Forensic Age Estimation of Live Adolescents and Young Adults

As a result of the global increase in migration movements in recent years, there is a growing demand for age estimates of live persons. The persons under examination are mostly foreigners without valid identification documents whose genuine age needs to be clarified for legal purposes. In many countries, the age thresholds relevant for criminal, civil, and asylum proceedings lie between 14 and 22 years of age. In line with recommendations issued by the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics, for determining the age of live subjects a forensic age estimate should combine the results of a physical examination, an X-ray of the hand, and a dental examination which records dentition status and evaluates an orthopantomogram. To assess the age of persons who are assumed to be at least 18 years old, an additional roentgenographic or CT examination of the clavicles is recommended. If there is no legal justification for X-ray examinations, the range of possible methods is limited to a physical and a dental examination. The present paper addresses the influence of ethnicity on the examined developmental systems. In so doing, the authors conclude that forensic age estimates should pay due heed to the proband’s socio-economic status and ethnic origin. The effective doses from X-ray-examinations for forensic age estimations are given. There is no fear that the amount of radiation the examined individuals are exposed to during these X-ray examinations will have a detrimental effect on the person's health. At the end, research desiderata will be mentioned.