NCJ Number
200795
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2003 Pages: 32-38
Editor(s)
Ronnie Garrett
Date Published
June 2003
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the research conducted at the Forensic Anthropology Center or Body Farm in Tennessee, and how it aids in teaching law enforcement students, officers and investigators the nature of body decomposition.
Abstract
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee is the Forensic Anthropology Center or Body Farm, a body decomposition farm located at the University of Tennessee. Forensic anthropologists at the center conduct research on body decomposition to learn more about time of death and apply these lessons learned to real world scenarios. This article discusses the type of research conducted and taught at the center and how the research is used to train law enforcement students, as well as officers and investigators in better understanding the nature of body decomposition. The article examines subject areas in body decomposition that are taught at the center to students attending the National Forensic Academy. The subject areas taught include: (1) how human bones can be used to estimate age, sex, ancestry and the structure of skeletal remains; (2) how organic and inorganic compounds within body cells can be used to estimate the time of death; and (3) the effects of corpses exposed to the sun.