Missing Persons Research Articles

Correlation of cephalo-facial parameters with body height in indian and african students of a university in North India

Introduction: In forensic anthropology, body height or stature estimation is important for identification of missing persons. Stature has a proportional relationship with different parts of the human body including cephalo-facial region. The cephalo-facial indices are different for different people. Therefore, they may help in stature reconstruction and identification of a person. The study was conducted to find out if there is any correlation between four cephalo-facial parameters and body height and to derive regression formulae in Indian and African students. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on 170 students of a University in North India belonging to two different races, i.e., Indian (85) and African (85). Stature and four cephalo-facial dimensions, i.e., maximum head length (MHL), horizontal head circumference (HHC), morphological facial length (MFL) and bigonial diameter (BD) were measured. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 15. Results: In both Indian and African students all the four cephalo-facial parameters, i.e., MHL, HHC, MFL, and BD showed a positive correlation with stature (P < 0.001). It was found that in Indians the strongest correlation of stature was with MHL and least correlation was with HHC. In Africans, the highest correlation was observed with MHL and lowest with BD. Discussion and Conclusion: In this study, it was found that among the cephalo-facial parameters, cephalic parameters are more reliable than facial parameters. Out of the two cephalic parameters HHC was found to be more reliable than MHL in the estimation of stature in both Indian and African students. The regression equations derived turned out to be population/race-specific and therefore, cannot be generalized for all population groups.

The Efficiency of Drones Usage for Safety and Rescue Operations in an Open Area: A Case from Poland

The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) is becoming increasingly frequent during search and rescue (SAR) operations conducted to find missing persons. These systems have proven to be particularly useful for operations executed in the wilderness, i.e., in open and mountainous areas. The successful implementation of those systems is possible thanks to the potential offered by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which help achieve a considerable reduction in operational times and consequently allow a much quicker finding of lost persons. This is crucial to enhance their chances of survival in extreme conditions (withholding hydration, food and medicine, and hypothermia). The paper presents the results of a preliminary assessment of a search and rescue method conducted in an unknown terrain, where groups were coordinated with the use of UAVs and a ground control station (GCS) workstation. The conducted analysis was focused on assessing conditions that would help minimise the time of arrival of the rescue team to the target, which in real conditions could be a missing person identified on aerial images. The results of executed field tests have proven that the time necessary to reach injured persons can be substantially shortened if imaging recorded by UAV is deployed, as it considerably enhances the chance of survival in an emergency situation. The GCS workstation is also one of the crucial components in the search system, which assures image transmission from the UAV to participants of the search operation and radio signal amplification in a difficult terrain. The effectiveness of the search system was tested by comparing the arrival times of teams equipped with GPS and a compass and those not equipped with such equipment. The article also outlined the possibilities of extending the functionality of the search system with the SARUAV module, which was used to find a missing person in Poland.

Reconstructing the Memory of the Wounded Social Body: A Philosophical-Theological Reflection from the Search for Missing Persons in Mexico

This essay analyzes the phenomenon of clandestine graves of missing persons in Mexico as a social, political, and philosophical problem, where theological clues are established. With the contributions of decolonial thought this reflection seeks to think the absence and, within it, to think the emergence of an alternative world promoted by the just people of history with the resistances they create to live the present with dignity and hope.

From the narrative to the genes: When forensic technique meets social reparation

Every year thousands of people disappear in Brazil. However, it is still not clear how many of these are related to cases of forced disappearance resulting from institutional and state violence. A growing demand arising from family members of missing persons has resulted in creating of the Human Identification Lab at the Center of Anthropology and Forensic Archeology at the Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. The intersection between the struggles of family members and the forensic knowledge at the university enabled the development of methodologies and protocols divided into three stages: ante mortem; post mortem, and forensic genetic, specifically built to identify victims of forced disappearance.

A Smart Integrated Vest for the Canine Companion of the K9 Units

Search and rescue operations can range from small, confined spaces, such as collapsed buildings, to large area searches during missing person operations. K9 units are tasked with intervening in such emergencies and assist in the optimal way to ensure a successful outcome for the mission. They are required to operate in unknown situations were the lives of the K9 handler and the canine companion are threatened as they operate with limited situational awareness. Within the context of the INGENIOUS project, we developed a K9 vest for the canine companion of the unit, aiming to increase the unit’s safety while operating in the field, assist the K9 handler in better monitoring the location and the environment of the K9 and increase the information provided to the Command and Control Center during the operation.

