published September 1, 2023 | Version v1 Journal article Open I principi della criminalistica nella Sydney Declaration Authors/Creators PALLANTE, CHRISTIAN 1 Show affiliations 1. University of Foggia Description The article examines the fundamental principles of criminalistics as outlined in the Sydney Declaration, situating them within the broader crisis affecting forensic science. It begins by analyzing the issue of technical-scientific errors and their impact on judicial outcomes, particularly in the United States, where systemic weaknesses and lack of regulation have undermined the reliability of forensic evidence. Against this backdrop, the Sydney Declaration is presented as a response developed by international experts to redefine the essence of forensic science and address its critical shortcomings. The Declaration introduces a broader definition of forensic science as a case-oriented, research-based activity focused on the detection, analysis, and interpretation of traces in order to reconstruct past events of public interest. Central to this framework are a set of fundamental principles and corollaries that emphasize the scientific nature of investigations, the pivotal role of trace evidence, and the importance of context in interpreting findings. The trace is conceptualized as the core element of forensic inquiry, evolving from a simple sign into meaningful information through analysis and interpretation. The Declaration also highlights key methodological aspects, such as the need for temporal proximity in investigations, the non-reproducibility of certain forensic activities, and the use of abductive reasoning within a multidisciplinary approach. Furthermore, it stresses ethical requirements, including transparency, impartiality, and the obligation to consider alternative hypotheses, reinforcing the evidentiary value and reliability of forensic conclusions. Finally, the article considers the future of forensic science through a comparative perspective, emphasizing the role of European initiatives, particularly those promoted by ENFSI, in strengthening quality assurance, standardization, and scientific integrity. While the Sydney Declaration represents a significant step forward, its non-binding nature means that its effectiveness ultimately depends on its practical implementation by forensic practitioners. Files Christian Pallante – I principi della criminalistica nella Sydney Declaration - Estratto da Rivista di Polizia - fasc. IX - X 2023.pdf Files (832.1 kB) Name Size Download all Christian Pallante – I principi della criminalistica nella Sydney Declaration - Estratto da Rivista di Polizia - fasc. IX - X 2023.pdf md5:05c30d985fcb820ec758837bf90ac2b3 832.1 kB Preview Download 13 Views 13 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 13 13 Downloads Total downloads 13 13 Data volume Total data volume 12.5 MB 12.5 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19667020 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19667020) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19667020.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19667020 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19667020"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19667020.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19667020.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19667020 Resource type Journal article Publisher Zenodo Published in Rivista di Polizia, 647-690, ISSN: 0035-6476, 2023. Languages Italian Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created April 20, 2026 Modified April 20, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies