Police Investigation

Mid Term Paper

Ronald M. Riethle

Kaplan University

Crime Scene Investigations II CJ370

Prof. Chet Effler

December 29, 2011

How a body is identified depends on the physical state of the body and the crime scene. The identification of the body is one of the most important factors of the entire investigation. The identity of the victim may help establish a link between the suspect and the crime. There are several natural and man-made factors that can, in some cases impede or delay identification. Some of these factors include how soon after the crime was the body discovered? Was the body exposed to natural elements? Also, were there other possible factors involved either natural or man-made, that may have expedited the decomposition process?

There are several methods used by police officers and investigators to identify a murder victim at a crime scene. The most common method and easiest of identifying an unknown victim is by confrontation identification. This method is used by the investigators on the basis that a relative or someone who knew the victim can visually identify said victim. "Personal identification is one of the most important functions of an investigation. The identity of a living person in a crime scene establishes a strong link between the suspect and the crime. Likewise, the identity, or non-identity, of a dead person sets the investigation in motion. Because relatives or acquaintances kill the majority of homicide victims, knowing the identity of the victim provides a starting point". (Fisher, B. 2004 p.121)

This is usually done when the person being asked to identify the victim is confronted with the dead person's body, clothing, photographs or other means to identify the victim. These methods are usually the fastest and easiest way to identify a body.

Other means of identification may include fingerprint identification, laundry marks, eyeglasses, jewelry and watchmakers marks. Although the victim may not have...