Civil identification problems with Bayesian networks using official DNA databases

Abstract

In forensic identification problems the study of DNA profiles is often used. DNA databases began to be used in England in 1995 and gave rise to new challenges when used in identification problems. In Portugal the legislation for the construction of a DNA database file was defined in 2008. So, it is important to determine how to use it in an appropriate way. An important forensic identification problem is body identification. That is, in general, the identification of a body found, or more than one, using the information of missing persons belonging to one or more known families for which there may be information of family members who claimed the disappearance. Here it is intend to discuss how to use the database: the hypotheses of interest and the database use to determine the likelihood ratios, i.e., how to evaluate the evidence in different situations.