CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND ITS TYPES

Every person is unique, with characteristics that are not repeated in anyone else.
from the scientific and structural plans, which allows through techniques
scientific characterization unique and specific to each individual.

Identification allows determining the individuality or identity of a

person through the typification of a set of signs that differentiate it
from others, however, the methods have evolved from the oral ones,
passing for the writings until the biological.

The use of a name is perhaps the oldest method and is the link between the
legal person and natural person. Such name was associated with adjectives,
locations, etc., that sought to guarantee a unique identity.

Every person has the right to an identity before the society they are in.
in direct relation to the exercise of their duties and rights before the
society and such characteristics that define him as an individual also have
to characterize it before the law when it is suspected that it has incurred in
crime, using procedures regarding it or about
people or objects related to such.

Identification is important in criminal and civil matters and can encompass

from the establishment of responsibilities in a crime to the
compensations of the relatives.

The evidence that defines a person's identity can derive from their
same body, referred to as organic or can be
related to him but not coming from his body, to which they are conceptualized
as inorganic; unfortunately, the evidence is not always
absolute determinants of identity and they can only give a hint of it.

Of all the evidence that can be found at a crime scene, the

Body marks in general are the most common.

Identification of persons.

Identification is the action of recognizing if a person is the one being sought.

or is it supposed to be.

The easiest way to identify a person is by their features.

Physiognomic. Photography is the most accurate reproduction of the data.
physiognomic features of a person. But sometimes one does not have it,
Other techniques should be used to identify a person.

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a Identification systems (living person, recent corpse, and corpse)
ancient
One can speak of three types of identification:
· Identification of the living person.
· Identification of the recent corpse.
· Identification of the ancient corpse.

Various techniques are used for each one of them. In the first two, one uses
dactylography (which is included in fingerprinting, which is a section)
wider) among other types of footprints: footprints from the soles of the feet, palms, from
shoes, vehicle wheels, etc.

Dactyloscopy.
The fingerprint is defined from the sixth month of pregnancy and not
it will never change again. The fingerprint system is an infallible system of
identification in the world.

c Biometric identification techniques.

Hand shape: Similar to fingerprint recognition, but the person
You must place your open hand on a specific scanner, the shape is analyzed.
and geometry of it (shape, length and thickness of the fingers, width of the
palm, etc.)
The face: Just a photograph, using a tool of
software, analyzes the face and generates facial portraits.
The voice: The individual pronounces a preset access code (name,
last names, phone number or a phrase) and the system recognizes it or not.
based on the characteristics of the voice.
The iris: The system obtains an image of a person's eye iris and that
The image is compared with the recorded image. It is a very effective technique.
The retina: The sensory layer located at the back of the eyeball is traversed
through numerous blood vessels and their position is what facilitates the
identification.
Biometrics: It is a security technology that consists of the
automatic identity verification based on recognition
biological characteristics of the person (fingerprint, iris, voice, etc.)
including a device that obtains a biometric sample from the person
and compares it with a database. In the past, the entire body was measured.
(arms, legs, torso, etc.) nowadays it is as simple as placing a finger
about a machine or standing in front of a camera.

DNA as an identifier.
In all living beings, genes are composed of DNA. The structure
the DNA molecule resembles a very long ladder shape of
spiral. The genetic code, the forensic genetic footprint, is determined by the

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 order that the bases occupy (the 'steps' on the ladder) because it has a
unique sequence that differentiates one gene from another.
a Structure and function of DNA.
DNA is made up of 4 types of nucleotides, it has a structure
helicoidal of an intertwined double helix, similar to a staircase
twisted.
Human identification.
Crime arose with man himself, and he, aware of the punishability
of his action, has always tried to hide the authorship. Society
was then and is now faced with the problem of determining
the identity of the person who has committed the act. A prerequisite is
the identification of the person because justice cannot be served if the
the culprit is not fully identified.

