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Disaster Victim Identification in the 21st Century: A US Perspective

Description
A comprehensive examination of all critical aspects of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)

As the frequency of both natural and man-made mass fatality disasters increases worldwide, the establishment of clear standards and best practices within the field of Disaster Victim identification (DVI) is of vital importance. Whereas most countries assign jurisdiction to law enforcement agencies following Interpol guidelines, DVI is the responsibility of the medical examiner and coroner in the United States.

Disaster Victim Identification in the 21st Century is the first book of its kind to directly address the needs of DVI practitioners in the United States, covering the full spectrum of DVI from traditional methods such as fingerprints, odontology, and anthropology to advanced DNA identification technology. Approaching DVI from three perspectives—academic, government, and private industry—this comprehensive volume examines the history and current state of the discipline, the ongoing formation of national standards, the various methods of human identification, and the key challenges and future of DVI. In-depth chapters are written by leaders in the field with personal experience in human identification and mass fatality events.

  • Provides practitioners with practical guidance on planning and taking part in DVI based on current national standards and best practices
  • Discusses continued improvement in both traditional and emerging DVI methods
  • Includes non-region-specific case studies and recommendations that can be easily adapted for international use
  • Examines ethical and legal considerations in DVI, including suggestions for standardizing the victim identification process
  • Describes the critical role of the Victim Information Center (VIC) in providing the comparative information required to go beyond presumptive identifications

Part of the American Association for Forensic Sciences (AAFS) series, Disaster Victim Identification in the 21st Century: A US Perspective is an indispensable resource for forensic scientists, disaster planners, policymakers, medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement and emergency personnel, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in forensic sciences and emergency management.

About the Author
John A. Williams is a forensic anthropologist working with human skeletons and human remains based in Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Western Carolina University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is one of approximately 90 active board-certified forensic anthropologists. Over four decades he has worked with medical examiners, the FBI, and law enforcement agencies across the United States. As a member of the Federal agency, DMORT, he has assisted in the identification of mass fatality victims including two airline crashes and the 911 terrorist attack. In 2005 he established at Western Carolina University the FOREST, the second human decomposition research facility. Victor W. Weedn is a Professor in the George Washington University Department of Forensic Sciences and past President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). He has worked as a medical examiner, crime laboratory director, and academic. He founded the US military’s DNA identification program, pioneered capillary electrophoretic DNA fragment separation, mitochondrial DNA sequencing and microchip technology, and directed the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). He led the establishment of the current NAME accreditation program and participated in the establishment of clinical molecular pathology standards for the College of American Pathologists.