Lip print identification: Current perspectives.

Lip print identification has been proposed as an additional tool for crime investigation because of the supposed uniqueness of labial grooves; however, critics of the validity and reliability for methods and techniques redefined standards and requirements in order to consider this discipline a real forensic identification science. During our research we identified recent literature, presented here, which although extensive, have focused almost entirely on anthropological topics with outdated references which were not from primary sources and, furthermore, were erroneously quoted. Currently, authors continue to use the concept of lip pattern uniqueness, yet the greatest part of their research has failed to support this hypothesis under current scientific standards. Concepts and designs needed to evaluate materials for lip print development - the isolation of DNA, evaluation of inter-rater reliability in identifying their patterns or known potential rate of error - are scarcely mentioned in the reviewed literature. Lip print identification has been important historically, but the new paradigm makes the redefinition of the current research necessary to stop guesswork and speculation.

Identificación Mediante Huellas Labiales: Casos Paradigmáticos, Oportunidades Perdidas y "Anomalías" para la Construcción de un Nuevo Paradigma / Lip Print Identification: Paradigm Case Argument, Lost Opportunities and "Anomalies" for the Construction of a New Paradigm

RESUMEN: El análisis de huellas labiales con fines de identificación criminal ha sido denominado Queiloscopía, especialidad de la odontología forense que se ha sustentado en las supuestas unicidad, perennidad y clasificabilidad de los patrones de surcos labiales. En la actualidad, dos elementales corrientes parecen representar la realidad de la queiloscopía en el mundo forense: mientras algunos casos han demarcado su construcción estableciendo un paradigma de gran poder en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, la insuficiencia técnica en algunos casos o la presencia de nuevos estándares jurídicos en otros han puesto en jaque a esta subdisciplina de la Odontología Forense. Se presenta una reevaluación de los paradigmas propuestos por esos casos, se exponen situaciones fallidas en ese tipo de manejo de evidencias y se presenta una proyección efectiva local a esta (aún) potencial herramienta de investigación criminal.

ABSTRACT: Lip print analysis for criminal identification has been called Cheiloscopy, a specialty of forensic odontology based on the alleged uniqueness, durability and classification of labial groove patterns. Presently, there are two basic claims that seem to make reference to Cheiloscopy in the forensic world: While some cases have distinctly marked its design by establishing a dominant paradigm during the second half of the 20th century, others have questioned this particular specialty of Forensic Odontology in view of technical shortcomings or new legal standards. In light of failed cases under this form of evidence management, a reevaluation of the paradigms, and a better use of this potentially effective mechanism in criminal investigation are proposed.