Return Home Interviews for Missing Older Adults With Dementia: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Persons living with dementia are at risk of becoming lost. When a person is returned home safely after a missing incident, an interview with the person or care partner may identify ways to prevent repeat incidents. It is not known if these interviews are being conducted for this population. Objectives: The purpose of this review was to understand return home interviews and whether they are being used with persons who have dementia. Methods: Scholarly and grey literature were searched in 20 databases. Articles were included from any language, year, study design if they included terms resembling “return home interview”, “missing,” “lost,” or “runaway”. Results: Eleven articles in scholarly, and 94 in grey literature sources were included, most from the United Kingdom. The majority of academic (55%) and grey (61%) articles were related to missing children, and none were specifically about persons living with dementia. Interviews were typically conducted within 72 hours after a missing person was returned, and by police or charitable organizations. The main reasons were to understand the causes of the incident and confirm the missing person’s safety, identify support needs, and to provide support to reduce repeat missing incidents. Conclusion: Existing reasons for interviews can also apply to persons with dementia. This review informs future research on return home interviews. It also informs community organizations, and police services interested in adopting this practice with persons living with dementia. Evaluations would confirm if these interviews can reduce repeat incidents and help keep people with dementia safe.

Collection of Data on Persons Living With Dementia Who Go Missing: First Responder Perspectives

While it is commonly cited that 60% of persons living with dementia (PLWD) wander, it is unclear whether this number reflects global contexts. Population aging has created a pressing need for the development of programs to mitigate the risks of PLWD from getting lost and going missing. Such programs would require a national strategy for the collection and integration of data on missing incidents involving this population. This study is a first step to inform such a strategy. The purposes were to: 1) identify approaches to data collection on missing persons incidents involving PLWD among Canadian police and search and rescue (SAR) organizations; 2) describe the foreseeable challenges associated with developing a national data collection strategy. We used generic qualitative description to generate data with fifteen key informants. Virtual semi-structured interviews were completed and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis and trustworthiness strategies guided analysis and rigor. Our findings indicate that police and SAR organizations collect a multitude of data pertaining to missing incidents involving PLWD. However, there is a lack of standardization in data collection, entry and analysis. Privacy legislation, limited resources, and incompatible data management systems pose challenges to data sharing and interoperability. Underreporting of missing incidents to police results in an underestimation of missing incidents. An intersectoral, uniform approach to data collection would enable the storage, analysis and comparison of national data. Accurate data on critical wandering can inform prevention, search strategies, resource allocation and effectiveness of programs.

The Issues of Unclaimed Properties in Malaysia

Unclaimed property in Malaysia has become one of the more hotly debated issues. So far unclaimed property value estimated to reach billions of ringgit. This is a big number, and, if issues stay no action has taken, it will affect not only the society but also economic and national development. If the efficient property management system had to be set up it will have undoubtedly a positive impact. Therefore, there is a need to take a drastic action to find a comprehensive solution and alternatives for solving this issue. Hence, an effective asset management and an efficient estate planning towards unclaimed property must be practiced to ensure a smooth operation of the property management. Generally, unclaimed property is divided into two main categories. Firstly, the inherited estate from a deceased that is not claimed by the heirs and another one is the property the owner of which cannot be traced or missing, known as Al-Mafqud in Islamic law. In this paper, the researcher has focused on the occurrence of unclaimed property in the context of missing persons. The results of this study are based on data gathered through a grounded theory from few agencies such as the Malaysian Civil and Shariah Courts, Small Estate Distribution Unit in the District Land Office and Amanah Raya Berhad as well as the heirs of missing persons. The information of missing person's heirs collected from Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and the information clarified as confidential. In general, the result shows that, there are for factors contributed to the issues of unclaimed properties in Malaysia; legislation, social status, behavior and the strength and weaknesses of related agency should be given consideration. This results are expected to be catalyst to further action by the government to solve the issue of unclaimed property in Malaysia and concurrently contribute to enhance the quality of property management based on highest and best use concept

“Missing and Missed”: Failures of the Bruce McArthur Investigation and the Ongoing Victimization of Toronto’s Rainbow Streets

This article analyzes “Missing and Missed: Report of The Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations,” a review of Toronto Police’s conduct during “missing persons” investigations. Analyzing the Bruce McArthur investigation and police’s failed efforts to solve some of his victims’ “missing persons” cases, questions if overt bias or intentional discrimination influenced police procedure are answered. Critical of blanket statements that pardon police wrongdoing, this article explores the report’s recommendations and concludes with a suggestion of a crime prevention model to be considered by Toronto Police who are expected to release a plan of implementation in or before April 2022.