This is how what is currently known as Forensic Genetics arises, thanks to the
that in 1988 a criminal was sentenced for the first time – Pitchfork, a
rapist in England - using his DNA. This Forensic Genetics allows
broaden your field of study to Forensic Medicine on certain
samples taken from a recent corpse (victims of collective disasters),
allows the identification of cadaveric remains, skeletal, people
missing, use clues from the crime scene (such as blood, saliva,
hair, sperm, skin, etc.) and towards paternity research.

In Bolivia, this identification technique is currently in use.

in the Forensic Genetics section of the laboratories of the Institute of
Forensic Investigations in the city of La Paz.

3 Gene fingerprinting bank.

a Database.
A database essentially allows two things:
ü Assign crimes to the same individual and locate or dismiss suspects
regarding the which has the genetic footprint previously
registered.

The FBI has one of the oldest databases that in October

he started doing it in 1988. His profile database system
DNA is referred to as CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) that works in three
levels (local, state, and federal). It also makes mention of the data bank.
from Interpol, Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Mexico. Likewise
Peru has a Bill.

Genetic data bank in Bolivia – BADEGIC.

Criminal systems generate databases of offenders. One
photograph, biographical data, fingerprints constitute the same.
Criminal Identification Genetic Data Bank (BADEGIC) would be
our project in Bolivia would be an 'organized and systematized set'

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genetic information related to individuals of the human species and
obtained from DNA analysis.

The expression 'database' is used because it handles material.

genetic and genetic information, that is, samples (evidence) and data.

Paternity tests.
It is the test aimed at proving paternity, that is, the
ascending kinship in the first degree between an individual and a man
(presumed father). The test is based on comparing the DNA of both.
an accurate analysis, it is necessary to conduct an analysis with three samples: from
the mother, of the presumed father and of the son.

The family code in Article 207 states: "EVIDENCE OF PATERNITY: The

Paternity can be declared with the aid of all means of evidence.
that are suitable to clarify it with certainty...

The test can be performed without the mother's consent, as there is a

legal vacuum at this point and it will be the Judge who determines whether or not to accept the
genetic report as evidence.

Forensic anthropology.
Concept.
Anthropology is discussed when seeking to determine data about the
identity, the date of death, and circumstances surrounding the death.
talks about the cause of death in ancient corpses, in poor condition, remains
humans or simply bones.

The scene of events.

The scene of the facts in these cases would be the burial area (a scene
closed) that has clearly defined boundaries.

The scene of the events must be protected, it must be observed, recorded, narrated, taken.
photographs, draw sketches, create plans, indicate and trace the
evidence.

It can also be an open scene, for example an open field. In

in these cases, one should start from the point where the corpse is located outward,
be in circles or in stripes.

Analysis of bone remains - Forensic Dentistry.

Forensic Anthropology ideally aims to establish
the positive identity of a subject through the study of characteristics
of their remains. Many times this is not an easy task or even possible,
given the time elapsed since the death, or the changes that have occurred in the
remnants from influences of the years. All remnants must be sent.

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cadaverous (bones) to the anthropology laboratory, although the best
that the anthropology team is established in the place where
they found the remains to be identified.

During the analysis of skeletal remains, a protocol should be followed in which

You must note the date, location, start and end time of the analysis.
of the skeleton, and the names of all the participants; to X-ray before
make a cleaning (without rinsing or scrubbing, letting them dry); leave
certificate of the condition of the remains (for example: intact and solid,
eroded and brittle, scorched or chrome-plated) and proceed to the
preliminary identification (determine age, sex, race, and height leaving
evidence of why such a statement is made and photograph the proof that
support this conclusion). Subsequently carry out the identification
individual (search for traumas and anomalies, leave a record and photographs of
each conclusion).

