Forensic human identification in the United States and Canada: a review of the law, admissible techniques, and the legal implications of their application in forensic cases.
Forensic human identification techniques are successful if they lead to positive personal identification. However, the strongest personal identification is of no use in the prosecution--or vindication--of an accused if the associated evidence and testimony is ruled inadmissible in a court of law. This review examines the U.S. and Canadian legal rulings regarding the admissibility of expert evidence and testimony, and subsequently explores four established methods of human identification (i.e., DNA profiling, forensic anthropology, forensic radiography, forensic odontology) and one complementary technique useful in determining identity, and the legal implications of their application in forensic cases.
Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, CNH-524, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L9. holobia@mcmaster.ca
Anastasia
A
Holobinko
D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D002170:Canada; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States