NCJ Number
184328
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 812-814
Date Published
July 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study used information from 101 bitemark cases from the United States Courts of Appeal, identified through a search of the Lexis legal database, to update and confirm previous studies that examined the anatomical location of human bitemarks.
Abstract
Information on bitemark locations is useful to forensic odontologists and pathologists, physicians, and coroners who must be familiar with the most likely locations of bitemarks. The study included cases if they provided details such as the anatomical location, the number of injuries, and information about the victim. The analysis collated data on 148 bites and focused on comparing males and females, victims and perpetrators, adults, and children, and the offense types associated with human bites. Results revealed that human bitemarks occur at almost every anatomical location, although they tend to occur in certain areas. Crimes commonly associated with biting are homicide, rape, sexual assault, robbery, assault, and child abuse. Females were four times more likely than males to be bitten; the bites were concentrated on the breasts, arms, and legs. Males were most often bitten on the arms, back, and hands. A significant proportion of male victims were themselves the perpetrators of a violent crime. Male children were exclusively bitten in the genital area, although male victims of child abuse can be bitten in different locations. Victims often had more than one bitemark, often in different anatomical locations. Findings were in broad agreement with earlier studies. Figures, tables, and 8 references