NCJ Number
47280
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 388-395
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR AND MEASURES TO DEVELOP A UNIFORM THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS ARE DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF THE ART AND TO IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY.
Abstract
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION REQUIRES THE DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUAL PRIOR TO DEATH AND THE ACQUISITION OF SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL RECORDS PRODUCING A FIT WITH THE REMAINS. THE INFORMATION USUALLY SOUGHT DURING LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF HUMAN REMAINS INCLUDES SEX, RACE, FINGERPRINTS, DENTITION, AGE, STATURE, MUSCULARITY, HAIR COLOR, ANOMALIES, SCARS AND TATOOS, CAUSE OF DEATH, AND OTHER UNUSUAL DATA WHICH MIGHT AID IN IDENTIFICATION. WHILE THE LITERATURE REPORTS A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, AN UNDERLYING THEORY IS LACKING. ONCE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, THE IDENTIFICATION SPECIALIST MUST EXAMINE THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE WHICH MAY PERMIT IDENTIFICATION, SUCH AS DENTIST'S RECORDS AND DRIVERS LICENSE INFORMATION. THE AVAILABLE DOCUMENTATION WILL HELP SUPPLY BOTH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DATA ON THE INDIVIDUAL THE REMAINS MIGHT REPRESENT. THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PERSONAL RECORDKEEPING AGENCIES WHICH REGULARLY WERE THEIR RECORDS ARE NOTED. SUCH COMPARISON DATA MAY BE UNEVENLY AVAILABLE AND INCOMPLETE. THE IDENTIFICATION SPECIALIST DEALS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF VARIABLES OF UNEVEN WEIGHT. CONSEQUENTLY SOME THEORY OR SET OF THEORIES IS NECESSARY AS TO HOW THESE VARIABLES SHOULD BE WEIGHTED AS THEY ARE COMPARED AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE MATCHING PROCESS WHICH LEADS TO PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION. FURTHER, CREDIBILITY OF THE FIELD OF HUMAN REMAINS IDENTIFICATION WILL REQUIRE THE STANDARDIZATION OF TECHNIQUES UTILIZED AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA OF RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE IDENTIFICATION OF BOTH THE DATA OBTAINED FROM EXAMINATION OF REMAINS AND THE DOCUMENTARY DATA. TO MEET THESE OBJECTIVES, THE PROFESSION WILL REQUIRE EXAMINATION OF THE METHODOLOGICAL LITERATURE, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF CURRENT METHODS; EVALUATION OF THE DOCUMENTARY SOURCES OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION; DEVELOPMENT OF A THEORETICAL BASE FOR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION; LOCAL AND NATIONAL SURVEYS OF THE PRACTICE OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION; SURVEYS OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LABORATORIES AND IDENTIFICATION AGENCIES IN THE NATION TO DETERMINE TRAINING RESOURCES AND TO ASSESS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION COMPONENTS IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CURRICULUM; AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR METHODOLOGICAL STANDARDIZATION. A SUBSTANTIAL LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (JAP)