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.

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.

Disaster management has become an increasingly global issue, and victim identification is receiving greater attention. By raising awareness through past events and experiences, practitioners and policymakers can learn what works, what doesn‘t work, and how to avoid future mistakes. Disaster Victim Identification: Experience and Practice presents a

Disaster Victim Identification: A Manager’s Guide to Policy and Procedure’s guiding thesis explains why disaster victim identification (DVI) must be fundamentally integrated—at the outset—into general disaster planning and operations procedures. By doing so, it allows for pre-event assessment of any risks and vulnerabilities, in coordination with planning and response agencies, so that the on-site response isn’t the first time they have communicated and worked together. The book outlines the importance of exercising, interagency memoranda of understanding (MOU), and coordination in advance to provide the best, most effective response that optimally serves both the victims and the community. DVI requires a multi-disciplinary approach and, as such, plans should take into consideration and account for possible integration of outside assistance into the general work plan and flow. By doing this, practical action and measures—sometimes coordinated impromptu depending on the nature and scale of a disaster—can be undertaken both quickly and seamlessly. Coverage outlines the overall DVI process, its various methodologies, and how it serves as an integral part of overall disaster response. Disaster Victim Identification brings together the expertise of two professionals with longstanding, extensive first-hand experience in the field. This includes working at, as well as supervising coordination of, DVI response to such scenes. The book will be a welcome addition to professionals by examining what works, what doesn’t, and how to maintain best practices while avoiding common mistakes.

Disaster Victim Identification is an important and growing issue. This guide, authored and edited by the UK's leading specialists is the core text for the first certified academic course in the UK - and the world - on Disaster Victim Identification. The guide is the single key reference book in this burgeoning area, for police officers and other professionals. The book accompanies the University of Dundee course which will train over 500 UK police officers in two years, but it is also designed as a standalone reference text for all professionals in the field. It is the first of its kind internationally. This book is the authoritative text in the field, with leading practitioners as editors, bringing the very latest advances in science and techniques together in a single volume.-- Publisher description.

Disaster management has become an increasingly global issue, and victim identification is receiving greater attention. By raising awareness through past events and experiences, practitioners and policymakers can learn what works, what doesn’t work, and how to avoid future mistakes. Disaster Victim Identification: Experience and Practice presents a selection of key historical incidents in the United Kingdom and includes candid discussions of potential areas for improvement in preparedness and future deployment capabilities. Real disasters and lessons learned Each chapter in the book addresses a specific disaster and covers a number of main points in relation to the incident. For each event, the book presents data such as the manpower available at the time of the disaster, the number of officers involved in the deployment, and their relevant experience at the time. Details of the disaster follow, as well as the recovery and identification methods employed, the number of fatalities and casualties, and lessons learned. The book also explores the short- and long-term effects that the disaster had on the response team and the community. Finally, each chapter examines important present-day developments in relation to the event. The book summarizes important aspects of the particular disaster in terms of legislative, moral, practical, or other contribution to the field of mass disaster planning, preparation, and deployment on a wider scale. Global input Viewing disaster management from a global perspective, this volume contains the combined input of academics, forensic specialists, trainers, and law enforcement professionals who focus on actual cases to honestly assess events and provide recommendations for improvement.