FORENSIC

IDENTIFICATION:
AN OVERVIEW
T J I A N G S A R I L E S TA R I

D E PA RT M E N T O F F O R E N S I C & M E D I C O L E G A L
FA C U LT Y O F M E D I C I N E
HASANUDDIN UNIVERSITY
What is “identity”?
• The Merriam-Webster dictionary:
• The distinguishing character or personality
of an individual.

• Thomson T & Black S:

• Whatever makes an entity definable and
recognizable, in terms of possessing a set of
qualities or characteristics that distinguish
it from entities of a different type.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
…therefore, “identification” is:
The Merriam-Webster dictionary:
◦ The act of finding out who someone is or what
something is; the act of identifying someone or
something.

Thomson T & Black S:

◦ The act of establishing identity.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
Role of medicolegal in deaths:
To determine the cause and manner of death

To identify the deceased if unknown

To determine the time of death and injury
To collect evidence from the body that can be used to prove or disprove an individual’s guilt or innocence and to
confirm or deny the account of how the death occurred
To document injuries or lack of them
To deduce how the injuries occurred
To document any natural disease present
To determine or exclude other contributory or causative factors to the death
To provide expert testimony if the case goes to trial.

DiMaio VJ & DiMaio D. Forensic Pathology, Second Edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2001.
The need to identify:
the ethical and humanitarian need to know which individual has died, especially for the information of
surviving relatives

to establish the fact of death in respect of that individual, for official, statistical and legal purposes
to record the identity for administrative and ceremonial purposes in respect of burial or cremation
to discharge legal claims and obligations in relation to property, estate and debts
to prove claims for life insurance contracts, survivor’s pensions, and other financial matters
to allow legal investigations, inquests and other tribunals , such as those held by coroners,
procurators fiscal, medical examiners, judges and accident enquiries to proceed with a firm knowledge of the identity of the
decedent

to facilitate police enquiries into overtly criminal or suspicious deaths , as the identity of
the deceased person is a vital factor in initiating investigations.
“IDENTITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT”
Saukko P & Knight B. Knight’s Forensic Pathology, Third Edition. London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd; 2004.
 Dix J. Color Atlas of Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2000.
Dolinak D, Matshes E, Lew E. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2005.
Wagner SA. Color Atlas of the Autopsy. UK: Taylor & Francis e-Library; 2005.
When to identify?

Criminal
Accidents
investigation

War crimes
Mass
and
disaster
genocide

Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
What to identify?

Decomposed Mutilated/
Intact fresh corpses dismembered corpses
Skeletalized material
corpses

Saukko
Saukko PP &
& Knight
Knight B.
B. Knight’s
Knight’s Forensic
Forensic Pathology,
Pathology, Third
Third Edition.
Edition. London:
London: Edward
Edward Arnold
Arnold (Publishers)
(Publishers) Ltd;
Ltd; 2004.
2004.
 The principles of identification
COMPARISON
between
TWO sets of DATA
“X is the same as Y if, and only if, X and Y have all the same properties and relations. Thus, whatever is true of X
is also true of Y, and vice versa.”
― Gottfried Leibniz

“Each thing is the same with itself and different from another.”
― Aristotle’s law of identity

Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
TWO sets of DATA
AM

AM

Reference
PM
Sample

PM Trace evidence

Trace evidence Family

Database
Categories of identifiers:
Primary Fingerprints
Dental record
DNA
Visual recognition & personal description: sex, age, race, stature
Secondary
Medical findings: unique physical characteristics, implanted medical devices, x-ray
Tattoos
Personal effects
Other methods: facial superimposition, forensic facial approximation

Dolinak D, Matshes E, Lew E. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2005.
INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.
INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.
Categories of identity (Jensen, 1999):
Positive or confirmed identity

• Specific unique data markers  fingerprints, DNA, dentition

Possible or presumptive identity

• BTB (believed to be)  personal effects, visual recognition, racial

characteristics, age, sex, stature, anomalies, or individualizing skeletal traits

Exclusion

Thomson
Thomson TT &
& Black
Black S.
S. Forensic
Forensic Human
Human Identification.
Identification. Boca
Boca Raton:
Raton: Taylor
Taylor &
& Francis
Francis Group,
Group, LLC;
LLC; 2007.
2007.
FINGERPRINT
ANALYSIS
PRIMARY IDENTIFIERS
Fingerprint analysis
Friction ridges found on the palmar (palms and fingers) and plantar (soles and toes) surfaces
Unique  different pattern for each person
Can be used to individualize or exclude persons conclusively
Persistent from birth unless permanently damaged or from advanced decomposition
Friction ridge patterns on fingers (fingerprints) can be classified and searched.

INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.

Wagner SA. Color Atlas of the Autopsy. UK: Taylor & Francis e-Library; 2005.
Dix J. Color Atlas of Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2000.
AFIS: Automated Fingerprint
Identification System
A computer-based identification system for fingerprints
Comparing between two sets of data: samples and database

Indonesia: INAFIS
COMPARATIVE
DENTAL ANALYSIS
PRIMARY IDENTIFIERS
 Comparative dental analysis
Human teeth and jaws  unique structures and traits
Teeth  well protected in the oral cavity, able to withstand many
external influences at, near, or after the time of death
Teeth comprise the hardest and most resilient substances in the
body.

INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.

Saukko P & Knight B. Knight’s Forensic Pathology, Third Edition. London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd; 2004.
Dix J. Color Atlas of Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2000.
Laboratorium & Klinik Odontologi Kepolisian Pusat Kedokteran & Kesehatan Republik Indonesia.
DNA ANALYSIS
PRIMARY IDENTIFIERS
DNA analysis
DNA material is a proven source for identification  unique to a specific individual
DNA testing can be performed even on cases involving partial or severely decomposed remains
DNA matching is the best way to identify body parts
DNA analysis can be automated ensuring maximum quality and rapidity of high volume testing
DNA matching can be based on profiles from biological relatives, self-samples or belongings.

INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.

Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
OTHER METHODS
OF IDENTIFICATION
SECONDARY IDENTIFIERS
Secondary identifiers:
Visual recognition
General characteristics: sex, age, race, stature
Tattoos
Personal effects
Medical findings:
◦ unique physical characteristics,
◦ implanted medical devices,
◦ x-ray comparison

Facial superimposition
Forensic facial approximation
Earprint analysis
Iris recognition

INTERPOL. Disaster Victim Identification Guide. 2014.

Saukko P & Knight B. Knight’s Forensic Pathology, Third Edition. London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd; 2004.
 Dix J. Color Atlas of Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2000.
Wagner SA. Color Atlas of the Autopsy. UK: Taylor & Francis e-Library; 2005.
 Dix J. Color Atlas of Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC; 2000.
Dolinak D, Matshes E, Lew E. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2005.
Saukko P & Knight B. Knight’s Forensic Pathology, Third Edition. London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd; 2004.
Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
Dolinak D, Matshes E, Lew E. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice. London: Elsevier Academic Press; 2005.
Thomson T & Black S. Forensic Human Identification. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 2007.
THANK YOU
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