Development of the first DNA database and identification portal for identification of Unidentified bodies in India – UMID

Identifying missing persons and unidentified dead bodies is a well-documented global problem in recent years. To curb this issue, countries such as the USA, UK, and Australia already have well-established DNA databases. Considering the alarming number of unidentified/unclaimed dead bodies reported in India every year, it is evident that the current practices are not sufficient to establish their identities. Forensic medicine professionals are ethically, morally, and dutybound to collect information about missing and unidentified persons and work with the government agencies to determine their identity. Concerning the social and public interest, we have developed the first-ever identification portal and DNA database of unidentified dead bodies autopsied at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. After the investigation officer's informed consent, biological samples from unidentified dead bodies and a detailed phenotypic description, anthropological data and other visual characteristics of the deceased are recorded at the time of autopsy. This information is uploaded on our database which is available for public access, and the genotypic information generated through STR analysis is only available for internal usage.Claimants (biological relatives) may browse through the URL (https://umid-aiims.icmr.org.in/), and if they wish to claim an unidentified dead body, they may approach as per the given guidelines. The DNA profiles generated include a total of 16 STRs (15 autosomal tetranucleotide microsatellite STRs and 1 Sex Chromosome Specific STR). The claimant's STR profile is run through the questioned database to look for a potential match. If positive, the investigating officer of that particular case is informed for further necessary action. Until December 2020, our database consisted the information of 255 individuals and two unidentified cadavers were identified. This project's success can also lead to a pioneering National DNA database of unidentified and missing persons in India.

A missing person as a copyright holder

The disappearance of people is a phenomenon that requires in-depth multi-faceted analysis. The law does not regulate the situation of a missing person between their disappearance and being declared dead. During this time, in the understanding of the law, a missing person remains an entity that can dispose of their property rights and personal rights, but because of the disappearance people are unable to do that, so his/her rights are exposed to be lost or unlawfully used by other persons. As a result, many doubts must be faced by people close to the missing person. This work discusses the copyrights of the missing person, its execution and protection in the time between the disappearance and declaring the person dead. As an introduction, the subject of copyright (work) is discussed and the division of copyright into moral rights and property rights is indicated. Next, the paper presents the possible ways of proceeding in the event of a disappearance, including a minor, spouse, and co-creator. The possibility of appointing a custodian and submitting a request to a prosecutor is indicated, and an analogous application of provisions in the event of death is proposed. Moreover, a situation where an action to protect moral/economic copyrights has been brought before a person missing (the proceedings are pending) is noted. Finally, the consequences of declaring a missing person to be dead are discussed. Based on the considerations carried out, it can be concluded that there is no single appropriate legal solution in a situation where there is a need to exercise and protect the personal/economic copyrights of a missing person. The proposed solutions of proceeding in the missing person case are not specifically designed in the event of a disappearance, and their application is not established in practice. It seems that the court should recognize the need to protect the interests of the missing person and allow the proceedings to be conducted when referring to one of the proposed solutions. Adaptation of the indicated solutions, in the face of the forced inactivity of the missing person, should guarantee the protection of his/her rights. De lege ferenda, it is worth considering the general regulation of a person’s situation from the moment of his/her disappearance until he/she is declared dead. This could be done by introducing a provision providing for the possibility of appointing a custodian to handle the missing person’s affairs.

Everything Seems So Illogical: Constructing Missingness Between Life and Death in Israel.

This paper discusses the case of missing persons in Israel, to show how the category of "missingness" is constructed by the people who have been left behind, and how this may threaten the life-death dichotomy assumption. The field of missing persons in Israel is characterized not only by high uncertainty, but also by the absence of relevant cultural scripts. Based on a narrative ethnography of missingness in Israel, I claim that a new and subversive social category of "missingness" can be constructed following the absence of cultural scripts. The left-behinds fluctuate not only between different assumptions about the missing person's fate; they also fluctuate between acceptance of the life-death dichotomy, thus yearning for a solution to a temporary in-between state, and blurring this dichotomy, and thus constructing "missingness" as a new stable and subversive ontological category. Under this category, new rites of passage are also negotiated and constructed.

