Forensic Human Identification: An Introduction

by Thompson; Tim

• ISBN13: 9780849339547
• ISBN10: 0849339545
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-14
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

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 highprofile 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.

Table of Contents

Part A BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND METHODS OF DETERMINATION	1	(400)
Identification from Biomolecular Evidence	3	(52)
DNA	5	(24)
William Goodwin
Sibte Hadi
Stable Isotope Fingerprinting --- Chemical Element ``DNA''?	29	(26)
Wolfram Meier-Augenstein
Identification from Latent Prints	55	(30)
Fingerprints	57	(16)
Vivianne Galloway
Dave Charlton
Earprints	73	(12)
Lynn Meijerman
Andrew Thean
Cornelis van der Lugt
George J.R. Maat
Identification from the Soft Tissues	85	(90)
Physical Appearance	87	(12)
Ian Hill
Soft Tissue Pathology	99	(14)
Christopher Milroy
Soft Tissue Trauma	113	(14)
Guy N. Rutty
Surgical Intervention	127	(20)
James Clarkson
Maureen Schaefer
Hair and Nail	147	(28)
Andrew S. Wilson
M. Thomas P. Gilbert
Identification from the Hard Tissues	175	(54)
Odontology	177	(22)
James H. Hardy
Osteology	199	(22)
Louise Scheuer
Sue Black
Radiography	221	(8)
Emily Hines
Catherine Rock
Mark Viner
Facial Identification	229	(58)
Facial Anthropology and Reconstruction	231	(26)
Caroline Wilkinson
Facial Recognition and Imagery Analysis	257	(14)
Geoffrey Oxlee
Identifying Persons by Their Iris Patterns	271	(16)
John Daugman
Identification from Methods of Communication	287	(14)
Handwriting	289	(12)
Iain Henry Stewart
Identification from Podiatry and Walking	301	(62)
The Foot	303	(18)
Wesley Vernon
Footwear Marks	321	(22)
Terry Napier
Gait	343	(20)
Michael G. Grant
Identification from Personal Effects	363	(38)
Personal Effects	365	(14)
Tim Thompson
Alan Puxley
Body Modification	379	(22)
Sue Black
Tim Thompson
Part B THE CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF FORENSIC HUMAN IDENTIFICATION	401	(100)
The Context of Forensic Human Identification	403	(54)
Identity Fraud and Theft	405	(10)
Natasha Semmens
Biometric Identity Cards	415	(10)
Tim Thompson
Missing Persons in the United Kingdom	425	(20)
Teri Blythe
Sophie Woodforde
Crimes against Humanity and Other War Crimes	445	(12)
Helena Ranta
Kari T. Takamaa
Forensic Human Identification Case Studies	457	(44)
The Rolex Murder, Southwest England	459	(14)
Philip Sincock
The ``Adam'' Case, London	473	(12)
Will O'Reilly
The World Trade Center --- September 11, 2001	485	(16)
Gaille MacKinnon
Amy Z. Mundorff
Index	501