Forensic odontology studies the hard and soft tissues that make up
the oral cavity and evaluate them as evidence to resolve
situations that arise in the legal field. It is of great importance.
for identification since teeth persist through the years,
maintaining its genetic information. Whether through the study of the
dental repair work or prosthetics, work on the
same (removable total or partial dentures, fixed dentures, fillings)
of silver amalgam, endodontics, orthodontic brackets, etc.) or by
most up-to-date means of expertise (such as DNA profile analysis).
Forensic dentistry is considered one of the sciences that provides
a great help to society from a legal standpoint, especially in the
area of forensic science, precisely due to the application of the
dental knowledge for identification purposes, as the handling
appropriate dental evidence fosters the assessment and presentation of
dental findings that may be of interest to the justice system,
especially forensics. The identification of a person in
certain circumstances can be very difficult, but the dentist
The current forensic expert must exploit their investigative potential, in order to,
contribute to clarifying the crime scene, as through their perspective it
can detect evidence that some specialists might overlook
in the field of forensic science. Hence, the importance of analyzing the methods
of identification in the collection of odontological evidence in the assessment
of dental findings that enter the Aragua morgue, an objective that has been
posed in the research, given the relevance that these clues point to
in the selection of the correct method in each case, leading to the
collection of dental evidentiary material, for its later
valuation, which will serve as a basis for clarifying the fact
committed, as well as lead the research with certainty to resolve the fact
and the alleged culprits. For this purpose, a type of
field research, with a descriptive design and a bibliographic level.

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The population is made up of twenty (20) officials of the Corps of
scientific, criminal and forensic investigations (CICPC) assigned to the
State Morgue of Aragua. The sample is the entire population.
In addition, a survey was applied as a data collection instrument.
with fifteen (15) closed items. The validation of the instrument is by judgment
of experts, applying the Likert scale for this purpose. The results were
analyzed through graphs, from which the relevance could be determined
forensic science in the rigor of protocol for identification of
cadavers in forensic dentistry used in the morgues, in
the consequence was evidenced that almost the entirety of the sample considers
that the procedures and techniques applied in the study of identity of
forensic evidence, is based on the principles formulated by criminologists

Determination of sex, race, age, height.

Other objectives of Forensic Anthropology include the determination of
sex, race, age, and height, for example: comparing the male skull
with the female, that one is larger and weighs more.

The issue of racial affiliation is difficult to answer, since, although

there are classifications, some anatomical details that often suggest
the race of an individual (for example: black individuals have openings
larger noses, narrower white faces, etc. are not
determinants.

Age, on the other hand, is usually more accurate (by the number of teeth,
changes in the column, examination of the pubic bone, etc.)

Height can be estimated by measuring one or more complete long bones.

(humerus, radius, tibia, etc.)

Time interval since death.

This can be extremely difficult as such an estimate is based on the
quantity and condition of soft tissues, such as: skin, muscle
and present ligaments, the preservation of bones, smell, plants,
insects, etc. The more time has passed since the death, the more
The determination of the interval will be difficult.

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THE CRIME SCENE

The crime scene is the place where the criminal has acted to carry out
his action ends, and -for this reason- its analysis in all the
aspects. It can be made up of one or more physical spaces
interrelated through the criminal act that is being investigated, and it
is characterized by the potential presence of elements, traces, or signs that
they can unveil the circumstances of what occurred there, and the possibility of
identification of those who have acted in it.

The conceptual definition of the crime scene usually refers only to the place.
physical and concrete occurrence of the events, while the definition
operational defines it as the focus of interest of the criminal act, composed
for the scene itself, as well as the environment of criminal interest.
Hello, and for the purposes of criminal investigation, the operational definition of the
crime scene turns out to be more productive, because it involves covering a
complete dimension of the scene, which will allow determining the
complete truth of the criminal event.

Consistent with that operational definition, in the study of the scene of

Crime must highlight the importance of both physical evidence of the
offenses present in it, such as the need for determination of the
behaviors that have developed in her related to the
existence of the criminal act. Thus, essential issues in the process of the
Criminal investigations can be, among many others: Who frequents the
place and the surrounding areas?, How can they be accessed?, What things
Do they exist at the crime scene? What activities usually occur?
What type of criminal activity is usually present in the vicinity of the scene?
of the crime?, Where is that scene located in relation to the others?
crime scene?, How did the criminal enter the crime scene?
Why did the criminal choose that scene? Was it necessary for him to know?
Is the area good to choose that place? etc.

Foundation.