Training police search and rescue teams: Implications for missing persons work

Police search and rescue teams are crucial players in resolving missing person cases. Resultantly, police employ a host of training for search and rescue members in collaboration with institutions, organizations, and groups. Such training, however, has not been studied. This warrants attention as, in a time of police legitimacy crises and austerity policing, appropriate and quality police training for effective, efficient practices is imperative. Therefore, we examined the training needs and offerings for police search and rescue personnel, and their impact on search and rescue operations and work, through thematic analysis of interviews with 52 police search and rescue members from 17 agencies across Canada. Findings suggest there are no homogeneous, structured, or standardized training offerings for police search and rescue personnel. Instead, training varies within and across agencies and regions, and between officers and roles, as it is commonly based upon anecdotal experiences and in-house developed “best practices.” We discuss the implications of these findings for police search and rescue operations and work.

How far do they go?: A spatial examination of missing persons from hospitals

PurposeMissing person cases are a global issue impacting policing. Among these, those who abscond from hospitals are especially concerning because these reports require collaboration across services, often strain already limited police and hospital resources and present an elevated level of possible harm due to high prevalence of mental illness, disability and/or addiction. Despite this, to-date, there has been a lack of scholarly attention on this phenomenon from a policing perspective. The present study aims to fill this gap by exploring how far missing hospital patients travel and where they are commonly found.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 731 closed case files (2014–2018) from one police service, we identify spatial behaviour patterns specific to this group of missing persons.FindingsResults suggest that most do not leave the hospital grounds or stay within a 5-km radius. Others were found close to the hospital, within city limits and/or returned of their own volition. By identifying these spatial behaviour patterns associated with missing hospital patients, police can refine probable search areas, allocate resources more efficiently, find the missing faster and develop better-informed responses and collaborative policies.Originality/valueOur research represents the first empirical investigation into missing persons from hospital settings through a spatial perspective. Through descriptive statistical and spatial analyses, we determine the distance between the hospital a given individual was reported missing from and the location of where they were ultimately found.

First Successful Rescue of a Lost Person Using the Human Detection System: A Case Study from Beskid Niski (SE Poland)

Recent advances in search and rescue methods include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to carry out aerial monitoring of terrains to spot lost individuals. To date, such searches have been conducted by human observers who view UAV-acquired videos or images. Alternatively, lost persons may be detected by automated algorithms. Although some algorithms are implemented in software to support search and rescue activities, no successful rescue case using automated human detectors has been reported on thus far in the scientific literature. This paper presents a report from a search and rescue mission carried out by Bieszczady Mountain Rescue Service near the village of Cergowa in SE Poland, where a 65-year-old man was rescued after being detected via use of SARUAV software. This software uses convolutional neural networks to automatically locate people in close-range nadir aerial images. The missing man, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (as well as a stroke the previous day) spent more than 24 h in open terrain. SARUAV software was allocated to support the search, and its task was to process 782 nadir and near-nadir JPG images collected during four photogrammetric flights. After 4 h 31 min of the analysis, the system successfully detected the missing person and provided his coordinates (uploading 121 photos from a flight over a lost person; image processing and verification of hits lasted 5 min 48 s). The presented case study proves that the use of an UAV assisted by SARUAV software may quicken the search mission.

Ancestry Estimation in Practice

The medicolegal system relies on forensic anthropologists to construct accurate biological profiles from skeletal remainsto narrow the pool of potential missing persons and provide support for positive identifications. The ancestry estimation component of theprofile offers physical descriptions of decedents through a combination of metric analysis and the interpretation of discrete traits believedto correlate with visible physical features. Forensic anthropologists employed in medical examiners’ offices in the United States regularlyconstruct these profiles in casework. However, ancestry estimation methods have been questioned in their ability to accurately describe theracial classification of the deceased. Although validation studies have documented the accuracy of ancestry estimation methods on skeletalcollections, it is unknown how well they operate in forensic casework and the assumption that methods mirror the results observed inacademic research studies remains unproven. In an effort to understand how well methods preform, this research was designed to evaluatethe accuracy ancestry estimation practices within three medical examiners’ offices in the United States. The results show an accuracy rateof 99% among 177 cases when both definitive and ambiguous ancestral and racial terminology was used to describe remains. Becauseunidentified cases lack antemortem information, it remains unknown if the ancestral assessments of the 280 unidentified individualsincluded in this study confer the same level of accuracy shown in resolved cases. The results presented here are informative not only forthe vital statistics obtained, but also for what this data reveals about the factors influencing ancestry estimation in practice.

