Stylometry and forensic science: A literature review.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Computational Linguistics
• Digital Forensics

Background:

• Stylometry analyzes linguistic style for authorship attribution.
• Its history and scientific basis are established.
• However, its application in forensic science faces challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on stylometry and its forensic applications.
• To identify unresolved issues hindering its acceptance in forensic science.
• To propose solutions for integrating stylometry into judicial proceedings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of stylometry and forensic science.
• Analysis of the current state of the art in stylometry.
• Identification of gaps in probabilistic procedures for forensic analysis.

Main Results:

• Stylometry has a solid scientific foundation but lacks a coherent probabilistic framework for forensic use.
• Key unresolved aspects require academic attention for forensic acceptance.
• International guidelines, like those from the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes, offer a path forward.

Conclusions:

• Stylometry's integration into forensic science requires addressing the absence of probabilistic procedures.
• Adopting international standards will enhance the reliability and acceptance of stylometry in legal contexts.
• Developing these solutions will facilitate the use of stylometry in judicial proceedings.