Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI
| dc.contributor.advisor | Heathfield, Laura | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Reid, Kate | |
| dc.contributor.author | Eromosele, Rachael | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-03T13:40:48Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-03T13:40:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2026-07-03T10:27:53Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | The identification of human decedents is a critical aspect of medico-legal investigation. However, many bodies remain unidentified, with South Africa reporting high numbers each year. Fingerprint analysis is a valuable identification method, though the success rate of using fingerprints for identification at Salt River Mortuary in Cape Town, South Africa, is unclear. This research investigated the frequency and success rate of fingerprints used for identification at this forensic mortuary in 2021. Medico-legal case reports of all cases admitted in 2021 were reviewed (n = 3738) and non-viable foetuses (n = 26) were excluded, resulting in a total of 3712 cases. At admission, 76.6 % had a suspected identity and 23.4 % were unknown. Seven days after admission, 16.1 % (n = 599 / 3712) had not yet been visually identified, but only 2.5 % (n = 15 / 599) had fingerprints taken for analyses. Thirty days post-admission, 7.4 % (n = 273 / 3712) of the total caseload was still unidentified. Total cases with fingerprint analysis requests at all time points in 2021 were 143, with 89.2 % (n = 115 / 129) of the cases having a successful identification outcome. A median of 7 days (Std.dev = 61 days) was taken to request a fingerprint analysis, while it took a further 30 days (median) (Std.dev = 120 days) to obtain a report. Overall, 141 cases from 2021 remained unidentified at the time of this study, with 19 of these cases having 'suitable fingers' but no fingerprint analysis request. Given the affordability and high success rates of identification associated with fingerprint analyses, investigating officers are urged to take fingerprints from more bodies that are not identified. The unsuccessful attempts were due to no matching records on the searched databases, suggesting that a transnational approach is needed to improve identification rates | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Eromosele, R. (2026). <i>Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Pathology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Eromosele, Rachael. <i>"Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Pathology, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Eromosele, R. 2026. Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Pathology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Eromosele, Rachael AB - The identification of human decedents is a critical aspect of medico-legal investigation. However, many bodies remain unidentified, with South Africa reporting high numbers each year. Fingerprint analysis is a valuable identification method, though the success rate of using fingerprints for identification at Salt River Mortuary in Cape Town, South Africa, is unclear. This research investigated the frequency and success rate of fingerprints used for identification at this forensic mortuary in 2021. Medico-legal case reports of all cases admitted in 2021 were reviewed (n = 3738) and non-viable foetuses (n = 26) were excluded, resulting in a total of 3712 cases. At admission, 76.6 % had a suspected identity and 23.4 % were unknown. Seven days after admission, 16.1 % (n = 599 / 3712) had not yet been visually identified, but only 2.5 % (n = 15 / 599) had fingerprints taken for analyses. Thirty days post-admission, 7.4 % (n = 273 / 3712) of the total caseload was still unidentified. Total cases with fingerprint analysis requests at all time points in 2021 were 143, with 89.2 % (n = 115 / 129) of the cases having a successful identification outcome. A median of 7 days (Std.dev = 61 days) was taken to request a fingerprint analysis, while it took a further 30 days (median) (Std.dev = 120 days) to obtain a report. Overall, 141 cases from 2021 remained unidentified at the time of this study, with 19 of these cases having 'suitable fingers' but no fingerprint analysis request. Given the affordability and high success rates of identification associated with fingerprint analyses, investigating officers are urged to take fingerprints from more bodies that are not identified. The unsuccessful attempts were due to no matching records on the searched databases, suggesting that a transnational approach is needed to improve identification rates DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - medico-legal investigation LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI TI - Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Eromosele R. Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Pathology, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43466 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Pathology | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | medico-legal investigation | |
| dc.title | Utilisation of fingerprint analysis for human identification at SRM/OFPI | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MPhil |