1st Edition
Forensic Human Identification An Introduction
Identity theft, criminal investigations of the dead or missing, mass disasters both by natural causes and by criminal intent – with this as our day to day reality, the establishment and verification of human identity has never been more important or more prominent in our society. Maintaining and protecting the integrity of out identity has reached levels of unprecedented importance and has led to international legislation to protect our human rights.
Forensic Human Identification: An Introduction examines the variety of biological indicators that are available to investigators and illustrates the basic principles of each discipline. While DNA and fingerprints are clearly the favored methods of identification, they require a prior record and verifiable baseline for comparison. When these tools cannot be used it is necessary to employ those biological factors with higher variation and lower diagnostic probability. This reference introduces a number of different specialties such as, foot- and earprinting, dental interventions, skeletal anomalies, tattoos, facial reconstruction, personal effects, and handwriting.
While recognizing that no single factor is an absolute indicator of identity, the contributors explain how a multitude of factors taken into summative consideration can establish a probability for confirmation. They discuss the difference between positive and probable identification and the use of exclusion to confirm identity. Using three high profile case studies, the book addresses the context of human identification in today’s society and illustrates the use of techniques described in the text.
Heavily referenced and using more than 120 charts, figures, photographs, and tables, Forensic Human Identification: An Introduction provides detailed introductory and extended information to newcomers and experts alike on the wide range of identification techniques in international practice.
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND
METHODS OF DETERMINATION
IDENTIFICATION FROM
BIOMOLECULAR EVIDENCE
DNA
Stable Isotope Fingerprinting —
Chemical Element “DNA”?
IDENTIFICATION FROM LATENT PRINTS
Fingerprints
Earprints
IDENTIFICATION FROM THE SOFT TISSUES
Physical Appearance
Soft Tissue Pathology
Soft Tissue Trauma
Surgical Intervention
Hair and Nail
IDENTIFICATION FROM THE HARD TISSUES
Odontology
Osteology
Radiography
FACIAL IDENTIFICATION
Facial Anthropology and Reconstruction
Facial Recognition and Imagery Analysis
Identifying Persons by Their Iris Patterns
IDENTIFICATION FROM METHODS OF
COMMUNICATION
Handwriting
IDENTIFICATION FROM PODIATRY
AND WALKING
The Foot
Footwear Marks
Gait
IDENTIFICATION FROM PERSONAL EFFECTS
Personal Effects
Body Modification
Part B
THE CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF
FORENSIC HUMAN IDENTIFICATION
THE CONTEXT OF FORENSIC
HUMAN IDENTIFICATION
Identity Fraud and Theft
Biometric Identity Cards
Missing Persons in the United Kingdom
Crimes Against Humanity and Other War Crimes
FORENSIC HUMAN IDENTIFICATION
CASE STUDIES
The Rolex Murder, Southwest England
The “Adam” Case, London
The World Trade Center — September 11, 2001
Biography
Tim Thompson, Sue Black
“For any forensic scientist who is, or potentially will be, involved in the identification of the living or the dead, this volume is a requirement for your reference bookcase.”
—Diane Cockle, Cpl. (M.A.), Forensic Identification Operations Support Services (FIOSS), RCMP, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada