Lecture 2 - Disaster Victim Identification Flashcards
What is cause of death?
Specific injury or disease that leads to death
What is manner of death?
Determination of how the injury or disease caused the death, or explanation of how the cause arose
What are examples of victim identifications vs criminal forensics?
Accidental death/suicide vs victim of crime
Coronial court vs criminal court
Circumstance of death vs guilt/innocence
What court is used in victim identifcation?
Coronial court
What is a disaster?
An unexpected event causing the death or injuring many people
What is an open disaster?
Disaster where the number of unknown individuals for whom no prior records or descriptive data are available
What is a closed disaster?
A disaster where the number of individuals belonging to a fixed, identifiable group
- comparative AM data can be obtained more quickly
What are the four steps of disaster management?
1) Collect and analyse information
2) Identify requirements - equipment and personnel
3) Operational plan for victim management
4) Information management
(a) families, (b) authorities, (c) media
What are the two key reasons for DVI?
Need for postive confirmation and correct identification
The importance of identification for making sense of loss and grieving
What is DVI?
Disaster Victim Identification
What are the 7 objectives for the initial analysis of disaster?
1) Area extent of the scene & numbers of dead
2) State of corpses
3) Evaluation - how long will DVI take?
4) DVI responders - Police/ Coroner/ NZSFO/ Military
5) Body Recovery (composition and number of teams)
6) Transportation of corpse
7) Storage (refrigeration)
What is the role of the victim identification unit?
Body recovery and evidence collection
What are the different DVI units? (7)
Management and communications
Body recovery and evidence collection
AM team
PM team
Reconciliation team
Care and counselling team
Identification board
What is the role of management and communications in DVI?
Organisation, liaison, and communications
What does body recovery and evidence collection include in DVI?
Body parts and personal effects from extended area (e.g. hotels)
What is the role of the AM Team in DVI?
Collect antemortem data (records, photos, e-media, fingerprints, DNA)
What is the role of the PM team in DVI?
Collect postmortem dental, medical and forensic data (fingerprints, DNA)
What is the role of the reconciliation team in DVI?
Matching AM and PM data
What is the role of the care and counselling team in DVI?
Medical and psychological care for DVI personnel
What is the role of the identification board in DVI?
Make final decisions on victim IDs and certifies these decisions on the DVI form
What are the 5 DVI phase?
Phase 1: The scene
Phase 2: PM
Phase 3: AM
Phase 4: Reconciliation
Phase 5: Debrief
Why must we have victim identification? (4c’s)
Certainty
Closure
Criminality
Cash
Why is certainty import in VI?
Accidental victim substitution
Correct remains returned to relatives
Why is closure important in VI?
Location and nature of death
Begin grieving process
Why is criminality important in VI?
Gunshot/explosive residue, location of victim
Why is cash important in VI?
Medicolegal requirement for wills/ insurance/ business affairs
What is the criteria of methods of identification?
Scientifically sound
Reliable
Applicable under field conditions
Reasonable period of time
Why is visual identification by a witness usually insufficient for positive identification?
Body traumatised, visual comparison is impossible
Relatives unable to cope with psychological stress of deceased victims
What are the primary methods of identification?
Fingerprint analysis
Forensic dental analysis
DNA analysis
What are secondary methods of identification?
Personal description / medical findings
Evidence / clothing
What are examples of PM data?
Fingerprints
Odontology
DNA profiling
Physical indications
Why are fingerprints used for pm data?
As they are highly reliable. However, as most people’s finger prints are not on record they can be of limited value
Why is odontology used for pm data?
Teeth provide one of the most reliable forms of identification as they are highly durable and most people have dental records
Why is DNA profiling used for pm data?
Direct comparisons can be made from a victim and a profile taken from their home, for example from a hair brush. Indirect comparisons can also be made using the parents’ DNA
Why are physical indications used for pm data?
Tattoos, scars or surgical implants may be unique to the victim
Why is DNA typing considered the standard in VI?
Because of its reliability; the probabilities of a false positive are quantifiable and often miniscule
What are the main issues with DNA typing for VI?
1) acquiring antemortem data
2) slow, laboratory-based process
3) effect of post-mortem decomposition on DNA quality
4) cost
What is finger-printing also known as?
Friction ridge identification
What does finger-printing require further research into?
Sources of error
Quantification of uniqueness vs error rates
Numerical discriminating value of the various ridge formations and clusters of ridge formations
What is forensic odontology?
Forensic odontology is the application of the science of dentistry to the field of law
What does forensic odontology include?
– identification of unknown remains,
– bite mark comparison,
– interpretation of oral injury,
– dental malpractice
What is the most controversial forensic odontology?
Bite mark comparison
What happens in Phase 1: The Scene in DVI?
Crime scene, recording
Remains labeled, recovered, transported to mortuary
Forensic dentally-qualified and rescue-qualified person needs to be present
