NCJ Number
110687
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1988) Pages: 8-12
Date Published
1988
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes a computer system capable of matching detailed descriptions of missing people with detailed descriptions of dead bodies.
Abstract
West Yorkshire Police's Casualty Bureau (England) is now fully computerized with CRISIS, a computer system capable of identifying victims in a major disaster. Any caller reporting a missing person is asked to give only basic details such as name, address, date of birth or age, and the reason why the person may be involved in an accident. When the name is entered into CRISIS, an automatic search takes place and a list is produced of all those having that or a similar sounding surname who are already reported missing or listed as casualties. CRISIS absorbs detailed descriptions of missing persons and dead bodies and then compares them. The Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) form and the Federation Dentaire International (FDI) system of dental charting are used as standards. CRISIS suggests matches and lists evidence. However, it is up to a team of experts to review the case and to agree or disagree with suggestions. Another large element of CRISIS is its administration package, which takes care of records of employee hours worked, costs, and statistics. CRISIS was tested using data from the Bradford's Valley Parade football ground fire which killed 56 people and the Manchester air disaster in which 54 people died. 1 table and 1 photograph.