NCJ Number
191325
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2001 Pages: 1152-1158
Date Published
September 2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper examined forensic odontologists adherence to the guidelines recommended by the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) in the collection of evidence from bite mark suspects.
Abstract
Bite marks remain a contentious issue within the forensic dental field and dissenting opinions on the reliability and accuracy of the current methods employed are becoming increasingly common. These controversies have brought the methods and practices of forensic dentists to the attention of both the courts and the media. In the mid-1980s, the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) developed guidelines for bite mark analysis. This paper focused on the ABFO guidelines examining the adherence of board certified and non-certified forensic dentists to the guidelines in the collection of evidence from bite mark suspects. A questionnaire was utilized during an American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting. Results revealed that in general when forensic dentists collected evidence they did adhere to the guidelines. One area that fell short of complete adherence was the clinical examination and the detection and recording of tooth mobility. In addition, there was concern over the large number of odontologists who did not collect their evidence from suspects. Police officers or other individuals often perform this task and therefore, the guidelines must be disseminated to these groups to ensure that the maximum yield was obtained from bite mark evidence. Tables, graphs, and references