Body identification

Forensic science
Physiological sciences
Forensic anthropology Forensic dentistry Forensic entomology Forensic pathology Forensic botany Forensic biology DNA profiling DNA phenotyping Bloodstain pattern analysis Forensic chemistry
Social sciences
Forensic psychology Forensic psychiatry
Forensic criminalistics
Body identification Fingerprint analysis Forensic accounting Forensic arts Forensic firearm examination Forensic footwear evidence Forensic toxicology Gloveprint analysis Palmprint analysis Questioned document examination Vein matching
Digital forensics
Computer forensics Forensic data analysis Database forensics Mobile device forensics Network forensics Forensic video Forensic audio
Related disciplines
Fire investigation Fire accelerant detection Forensic engineering Forensic linguistics Forensic materials engineering Forensic polymer engineering Forensic statistics Vehicular accident reconstruction
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Body identification is a subfield of forensic science wherein investigators need to identify a body. Forensic (literally, "for the courts") purposes are served by rigorous scientific forensic identification techniques, but these are generally preceded by simply asking bystanders or other persons for the victim's name.^[1]

If a body is not badly decomposed or damaged, two persons (or one) who knew the deceased well should visually confirm the identity.^[2]

Authorities will also compare supportive documents such as driver's license, passport, or other authoritative photo ID before accepting a personal identification with which to further their investigative and/or forensic purposes.^[3]

Of course, any formal investigation should "reality check" additional forensic and scientific evidence to reinforce or question the supposed identity of the victim.^[4] Reliable identification becomes increasingly difficult as time passes.^[5]

Military

In many cases, people who have died while serving in military branches remain unidentified due to how long their remains went undiscovered or due to various other causes. If unidentified bodies of service people are returned to their country, formal treatment is required in respect for the decedent. In the United States, servicemen from each branch of the military supervise the delivery and other transportation of the remains. While under examination, the unidentified person is placed in a white sheet until they are identified. After the person's body is identified, a funeral and burial takes place in accompaniment of members of the respective branch that the person served.^[6]

See also

• Unidentified decedent
• Dump job
• Identification (disambiguation)

References

External links

• ""Naming the Dead: The final stages of DVI"" (PDF).  (551 Kb) The Police Association Journal, May 2009, pp. 16–17. Retrieved 28 February 2011
• "Disaster Victim Identification" INTERPOL
• ""Forensic Odontology"" (PDF).