Charles Berger
Professor by Special Appointment Criminalistics
- Name
- Prof.dr.ir. C.E.H. Berger
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- c.e.h.berger@law.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-0732-8864
Charles Berger is professor of criminalistics (forensic science) at the Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology since November 2011. The chair is made possible by the Stichting Leerstoel Criminalistiek. His main focus is on the interpretation of forensic evidence (logic, probability).
Charles is also principal scientist at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). At the NFI he is active in a number of areas such as education, R&D strategy, and his own research about which he publishes internationally. He also supports the NFI experts, advises the direction, and guards the scientific quality.
He is involved in promoting logically correct reasoning and concluding, introducing more objective methods, going to activity level, and managing the use of contextual information while avoiding bias. For such improvements it is essential to explain them as often and as well as possible to all the stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
Charles is also member of the ISO technical committee (TC272) that developed the ISO-21043 Forensic Sciences standard, and was lead editor of Part 4: Interpretation.
Professor by Special Appointment Criminalistics
- Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid
- Instituut voor Strafrecht & Criminologie
- Criminologie
- Berger C.E.H., Kruijver M., Hicks T.N., Champod C., Taylor D. & Buckleton J.S. (2024), Commentary on: Hahn M, Anslinger K, Eckert M, Fimmers R, Grethe S, Hohoff C, et al. [Joint recommendations of the project group “Biostatistical DNA Calculations” and the Trace Commission on the Biostatistical Evaluation of Forensic DNA Analytical Findings with Fully Continuous Models (FCM)]. Rechtsmedizin (Berl). 2023; 33(1):3–12. doi: 10.1007/s00194-022-00599-5, Journal of Forensic Sciences 69(2): 730-735.
- Botter D., Driessche P.M.I. van & Berger C.E.H. (2023), Reactie op Duijst (NTS 2022/06): geweldhandelingen tegen het hoofd, Nederlands tijdschrift voor strafrecht 2023(1): 15-19.
- Boer H.H. de, Fronczek J., Berger C.E.H. & Sjerps M. (2022), The logic of forensic pathology opinion, International Journal of Legal Medicine 136(4): 1027-1036.
- Mattijssen E.J.A.T., Witteman C.L.M., Berger C.E.H. & Stoel R.D. (2021), Firearm examination: Examiner judgments and computer‐based comparisons, Journal of Forensic Sciences 66(1): 96-111.
- Boer H.H. de, Berger C.E.H. & Blau S. (2021), Providing a Forensic Expert Opinion on the “Degree of Force”: Evidentiary Considerations, Biology 10(12): 1336.
- De Koeijer J.A., Sjerps M.J., Vergeer P. & Berger C.E.H. (2020), Combining evidence in complex cases - a practical approach to interdisciplinary casework, Science & Justice 60(1): 20-29.
- Mattijssen E.J.A.T., Witteman C.L.M., Berger C.E.H., Brand N.W. & Stoel R.D. (2020), Validity and reliability of forensic firearm examiners, Forensic Science International 307: 110112.
- Mattijssen E.J.A.T., Witteman C.L.M., Berger C.E.H. & Stoel R.D. (2020), Cognitive biases in the peer review of bullet and cartridge case comparison casework: A field study, Science & Justice 60(4): 337-346.
- Buckleton J.S., Robertson B., Curran J.M., Berger C.E.H., Taylor D., Bright J.-A., Hicks T.N., Gittelson S., Evett I.W., Pugh S.N., Jackson G., Kelly H., Tim Kalafut T.S. & Bieber F.R. (2020), A review of likelihood ratios in forensic science based on a critique of Stiffelman “No longer the Gold standard: Probabilistic genotyping is changing the nature of DNA evidence in criminal trials”, Forensic Science International 310: 110251.
- Kokshoorn B., De Koeijer J.A., Aarts B., Blankers B.J., Matas Llonch T. & Berger C.E.H. (2020), Scenario’s, hypothesen, aannamen en context-informatie; wat bedoelt de deskundige eigenlijk?, Expertise en Recht 2020(3): 96-104.
- Mattijssen E.J.A.T., Witteman C.L.M., Berger C.E.H. & Stoel R.D. (2020), Assessing the frequency of general fingerprint patterns by fingerprint examiners and novices, Forensic Science International 313: 110347.
