...
...
| Excerpt |
|---|
| The linking and reconciliation process is a set of rules and processes that aim at reconciliating two files, based on specific forensic information (called "identifiers") and operational checks. During the reconciliation, the files are compared and checked in order to determine if they can relate to the same person or to persons of the same family. |
...
The principle is that the system only suggests a "potential match" between files.
Only the agency (and consequently the user of this agency) owning the AM file , or together with the agency owning the PM/PUI file , or the Disaster Container owing the PM/PUI file can undertake the identification.
Before the reconciliation is concluded and approved by the owners of the files, but however belonging to the reconciliation iterative process, you will be able to create links between two files (AM/PM/PUI), if these files are not restricted access to you. (In this case as you will not be able to see the file, you will consequently not be able to create a link with this file).
These links can have different states, such as:
- A formal link (with signature),
...
- A formal link which is still under way (not signed yet),
...
- An informal link.
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Two types of Links exist:
- Informal link
...
- Formal link
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...
You can create the following kinds of Informal Links:
- AM/PM-PUI
...
- AM/AM duplicate
...
- PM/PM Body Parts
...
- FM/PM-PUI
An informal link is added by selecting a file pair from e.g the File Manager. Note: In order to be able to create a Relationship note, you need to be the owner of one of the two files.
Start by opening the File Manager and choose the first file you want to link by clicking on the relevant row. Then pin the chosen file as first file by clicking the Pin first file button on the far right side.
The first file has to be
- an AM file in case of AM/PM-PUI or AM/AM duplicate
...
- a PM Body Part in case of PM Body Part/PM
...
- a FM file in case of FM/PM-PUI
Next choose the second file you want to link by clicking on the relevant row. Then pin the chosen file as second file file by clicking the Pin second file button on the far right side.
The second file has to be
- a PM-PUI file in case of PM-PUI in case of AM/PM-PUI or FM/PM-PUI
...
- an AM File in case of AM/AM duplicate
...
- a PM file in case of PM Body Part/PM
Then you click on the Relationship note button in File Manager, Management, File Links group to open the Create a note dialog.
To create the Relationship Note click on the OK button after writing you note and the informal link will be added to your list of comparison reports (see section Comparison Reports for more information).
You will be able to see only the comparison reports involving files owned by your agency.
...
A formal link is started as a "Disclosure Request".
When two files are subject of an assumed identification or are probably duplicates of the same case, a formal link is created.
Three types of a formal link exist depending on the file kinds of the involved files (e.g. AM vs PM).
The type is automatically set by the System, when creating the formal link:
- Is identified to: AM vs PM or AM vs PUI
...
- Is identical: AM vs AM or PM vs PM or PUI vs PUI
...
- Is body fragment: PM vs PM
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...
An empty comparison is automatically created when two files have been linked.
You can access this initial report when you navigate to Ident Reports.
Then click View and see the comparison report page.
Now you can edit the comparison report. Click the Add button in the Comparison, Comparison Management, Evidence and fill in your evidence and click Save in the upper right corner of the report.
Now the added evidence appears in the evidence list.
By selecting it (clicking at the evidence), you have the option to Edit or Delete the evidence. Remember to save the report when it's done.
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...
To edit the Identification Report click on View in the Comparison, Comparison Management, ID Report menu
This enables the following buttons in the menu.
Now fill in your information in the page
When it's done, you have to save it by clicking on Save .
Next select the conclusion for the report:
- Identification
...
- Exclusion
...
- Premature
And click on Accept (Identification), Reject (Exclusion) or Premature in the Identification Report, Management menu.
Now the report is marked as closed (lock in upper right corner) and the reconciliation process is complete.
...
A report can be listed as "premature" when there is no sufficient evidence to conclude for an exclusion or an identification, and the owners of both files decide to stop the investigations until more evidence arises.
A report can be listed as "exclusion" when the available evidence leads to the conclusion that:
- The two files involved in the reconciliation process are not linked to each other, or
...
- not in the way the identification was led (for instance, the two files can belong to two sisters instead of the same person: in this case, the evidence cannot lead to an identification even if the files are related).
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...