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Innovative Methods in the Identification of Deceased Persons during Armed Conflicts and Disasters: Criminalistic and Forensic Medical Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2025

Viktor Shevchuk*
Affiliation:
Department of Criminalistics, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Oleksandr Dunaev
Affiliation:
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Law named after Prof. M.S. Bokarius, Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Olha Tyshchenko
Affiliation:
Department of Criminal Process, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Ganna Biletska
Affiliation:
Department of Criminalistics, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Vladyslav Nehrebetskyi
Affiliation:
Department of Criminalistics, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
*
Corresponding author: Viktor Shevchuk; Email: shevchuk.vikrtor@gmail.com

Abstract

The study aimed to identify, develop and evaluate the effectiveness of innovative methods, technologies and approaches for the identification of deceased persons during armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies, to improve the accuracy, efficiency and ethics of the identification process. For this purpose, innovative criminalistic and forensic medical methods of deceased identification were analysed, i.e. the specifics of each method and its practical application. As a result, the study determined that the accuracy and speed of identification of the deceased are significantly improved by innovative identification methods such as DNA analysis, forensic anthropology, medical record comparison, big data and artificial intelligence. Their use is especially appropriate in situations where the condition of the bodies makes conventional methods, such as fingerprinting or visual recognition, ineffective. The main obstacles to the identification process are mass graves, the destruction of bodies and the lack of centralized databases of the deceased. Modern laboratory technologies, such as mass spectrometry and three-dimensional reconstruction, are needed to address issues related to the condition of the remains, such as decomposition, fragmentation or thermal damage. However, the lack of adequate logistical support is still a serious problem. Innovative approaches require adherence to legal and ethical standards, such as protecting personal information, respecting cultural and religious customs, and providing families with access to information about the deceased. The coordination of specialists’ efforts and the guarantee of the accuracy of the results largely depend on international standards such as INTERPOL disaster victim identification. An important step in improving efficiency is their integration into national identification systems. Joint protocols and international databases ensure effective coordination between states.

Abstracto

Abstracto

El estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar, desarrollar y evaluar la eficacia de métodos, tecnologías y enfoques innovadores para la identificación de personas fallecidas durante conflictos armados, desastres naturales y otras emergencias, con el fin de mejorar la precisión, la eficiencia y la ética del proceso de identificación. Para ello, se analizaron métodos innovadores de criminología y medicina forense para la identificación de fallecidos: las particularidades de cada método y su aplicación práctica. Como resultado, el estudio determinó que la precisión y la rapidez de la identificación de los fallecidos mejoran significativamente mediante métodos de identificación innovadores como el análisis de ADN, la antropología forense, la comparación de historiales médicos, el big data y la inteligencia artificial. Su uso es especialmente apropiado en situaciones donde el estado de los cuerpos hace ineficaces los métodos convencionales, como la toma de huellas dactilares o el reconocimiento visual. Los principales obstáculos para el proceso de identificación son las fosas comunes, la destrucción de cuerpos y la falta de bases de datos centralizadas de los fallecidos. Se necesitan tecnologías de laboratorio modernas, como la espectrometría de masas y la reconstrucción tridimensional, para abordar problemas relacionados con el estado de los restos, como la descomposición, la fragmentación o el daño térmico. Sin embargo, la falta de apoyo logístico adecuado sigue siendo un problema grave. Los enfoques innovadores exigen el cumplimiento de normas legales y éticas, como la protección de la información personal, el respeto a las costumbres culturales y religiosas, y el acceso de las familias a la información sobre el fallecido. La coordinación de los esfuerzos de los especialistas y la garantía de la precisión de los resultados dependen en gran medida de normas internacionales como la identificación de víctimas de desastres de INTERPOL. Un paso importante para mejorar la eficiencia es su integración en los sistemas nacionales de identificación. Los protocolos conjuntos y las bases de datos internacionales garantizan una coordinación eficaz entre los Estados.

