NCJ Number
212655
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 50 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 1436-1443
Date Published
November 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A survey of 1,100 forensic dentists in 26 countries solicited information on their bite mark cases.
Abstract
The responses detailed 259 bite mark cases that included 778 individual bite marks. Ten countries were represented in the cases described. The survey data pertain to the gender and age distribution of victims, the victims' gender and age distribution in varying types of crimes, the distribution of bite marks by the age and gender of victims, and the incidence of bite marks. Other survey data address the gender and age distribution of suspects in varying types of bite mark crimes, cases in which victims bite their attackers, and legal dispositions. The survey found that women were bite mark victims more often than men. In the cases reported, bite marks were found on almost all areas of the body; the bite marks in a given case might be single or multiple; and bite marks were found on both victims and perpetrators of violence. Patterns in the distribution of bite marks were discernable and variable based in part upon the following factors: the type of crime, the victim's age, the victim's sex, whether the bite mark was on the victim or the attacker, and the age and sex of the perpetrator. Victim and suspect demographics indicate that investigators of the types of crimes reported should carefully and thoroughly examine both victims and suspects for bite marks. A large number of cases (43 percent) involved more than one bite mark. Thus, when a single bite mark is found, a thorough investigation should be undertaken to determine whether there are other bite marks. 2 tables, 13 figures, and 11 references