NCJ Number
166109
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 155-164
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This analysis examined whether infracranial non-metric traits were sufficiently discriminatory to place a single skeleton into a particular population group and tested Rubison's procedure empirically using broad racial categories necessary in forensic applications.
Abstract
Eight bilateral traits of the hands and feet were recorded for white, black, Asian, Hispanic, and East Indian populations to develop a statistical database. Infracranial non-metric traits were also recorded on test skeletons of known racial affinity. The Rubison procedure was used to determine the racial identity of each test skeleton. The overall misclassification rate of 54 percent suggests the method is not accurate enough for forensic population identification. Further research is recommended to separate racial categories by sex to increase the method's reliability. 14 references, 4 tables, and 3 figures