Abstrait

Abstrait

L’étude visait à identifier, développer et évaluer l’efficacité de méthodes, technologies et approches innovantes pour l’identification des personnes décédées lors de conflits armés, de catastrophes naturelles et d’autres situations d’urgence, afin d’améliorer la précision, l’efficacité et l’éthique du processus d’identification. À cette fin, des méthodes innovantes d’identification des personnes décédées issues de la criminalistique et de la médecine légale ont été analysées : leurs spécificités et leur application pratique. L’étude a ainsi démontré que la précision et la rapidité de l’identification des personnes décédées sont considérablement améliorées par des méthodes d’identification innovantes telles que l’analyse ADN, l’anthropologie médico-légale, la comparaison de dossiers médicaux, le big data et l’intelligence artificielle. Leur utilisation est particulièrement adaptée lorsque l’état des corps rend les méthodes conventionnelles, telles que la prise d’empreintes digitales ou la reconnaissance visuelle, inefficaces. Les principaux obstacles à l’identification sont les fosses communes, la destruction des corps et l’absence de bases de données centralisées sur les personnes décédées. Des technologies de laboratoire modernes, telles que la spectrométrie de masse et la reconstruction tridimensionnelle, sont nécessaires pour traiter les problèmes liés à l’état des restes, tels que la décomposition, la fragmentation ou les dommages thermiques. Cependant, le manque de soutien logistique adéquat demeure un problème majeur. Les approches innovantes exigent le respect de normes juridiques et éthiques, telles que la protection des données personnelles, le respect des coutumes culturelles et religieuses, et l’accès des familles aux informations sur les personnes décédées. La coordination des efforts des spécialistes et la garantie de l’exactitude des résultats dépendent largement des normes internationales telles que l’identification des victimes de catastrophes d’INTERPOL. Une étape importante pour améliorer l’efficacité est leur intégration dans les systèmes d’identification nationaux. Des protocoles communs et des bases de données internationales garantissent une coordination efficace entre les États.

摘要

摘要

本研究旨在识别、开发和评估武装冲突、自然灾害和其他紧急情况下死者身份识别的创新方法、技术和途径的有效性,以提高身份识别过程的准确性、效率和伦理性。为此,本研究分析了用于死者身份识别的创新刑事和法医学方法:每种方法的具体特点及其实际应用。研究结果表明,DNA分析、法医人类学、病历比对、大数据和人工智能等创新身份识别方法显著提高了死者身份识别的准确性和速度。这些方法尤其适用于尸体状况导致指纹识别或目视识别等传统方法失效的情况。身份识别过程的主要障碍是万人坑、尸体毁坏以及缺乏集中的死者数据库。需要利用质谱和三维重建等现代实验室技术来解决与遗体状况相关的问题,例如分解、碎裂或热损伤。然而,后勤支持不足仍然是一个严峻问题。创新方法需要遵守法律和道德标准,例如保护个人信息、尊重文化和宗教习俗,并向家属提供死者信息。专家工作的协调和结果准确性的保证在很大程度上取决于国际刑警组织灾害受害者身份识别(DVI)等国际标准。提高效率的一个重要步骤是将其纳入国家身份识别系统。联合议定书和国际数据库确保了国家间的有效协调。

ملخص

ملخص

هدفت الدراسة إلى تحديد وتطوير وتقييم فعالية الأساليب والتقنيات والمناهج المبتكرة لتحديد هوية المتوفين أثناء النزاعات المسلحة والكوارث الطبيعية وحالات الطوارئ الأخرى، بهدف تحسين دقة وكفاءة وأخلاقيات عملية تحديد الهوية. ولهذا الغرض، تم تحليل الأساليب الجنائية والطب الشرعي المبتكرة لتحديد هوية المتوفين: خصائص كل طريقة وتطبيقها العملي. ونتيجة لذلك، خلصت الدراسة إلى أن دقة وسرعة تحديد هوية المتوفين تتحسنان بشكل ملحوظ من خلال أساليب تحديد الهوية المبتكرة، مثل تحليل الحمض النووي، والأنثروبولوجيا الشرعية، ومقارنة السجلات الطبية، والبيانات الضخمة، والذكاء الاصطناعي. ويُعد استخدامها مناسبًا بشكل خاص في الحالات التي تجعل فيها حالة الجثث الطرق التقليدية، مثل بصمات الأصابع أو التعرف البصري، غير فعالة. وتتمثل العقبات الرئيسية أمام عملية تحديد الهوية في المقابر الجماعية، وتدمير الجثث، ونقص قواعد البيانات المركزية للمتوفين. وتُعد تقنيات المختبرات الحديثة، مثل مطياف الكتلة وإعادة البناء ثلاثية الأبعاد، ضرورية لمعالجة المشكلات المتعلقة بحالة الرفات، مثل التحلل أو التفتت أو التلف الحراري. ومع ذلك، لا يزال نقص الدعم اللوجستي الكافي يمثل مشكلة خطيرة. تتطلب الأساليب المبتكرة الالتزام بالمعايير القانونية والأخلاقية، مثل حماية المعلومات الشخصية، واحترام العادات الثقافية والدينية، وتمكين العائلات من الوصول إلى المعلومات المتعلقة بالمتوفين. ويعتمد تنسيق جهود المتخصصين وضمان دقة النتائج بشكل كبير على المعايير الدولية، مثل نظام الإنتربول لتحديد هوية ضحايا الكوارث (DVI). ومن الخطوات المهمة لتحسين الكفاءة دمج هذه المعايير في أنظمة تحديد الهوية الوطنية. وتضمن البروتوكولات المشتركة وقواعد البيانات الدولية التنسيق الفعال بين الدول.

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© International Society of Criminology, 2025

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