The study of the crime scene has its essence in the Principle of
Edmund Locard (Law of transfer), stated in his work Manual of
police technique, in 1923:

No one can commit a crime with the intensity that that action requires without
leave the numerous signs of his presence; the criminal, on one hand,
will leave clues of his activity at the crime scene, and on the other hand,
Conversely, they will carry in their body or on their clothing the signs of where they have
state or what has been done.

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It is true that this principle is more in line with forensics, since in
he – and in the initial sense of Locard's assertion – refers to indications
physicists, but it must be considered that in the crime scene there is also produced
a psychological transfer. Only that in this last case it does not
they will find clues, signs or material traces, but psychological ones. It is
We will encounter psychological or behavioral traces.
Therefore, following the formula he used, it can be defined in the same way.
mode the principle of psychological transfer:

No one can commit a crime with the intensity that that action requires without
leave the numerous signs of his presence; the criminal, on one hand, has
left marks of what kind of person they are and, on the other hand, inversely, has
carried in his psychology the effects of what he has done.

Each situation being examined, and each crime scene, will be different.
Because each author will leave a different crime scene from another, due to the
influences of the physical setting, the environment, the interaction
of the victim with the criminal, and of their personalities and those of both and their
behaviors. What creates an almost unique combination that originates
determined and subsequent physical evidence, and that comes from a
specific behavioral and conduct development in the scene.

TYPES OF CRIME SCENE.

There are four general types (which are not always mutually exclusive), and each one
determine the nature and extent of the evidence that can be collected
there (Lee, Palmbach & Miller, 2001), 'Crime Scene Handbook':

• Interior crime scene. They are the crime scenes inside

a structure, protected from the elements of nature:
apartments, houses, buildings, garages, warehouses, etc.
• Vehicles. It refers to crime scenes that are mobile: boats,
trains, cars, planes, etc.
• Outdoor crime scene. They are the crime scenes that are
exposed to the elements of nature: fields, forests,
vacant lots, deserts, etc.
• Crime scene underwater. It refers to crime scenes.
that are below the surface of any body of water:
lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, reservoirs, etc.

They are joined by a type of crime scene, which could be referred to as

mixed, when it combines characteristics of several other types of scenes.

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Different crime scenes.

A criminal act can take place in different locations, which

it can give rise to different crime scenes related to the same one
crime. Some of the most important are:

Point of contact

It is the exact place where the criminal first approached the

victim, or else it attacked her. It is a neutral term because it includes places.
where the victim is approached, perhaps by deceit, but also places where
the criminal attacks her and drags her to another preselected place, which
It can be a primary or secondary scene.

Primary scene.

The primary scene is referred to as the place where the offender commits the majority
part of criminal activity. And, in the case of violent crimes, where it has
place your assault on the victim, where the most time is intervened, and
where most of the physical evidence remains. There may be
a primary scene per victim, if the attacks on separate victims within
of the same crime occur in separate locations. It is also possible that
the primary scene is the same as the place where one is abandoned
corpse.

Secondary scene.

It is the place where some part of the criminal activity takes place.
offender, or the interaction between offender and victim, but not the greater
part. There may be different secondary scenes associated with the same
crime. Essentially, the term 'secondary scene' includes any place
where any evidence of criminal activity can be found outside of the
primary scene.

Intermediate scene.

An intermediate scene is any crime scene between the scene

primary and the place of abandonment of the body, or the final scene of the crime. Here
used vehicles could be included to transport a body to the place
where he will be abandoned after the crime, as well as places where he
he has stored a body before it was abandoned, or effects or tools
of the crime.

Place of the abandonment of the corpse.

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This section describes the crime scene where a body is found.
This term is commonly used to signify that the victim was assaulted in
another place, and brought here before or after their death.

One must be careful when using this expression, because it also

it can match the primary scene. Often, it is assumed that a
the crime scene outside is a place solely for elimination, when in
reality could also be a primary scene. Or it is taken for granted that
an outdoor crime scene is both a primary scene and a place of
abandonment of the corpse, without taking into account or ignoring that they may have
to give intermediate scenes (Turvey, 2002).

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