- Robertson B., Buckleton J.S., Evett I.W. & Berger C.E.H. (2020), Letter to the Editor, Response to Stiffelman, Criminal Law Review 2020: 1152-1154.
- Ramos D., Meuwly D., Haraksim R. & Berger C.E.H. (2020), Validation of Forensic Automatic Likelihood Ratio Methods. In: Banks D., Kafadar K., Kaye D.H. & Tackett M. (Eds.), Handbook of Forensic Statistics. Chapman & Hall/CRC Handbooks of Modern Statistical Methods. Boca Raton: Chapman and Hall/CRC. 143-164.
- Berger C.E.H., Van Wijk M. & De Boer H.H. (2020), Chapter 6.1 - Bayesian inference in personal identification. In: Obertová Z., Stewart A. & Cattaneo C. (Eds.), Statistics and Probability in Forensic Anthropology: Academic Press-Elsevier. 301-312.
- De Boer H.H., Van Wijk M. & Berger C.E.H. (2020), Chapter 6.3 - Communicating evidence with a focus on the use of Bayes’ theorem. In: Obertová Z., Stewart A. & Cattaneo C. (Eds.), Statistics and Probability in Forensic Anthropology: Academic Press-Elsevier. 331-340.
- Berger C.E.H., De Boer H.H. & Van Wijk M. (2020), Chapter 3.2 - Use of Bayes’ theorem in data analysis and interpretation. In: Obertová Z., Stewart A. & Cattaneo C. (Eds.), Statistics and Probability in Forensic Anthropology: Academic Press-Elsevier. 125-135.
- Robertson B.W.N. & Berger C.E.H. (2019), Interpreting Evidence of Torture, Medical Law Review 27(4): 687-695.
- Twisk K., Dubelaar M. & Berger C.E.H. (2019), De kenniskloof verkend: een onderzoek naar de waardering van (complex) DNA-bewijs in strafzaken, Expertise en Recht 2019(3): 105-111.
- Berger C.E.H. & Stoel R.D. (2018), Response to “A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence”, Science & Justice 58(1): 76-77.
- Gittelson S., Berger C.E.H., Jackson G., Evett I.W., Champod C., Robertson B., Curran J.M., Taylor D., Weir B.S., Coble M.D. & Buckleton J.S. (2018), A response to “Likelihood ratio as weight of evidence: A closer look” by Lund and Iyer, Forensic Science International 288: e15-e19.
- Kerkhoff W., Stoel R.D., Mattijssen E.J.A.T., Berger C.E.H., Didden F.W. & Kerstholt J.H. (2018), A part-declared blind testing program in firearms examination, Science & Justice 58(4): 258-263.
- Ton E.M., Limborgh J., Aarts L.H.J., Kokshoorn B., Koeijer J.A. de, Keijser J.W. de, Berger C.E.H. & Zuidberg M.C. (2018), Plaats delict-onderzoek met vooruitziende blik: Anticiperen op alternatieve scenario’s tijdens het sporenonderzoek op de plaats delict, Expertise en Recht 2018(4): 144-149.
- Slooten K. & Berger C.E.H. (2017), Response paper to “The likelihood of encapsulating all uncertainty”: The relevance of additional information for the LR, Science & Justice 57(6): 468-471.
- Kokshoorn B., Blankers B.J., Zoete J.C. de & Berger C.E.H. (2017), Activity level DNA evidence evaluation: on propositions addressing the actor or the activity, Forensic Science International 278: 115-124.
- Evett I.W., Berger C.E.H., Buckleton J.S., Champod C. & Jackson G. (2017), Finding the Way Forward for Forensic Science in the US - A commentary on the PCAST report, Forensic Science International 278: 16-23.
- Sjerps M., Kloosterman A. & Berger C.E.H. (2017), Over de rapportage van het NFI: een weerwoord, Nederlands Juristenblad 92(40): 2945-2951 (NJB 2017/2140).
- Groen W.J.M. & Berger C.E.H. (2017), Crime Scene Investigation, Archaeology and Taphonomy: Reconstructing Activities at Crime Scenes. In: Schotsmans E.M.J., Márquez‐Grant N. & Forbes S.L. (Eds.), Taphonomy of human remains: Forensic analysis of the dead and the depositional environment. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. 476-492.
