Lecture 2 - Disaster Victim Identification

Question 1

What is cause of death?

Answer 1

Specific injury or disease that leads to death

Question 2

What is manner of death?

Answer 2

Determination of how the injury or disease caused the death, or explanation of how the cause arose

Question 3

What are examples of victim identifications vs criminal forensics?

Answer 3

Accidental death/suicide vs victim of crime
Coronial court vs criminal court
Circumstance of death vs guilt/innocence

Question 4

What court is used in victim identifcation?

Answer 4

Coronial court

Question 5

What is a disaster?

Answer 5

An unexpected event causing the death or injuring many people

Question 6

What is an open disaster?

Answer 6

Disaster where the number of unknown individuals for whom no prior records or descriptive data are available

Question 7

What is a closed disaster?

Answer 7

A disaster where the number of individuals belonging to a fixed, identifiable group
- comparative AM data can be obtained more quickly

Question 8

What are the four steps of disaster management?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What are the two key reasons for DVI?

Answer 9

Need for postive confirmation and correct identification
The importance of identification for making sense of loss and grieving

Question 10

What is DVI?

Answer 10

Disaster Victim Identification

Question 11

What are the 7 objectives for the initial analysis of disaster?

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

What is the role of the victim identification unit?

Answer 12

Body recovery and evidence collection

Question 13

What are the different DVI units? (7)

Answer 13

Management and communications
Body recovery and evidence collection
AM team
PM team
Reconciliation team
Care and counselling team
Identification board

Question 14

What is the role of management and communications in DVI?

Answer 14

Organisation, liaison, and communications

Question 15

What does body recovery and evidence collection include in DVI?

Answer 15

Body parts and personal effects from extended area (e.g. hotels)

Question 16

What is the role of the AM Team in DVI?

Answer 16

Collect antemortem data (records, photos, e-media, fingerprints, DNA)

Question 17

What is the role of the PM team in DVI?

Answer 17

Collect postmortem dental, medical and forensic data (fingerprints, DNA)

Question 18

What is the role of the reconciliation team in DVI?

Answer 18

Matching AM and PM data

Question 19

What is the role of the care and counselling team in DVI?

Answer 19

Medical and psychological care for DVI personnel

Question 20

What is the role of the identification board in DVI?

Answer 20

Make final decisions on victim IDs and certifies these decisions on the DVI form

Question 21

What are the 5 DVI phase?

Answer 21

Phase 1: The scene
Phase 2: PM
Phase 3: AM
Phase 4: Reconciliation
Phase 5: Debrief

Question 22

Why must we have victim identification? (4c’s)

Answer 22

Certainty
Closure
Criminality
Cash

Question 23

Why is certainty import in VI?

Answer 23

Accidental victim substitution
Correct remains returned to relatives

Question 24

Why is closure important in VI?

Answer 24

Location and nature of death
Begin grieving process

Question 25

Why is criminality important in VI?

Answer 25

Gunshot/explosive residue, location of victim

Question 26

Why is cash important in VI?

Answer 26

Medicolegal requirement for wills/ insurance/ business affairs

Question 27

What is the criteria of methods of identification?

Answer 27

Scientifically sound Reliable Applicable under field conditions Reasonable period of time

Question 28

Why is visual identification by a witness usually insufficient for positive identification?

Answer 28

Body traumatised, visual comparison is impossible Relatives unable to cope with psychological stress of deceased victims

Question 29

What are the primary methods of identification?

Answer 29

Fingerprint analysis Forensic dental analysis DNA analysis

Question 30

What are secondary methods of identification?

Answer 30

Personal description / medical findings Evidence / clothing

Question 31

What are examples of PM data?

Answer 31

Fingerprints Odontology DNA profiling Physical indications

Question 32

Why are fingerprints used for pm data?

Answer 32

As they are highly reliable. However, as most people's finger prints are not on record they can be of limited value

Question 33

Why is odontology used for pm data?

Answer 33

Teeth provide one of the most reliable forms of identification as they are highly durable and most people have dental records

Question 34

Why is DNA profiling used for pm data?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Why are physical indications used for pm data?

Answer 35

Tattoos, scars or surgical implants may be unique to the victim

Question 36

Why is DNA typing considered the standard in VI?

Answer 36

Because of its reliability; the probabilities of a false positive are quantifiable and often miniscule

Question 37

What are the main issues with DNA typing for VI?

Answer 37

1) acquiring antemortem data 2) slow, laboratory-based process 3) effect of post-mortem decomposition on DNA quality 4) cost

Question 38

What is finger-printing also known as?

Answer 38

Friction ridge identification

Question 39

What does finger-printing require further research into?

Answer 39

Sources of error Quantification of uniqueness vs error rates Numerical discriminating value of the various ridge formations and clusters of ridge formations

Question 40

What is forensic odontology?

Answer 40

Forensic odontology is the application of the science of dentistry to the field of law

Question 41

What does forensic odontology include?

Answer 41

– identification of unknown remains, – bite mark comparison, – interpretation of oral injury, – dental malpractice

Question 42

What is the most controversial forensic odontology?

Answer 42

Bite mark comparison

Question 43

What happens in Phase 1: The Scene in DVI?

Answer 43

Crime scene, recording Remains labeled, recovered, transported to mortuary Forensic dentally-qualified and rescue-qualified person needs to be present