Convolutional neural network-based face recognition using non-subsampled shearlet transform and histogram of local feature descriptors

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Face recognition has been using in a variety of applications like preventing retail crime, unlocking phones, smart advertising, finding missing persons, and protecting law enforcement. However, the ability of face recognition techniques reduces substantially because of changes in pose, illumination, and expressions of the individual. In this paper, a novel face recognition approach based on a non-subsampled shearlet transform (NSST), histogram-based local feature descriptors, and a convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. Initially, the Viola-Jones algorithm is used for face detection and then the extracted face region is preprocessed by image resizing operation. Then, NSST decomposes the input image into a low and high-frequency component image. The local feature descriptors such as local phase quantization (LPQ), pyramid of histogram of oriented gradients (PHOG), and the proposed CNN are used for extracting features from the low-frequency component of the NSST decomposition. The extracted features are fused to generate the feature vector and classified using support vector machine (SVM). The efficiency of the suggested method is tested on face databases like Olivetti Research Laboratory (ORL), Yale, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;J&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;apanese female facial expression&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;(&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;JAFFE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="IN"&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;. The experimental outcomes reveal that the suggested face recognition method outperforms some of the state-of-the-art recognition approaches.&lt;/span&gt;

International Humanitarian Award: Bhava Nath Poudyal.

The American Psychology Association's Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP) is pleased to present the 2021 International Humanitarian Award to Mr. Bhava Nath Poudyal. Over a 25-year-long career, Poudyal has worked with several leading humanitarian institutions and published numerous scholarly articles in the advancement of assessing, designing, delivering, and evaluating mental health and psychological services, particularly in lower- and middle-income areas. His work has focused on contexts within Asia, Central Asia, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. Poudyal has brought his expertise to bear on responding to the needs of torture victims in his home country of Nepal, as well as Guinea and Sierra Leone. He has also worked with the International Red Cross in the areas of missing persons, natural disasters, and violent conflicts. He has trained and mentored over a thousand lay counselors and more than 300 psychologists around the world, simplifying complex psychological principles, therapies, and treatments to provide support for people experiencing significant trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

STUDY OF FINGERPRINT PATTERN IN KASHMIRI POPULATION

Background: Dactylography/Dactyloscopy/Dermatoglyphics is the study of fingerprints as a method of identification.Fingerprint is an easily available,accurate and authentic method of identification.Importance of fingerprints is of immense use in forensic,and criminal application.Nowadays the subject is also developing importance in various other field as well.A Aim:To identify the fingerprint pattern and its relation with gender in kashmiri population. Material and Method: A cross sectional study was done in the government chest disease hospital.The subjects were the staff of the department belonging to various regions and districts of kashmir.The subjects were asked to press their fingers on the stamp pad and then transfered to the paper. Result: Loops were the most common pattern found followed by whorls and arches.Loops was found in 53.8%,whorls in 39.5% and arches in 6.7%.In gender wise distribution a higher percentage of loops was found in females and whorls in males. Conclusion: In the current research work different types of fingerprint patterns were found. Fingerprint is an easily available and effective method of identification of a person. This study will prove helpful to experts in solving criminal cases, identifying missing persons or in case of a disaster.

The Need for a New Paradigm in International Law to Provide International Protection

Abstract Too little is provided, not only in international law, but also by the United Nations, for victims around the world. This article therefore argues that a new paradigm is needed. It uses the conflict in Syria since 2011, specifically focusing on how enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions have been used, to examine these questions. It has been reported that at least 150,000 people have been affected by these practices, but the number may be as high as a million. Because the state has used these practices methodically, they amount to a widespread and systemic attack on the civilian population and, therefore, to crimes against humanity. While the Syrian regime is primarily responsible, non-state actors have also been committing these types of crimes. The article discusses the general processes that have been set up to deal with the conflict in international law and by the United Nations in places like Syria. It finds that very little has been done to end the conflict in Syria, other than mediation. The article then reviews the international processes dealing with disappearances and detentions in Syria that families can report to, and the role these institutions have played so far. It again finds that very little has been achieved. The article also examines other countries where processes have been set up to deal with missing and disappeared persons, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Georgia, to learn the lessons from these past processes for the Syrian situation. It is argued that, generally when mass atrocities occur, the UN on rare occasions will create an accountability process, but never creates a process that focuses on the needs of victims: finding their loved ones, getting them released from custody if they are alive, or finding the truth about what happened to them and where their remains are. The article therefore argues that a new mechanism is needed for Syria (but also for other places) to get people released, and to find information on others whose whereabouts are unknown due to the conflict and/or the mass human rights abuses. It contends that the mechanism could be set up by the UN, and if not, by a regional actor such as the European Union, or by several states. It is reasoned that the mechanism ought to have a Board made up of a representative each from the International Committee of the Red Cross (icrc), the International Commission on Missing Persons (icmp), the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (wgeid), the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions (wgad) and a Syrian organisation, elected each year.