- Mattijsen E.J.A.T., Kerkhoff W., Berger C.E.H., Dror I.E. & Stoel R.D. (2016), Implementing context information management in forensic casework: Minimizing contextual bias in firearms examination, Science & Justice 56: 113-122.
- Buiskool M., Nijs H.G.T., Karst W.A. & Berger C.E.H. (2016), More on the strength of evidence in forensic pathology, Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology 12(2): 238-239.
- Berger C.E.H. & Slooten K. (2016), The LR does not exist, Science & Justice 56(5): 388-391.
- Stoel R.D., Kerkhoff W., Mattijssen E.J.A.T. & Berger C.E.H. (2016), Building the research culture in the forensic sciences: Announcement of a double blind testing program, Science & Justice 56: 155-156.
- Robertson B., Vignaux G.A. & Berger C.E.H. (2016), Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science in the Courtroom [2nd edition]. Chichester: Wiley.
- Berger C.E.H. & Sjerps M. (2015), Conference report: International Conference on Forensic Inference and Statistics 2014, Expertise en Recht 3: 96-97.
- Kerkhoff W., Stoel R.D., Berger C.E.H., Mathijssen E.J.A.T., Hermsen R., Smits N. & Hardy H.J.J. (2015), Design and results of an exploratory double blind testing program in firearms examination, Science & Justice 55(6): 514–519.
- Haraksim R., Ramos D., Meuwly M. & Berger C.E.H. (2015), Measuring coherence of computer-assisted likelihood ratio methods, Forensic Science International 249(4): 123-132.
- De Wolff T.R., Kal A.J., Berger C.E.H. & Kokshoorn B. (2015), A probabilistic approach to body fluid typing interpretation: an exploratory study on forensic saliva testing Law, Law, Probability & Risk 2015: 1-17.
- Berger C.E.H. & Sjerps M. (2015), Conference report: International Conference on Forensic Inference and Statistics 2014, Expertise en Recht 3: 96-97.
- Aitken C.C.G., Barrett A., Berger C.E.H., Biedermann A., Champod C., Hicks T.N., Lucena-Molina J., Lunt L., McDermott S., McKenna L., Nordgaard A., O’Donnell G., Rasmusson B., Sjerps M.J., Taroni F., Willis S.M. & Zadora G. (2015), ENFSI guideline for evaluative reporting in forensic science, : .
- Berger C.E.H., Vergeer P. & Buckleton J.S. (2015), A more straightforward derivation of the LR for a database search, Forensic Science International: Genetics 14: 156–160.
- Liwicki M., Malik M.I. & Berger C.E.H. (2014), Towards a shared conceptualization for automatic signature verification. In: Pirlo G., Impedovo D. & Fairhurst M. (Eds.), Advances in Digital Handwritten Signature Processing. Singapore: World Scientific. 65-80.
- Stoel R., Berger C.E.H., Kerkhoff W., Mattijssen E. & Dror I. (2014), Minimizing contextual bias in forensic casework. In: Hickman M.J. & Strom K.J. (Eds.), Forensic Science and the Administration of Justice. Critical Issues and Directions: SAGE Publications. 67-86.
- Berger C.E.H. & Stoel R. (2014), Letter to the Editor (Response to Champod), Science & Justice 54(6): 510-511.
- Vergeer P., Bolck A., Peschier L.J.C., Berger C.E.H. & Hendrikse J.N. (2014), Likelihood ratio methods for forensic comparison of evaporated gasoline residues, Science & Justice 54(6): 401-411.
- Malik M.I., Liwicki M., Alewijnse L., Blumenstein M., Berger C.E.H., Stoel R. & Found B. (Eds.) (2013), Proceedings of the 2nd ICDAR International Workshop on Automated Forensic Handwriting Analysis. International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition no. 1022: CEUR-WS.
- Berger C.E.H. (2013), Objective ink color comparison through image processing and machine learning, Science & Justice 53: 55-59.
- Berger C.E.H. & Ramos D. (2012), Objective paper structure comparison: Assessing comparison algorithms, Forensic Science International 222: 360-367.
- Berger C.E.H., Robertson B. & Vignaux G.A. (2012), Interpreting scientific evidence. In: Freckelton I. & Selby H. (Eds.), Expert Evidence: Thomson Reuters.
- Berger C.E.H. & Sjerps M. (2012), Reaction to Hamer and Thompson in LPR, Law, Probability & Risk 11: 373-375.
