NCJ Number
203510
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 48 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 1325-1330
Date Published
November 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the reliability of digitized radiographic comparisons for the purposes of dental identification.
Abstract
The court case Daubert pertains to the acceptability of forensic evidence. It is increasingly important that experts are able to testify that their methods have been scientifically tested and that error rates and other factors relating to reliability have been published. This study sought to determine, via the use of digitized dental radiographs, the rate of error among a large population of forensic odontologists for dental identifications. By assessing both intra-and inter-examiner agreement and using statistical analysis, these data will satisfy the requirements of Daubert for published error rates concerning dental identification procedures. Real forensic identification cases were selected to ensure that a wide range of difficulty was present. For each of the cases, a comparison between a single antemortem series and postmortem series was conducted. The study found that dental identifications resulting from a comparison of post-mortem and antemortem radiographs were valid, accurate, and reliable when examined under the conditions described within this study. Accuracy and reliability were lower when negative identifications were assessed. Training exercises should include a sample of negative identification cases to provide experience with such comparisons. Advice on arriving at a negative identification conclusion should be provided along with explanations of the common areas of disagreements within such cases. Previous experience of at least six identification cases significantly improved individual examiner performance. This finding could be used to establish a baseline for mentors to insist that trainees observe the more experienced odontologist for at least 11 cases before accepting their own casework. These data support the contention that such events should not be used for gaining experience, rather for consolidating it within an environment that offers many additional, extreme challenges to the odontologist. 3 figures, 9 tables, 18 references