Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

Forensic dental photography 237

11.15 Management of Forensic Photographic Evidence

The photographs documenting a victim’s injuries may become part of the legal

system and, as such, are subject to chain-of-evidence rules. The appropriate

protocols for evidence management are fully discussed in Chapter 17. The

protocols require accountability as to who had possession of the evidence

from the time it was collected until it is marked and introduced into the legal

system. It is important to maintain the integrity of the evidence in terms of

its original form and reproducibility.

Photography is one of the most important tools used in the practice of

forensic dentistry. The demands on the photographer can be great, especially

in situations where an injury is the only evidence tying a suspect to the crime.

Time, patience, and preparation in forensic photography are requirements

for successful pattern injury documentation. While often frustrating and

Figure 11.47 hand, uv.

The appearance of a bitemark on the back of the left hand of a homicide victim
(Figures 11.44 to 11.47): grayscale, infrared, alternate light, and ultraviolet photo-
graphs, respectively.

Figure 11.48 excised breast, color. (see color insert following page 304.)