VIII.+Wound+Patterns



__ **Wound Pattern Analysis** __
 * Recognizing, preserving, documenting, examining and reconstructing of the nature, origin or intent of physical injuries sustained on a victim.
 * Wound pattern analysis involves both science and art.
 * It is based on scientific methods and the Locard’s principle of exchange which entails that anyone or anything who enters a crime scene must take something of the crime scene with them and also leave something of theirs behind.

Different Types of Wounds 1) Blunt Force Trauma a) Abrasions - scrape or superficial layers of the skin removed to show a wound b) Contusions - usually caused by a blow, blood vessels underneath the skin will be broken but not the skin - include bruising and haemorrhages c) Lacerations - jagged wounds with contused edges that are caused by a crushing force
 * Caused by force
 * Three categories

2) Burns
 * Injures caused by fire, chemicals or heat.

3) Sharp Force Injury a) Stab Wounds - caused by the sharp object piercing into the skin, go deeper than the skin. b) Incise Wounds - long injuries caused by a sharp object being drawn across the skin. c) Chop Wounds - injuries go deep within the tissue and can cause bone fracturing, examples include injuries sustained by meat cleavers, axes and machetes.
 * Injuries sustained by sharp, bladed objects.

4) Gunshot Wounds
 * Sustained by a rifle, handgun or shot gun.
 * Can be either entrance wounds, exit wounds or both depending on contact with the object.

5) Therapeutic and Diagnostic Wounds
 * Injuries which may occur during treatment due to rough handling by medical staff.
 * It is important to distinguish where the wounds came from.
 * Sometimes items may be found at a crime scene that may have been brought by the suspect for the purpose of administering force and causes harm.

Restraint Injuries
 * Often occur when the victim does not listen to the offender.
 * A contusion is usually caused by the restraint that the offender uses to control the victim.
 * An example can be a scarf tying the victims hands together.

Environmental Wound Patterns
 * Can cause injury to a victim depending on the way in which it comes into contact with the victim.
 * Dragging a body across the carpet in a home will leave environmental wounds.

Victim-Offender Injury
 * When the victim or offender are injured directly while trying to use their body as a weapon.
 * Defensive injuries occur when a person is trying to defend themselves against a attack.
 * An offensive injury occurs when injuries occur while attacking.

Motivations for Injury
 * Motivations for the injury must be assessed after the origin of wounds are distinguished.

Lethal Force
 * Aggressive behaviour that is sufficient to kill.
 * Includes intention of harm to the vital organs and areas of the body including head, heart and the neck.

Administrative Force
 * A sufficient amount of harm in order to sustain a specific injury.
 * Usually one single method is used within a short period of time.

Brutal Force
 * Physically aggressive behaviour that results in multiple injuries nearing or resulting in death.
 * Often related to anger.

Overkill
 * Injuries sustained which are beyond needed to cause death.
 * Often involves anger and rage that has been building up within the offender over a long period of time.

Control-Oriented Force
 * Restricts victims from moving.

Defensive Force
 * Aggressive behaviour which is supposed to protect the offender or victim from injury or attack.

Precautionary Force
 * Unintentional wounds that result in the efforts to prevent the collection of physical evidence and injuries and confuse investigators.

Experimental Force
 * Behaviour that is usually not aggressive, not fulfills a psychological or fantasy needs.

Physical Torture
 * Intentional and repeated inflection of pain to a victim.
 * Torture requires that the victim stay alive and conscious so he or she can fully experience the pain.
 * There is often a motive behind physical torture, such as getting information or seeking revenge.