Identification of Human Beings

Question 1

Identification of human beings is essential for both…

Answer 1

dead and living individuals

Question 2

Living individuals may…

Answer 2

Have amnesia, dementia, post-ictal states (after epileptic seizure)

Question 3

The need for identification

Answer 3

UN declaration of human rights establishes a right to identify even after death

Criminal Investigation

Civil Law (eg administration of estates, presumption of death legislation). Civil law does not involve prison- it is people surrounding the crime go to repair the ‘damage’ done to a person who has been ‘wronged’. You can sue them and collect money but you cant go to prison for anything

Cultural, religious and psychosocial beliefs

Question 4

Single unidentified body can be in….

Answer 4

expected circumstances and environment

unrelated to circumstances and environment (possibly a crime - tried to hide the crime by moving the body)

Question 5

Mass fatality

Answer 5

Identification commission

Question 6

Methods of identification

Answer 6

Circumstances
Moveable property (clothing/jewellery)
Physical Characters (photographs may  be helpful)

Question 7

Physical charactersitics

Answer 7

Gender
Age
Stature
Race/ ethnic origin 
Hair
Eyes
Facial charactersistics 
Depilation

Question 8

Additional Physical Features

Answer 8

Tattoos
Piercings
Scars
Broken bones not healed properly

Question 9

Medical Records

Answer 9

Everyone’s bones are unique etc

compare past and present x-rays

Question 10

Other ways of identifying

Answer 10

Medical records
Dental records (very durable - last to decompose
DNA profiling (takes a while)
Fingerprints (unique)
Facial Reconstruction (takes ages)