Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation

Common criminality casework

Common criminality cases correspond to crimes committed recently, and do not form part of the investigations conducted by the institution regarding the Internal Armed Conflict.

criminality

For these types of cases, expert technicians from FAFG are usually assigned to cases if requested by prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor’s Office or to assist the INACIF (National Institute of Forensic Sciences) in their morgues, should they require assistance.

Frequently the corpses analyzed are in a state of decay; in order to perform a skeletal analysis, all soft tissue is removed.

All the analysis performed follow the requirements stated by the authorities, and are done at FAFG’s facilities. In some occasions, FAFG personnel are sent to a specific location if the prosecutor or judge requires it. In such cases the internal norms regarding the skeletal analysis are adjusted since in those locations there are no X-ray machines or photographic studios.

During the past two years FAFG has conducted this type of investigations in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Sololá, Jalapa, Totonicapán, Alta Verapaz, El Petén, Quetzaltenango, Zacapa, El Quiché y Jutiapa, and they account for almost a 15% of the work performed at FAFG:

Year	Cases	Analyzed Corpses
2006	26	23
2007	25	39
2008	4	4

Analysis Procedures
•X-ray analysis if required.
• Photograph the corpse inside the body bag in which it is contained, specifying the ID system used for the case.
• Remove the corpse’s clothing.
• Photograph the corpse without clothing.
• Cleanse the corpse if its state of decay allows it.
• Determine sex, age, height and any features that may allow de identification of the individual and also determine the cause of death.
• Collect entomological samples if possible.
• Register in an adequate form all the relevant information from the analyzed corpse.
• Take pictures of relevant elements that might be important to establish the cause of death and identification.
• Register clothing and personal effects.
• Write a report.
• Send the report to the authorities so they can use it as part of the investigation.

ODAGH	PDH	REMHI	GAM	ADIVIMA	UNDP	AAAS	PHR	DCCAM
CEH	ALAF	ICRC	EQUITAS	AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL	EPAF	EAAF	ICTJ	NEWSPAPERS