- Robertson B., Vignaux G.A. & Berger C.E.H. (2012), Discussion on the paper by Neumann, Evett and Skerrett: Quantifying the weight of evidence from a forensic fingerprint comparison, Royal Statistical Society. Journal. Series A: Statistics in Society 175: 407-408.
- Berger C.E.H., Buckleton J.S., Champod C., Evett I.W. & Jackson G. (2012), Response to Jamieson regarding “More on the Bayesian Approach and the LR”, Science & Justice 52: 203.
- Sjerps M. & Berger C.E.H. (2012), How clear is transparent? Reporting expert reasoning in legal cases, Law, Probability & Risk 11: 317-329.
- Robertson B., Vignaux G.A. & Berger C.E.H. (2011), Extending the confusion about Bayes, Modern Law Review 74(3): 444-455.
- Berger C.E.H., Buckleton J.S., Champod C., Evett I.W. & Jackson G. (2011), Evidence evaluation: a response to the Appeal Court judgement, Science & Justice 51: 43-49.
- Liwicki M., Malik M.I., Heuvel E. van den, Chen X., Berger C.E.H., Stoel R., Blumenstein M. & Found B. (2011), Signature Verification Competition for Online and Offline Skilled Forgeries (SigComp2011). In: , 11th Int. Conf. on Document Analysis and Recognition 1480-1484.
- Berger C.E.H., Buckleton J.S., Champod C., Evett I.W. & Jackson G. (2011), Expressing evaluative opinions: A position statement, Science & Justice 51: 1-2.
- Berger C.E.H., Buckleton J.S., Champod C., Evett I.W. & Jackson G. (2011), Response to Faigman et al, Science & Justice 51: 215.
- Berger C.E.H. & Aben D. (2010), Bewijs en overtuiging: Rationeel redeneren sinds Aristoteles, Expertise en Recht 2010(2): 52-56.
- Stoel R., Berger C.E.H., Heuvel E. van den & Fagel W. (2010), De wankele kritiek op het forensisch handschriftonderzoek, Nederlands Juristenblad : 2537-2541.
- Berger C.E.H. & Aben D. (2010), Bewijs en overtuiging: Een helder zicht op valkuilen, Expertise en Recht (5/6): 159-165.
- Berger C.E.H. & Aben D. (2010), Bewijs en overtuiging: Redeneren in de rechtszaal, Expertise en Recht (3): 86-90.
- Berger C.E.H. & Meuwly D. (2010), Logically correct concluding and rational reasoning in evidence evaluation, Science & Justice 50: 33.
- Berger C.E.H. & Sjerps M.J. (2010), Reactie op 'Begrijpt de rechter wat ik bedoel?', Ars Aequi 59: 816.
- Berger C.E.H. (2010), Het juiste gewicht in de schaal, Ars Aequi 59: 499-501.
- Berger C.E.H. (2010), Criminalistiek is terugredeneren, Nederlands Juristenblad 85: 784-789.
- Klein M.E., Aalderink B.J., Berger C.E.H., Herlaar K. & Koeijer J.A. de (2010), Quantitative hyperspectral imaging technique for measuring material degradation effects and analyzing TLC plate traces, Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners 13: 71-81.
- Berger C.E.H. (2009), Objective paper structure comparison through processing of transmitted light images, Forensic Science International 192: 1-6.
- Berger C.E.H. & Veenman C.J. (2009), Color Deconvolution and Support Vector Machines. In: Franke K.Y., Veenman C.J. & Geradts Z.J.M.H. (Eds.), Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 174-180.
- Berger C.E.H. (2009), Inference of identity of source using univariate and bivariate methods, Science & Justice 49: 265-271.
- Berger C.E.H., Koeijer J.A. de, Glas W. & Madhuizen H.T. (2006), Color Separation in Forensic Image Processing, Journal of Forensic Sciences 51(1): 100-102.
- Koeijer J.A. de, Berger C.E.H., Glas W. & Madhuizen H.T. (2006), Gelatine Lifting, a Novel Technique for the Examination of Indented Writing, Journal of Forensic Sciences 51(4): 908-914.
- Berger C.E.H., Koeijer J.A. de, Glas W. & Madhuizen H. (2005), Linking inkjet printing to a common digital source document, Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners 8: 91-94.
- Principal Scientist