Development of a Computer-Assisted Forensic Radiographic Identification Method Using the Lateral Cervical and Lumbar Spin

• NCJ Number: 248841
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2015 Pages: 5-12
• Author(s): Sharon M. Derrick; Michelle H. Raxter .; John A. Hipp .; Priya Goel; Elaine F. Chan; Jennifer C. Love .; Jason M. Wiersema; Shastry Akella
• Date Published: January 2015
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-DN-BX-K194
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)
• Award: Novel Computer-Assisted Identification Method Using Radiograph Comparison

Annotation

Six validation tests measured the repeatability, reliability, and sensitivity of the computer-assisted decedent method for medical examiners' identification of fleshed decedents, and the effects of age, sex, and number of radiographs in array composition.

Abstract

Medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) in the United States hold statutory responsibility to identify deceased individuals who fall under their jurisdiction. The computer-assisted decedent identification (CADI) project was designed to modify software used in diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries into a mathematically validated tool for ME/C identification of fleshed decedents. In the current study, CADI returned a 92-100 percent success rate in identifying the true matching pair of vertebrae within arrays of five to 30 radiographs. Further development of CADI is expected to produce a novel identification method for use in ME/C offices that is reliable, timely, and cost-effective. (Publisher abstract modified)