NCJ Number
236259
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 61 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2011 Pages: 495-519
Date Published
October 2011
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the use of infrared lighting techniques to create sharply focused photographic images of tattoos that may assist in identifying an unknown person.
Abstract
The identification of deceased persons is an important responsibility of both crime scene and death investigators. Frequently, investigators must comb through missing persons reports to match up common features (e.g., scars, marks, and tattoos) or pathologists may have to rely on such distinctions to identify a body. However, environmental and time factors often make the identification of bodies difficult at best. As the body begins to putrefy and decompose, unique identifiers such as tattoos may go completely unnoticed. As the body passes through the various stages of decomposition, tattoos may become less and less visible. Fortunately, investigators can photograph these hidden or latent tattoos using infrared lighting techniques to create sharply focused photographic images of tattoos that may assist in identifying an unknown person. (Published Abstract)