NCJ Number
55065
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 181-192
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE IDENTIFICATION OF SKELETAL REMAINS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AN ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BONES, WITHIN LIMITATIONS OF THE FIELD OF ANTHROPOLOGY, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE HUMAN STATUS OF BONES ARISES WHEN BONES ARE FOUND WITHOUT PERSONAL ARTICLES AND WITHOUT A SKULL. HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS CAN PROVIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFORMATION OF MEDICOLEGAL RELEVANCE THAT IS BOTH GENERAL (RACE, SEX, AND AGE) AND IDIOSYNCRATIC IN NATURE. THE AMOUNT OF GENERAL OR IDIOSYNCRATIC INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ELICITED OR INFERRED DEPENDS ON THE COMPLETENESS AND STATE OF PRESERVATION OF THE SKELETAL REMAINS. LITTLE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM REMAINS THAT ARE DRASTICALLY FRAGMENTED, MUTILATED, OR BURNED. IN SUCH CASES, FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY CAN BE EMPLOYED FOR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION. ALTHOUGH DENTITION PROVIDES THE MOST RELIABLE EVIDENCE FOR POSITIVE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION, BOTH IDIOSYNCRATIC BONE FEATURES AND DENTITION CAN LEAD TO ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION WHEN CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MATCHING UP WITH THE POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION. RACE, SEX, AND AGE CAN BE ESTIMATED WITH HIGH ACCURACY, DEPENDING ON THE COMPLETENESS OF SKELETAL REMAINS AND PROVIDED THAT THE CRANIUM AND SOME POSTCRANIAL PARTS OF ANATOMY ARE AVAILABLE. THE OSTEON COUNT METHOD CAN ESTIMATE AGE AT THE TIME OF DEATH, AND THE LIVING STATURE AND WEIGHT CAN BE ESTIMATED USING REGRESSION FORMULAS. COMPUTER APPLICATION OF DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS CAN ASSIST IN ESTIMATING RACE AND SEX WHEN VISUAL INSPECTION LEADS TO EQUIVOCAL RESULTS. BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, THERE IS A NEED FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA IN DENTAL SCHOOLS. THE VALUE OF INFORMATION TO BE DERIVED FROM SKELETAL REMAINS IS CONSIDERED IN DETAIL. REFERENCES VALUE OF INFORMATION TO BE DERIVED FROM SKELETAL REMAINS IS CONSIDERED IN DETAIL. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)