Skip to main content

Forensic age assessment of asylum seekers in Finland

International Journal of Legal Medicine volume 131, pages 243–250 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

In Finland, forensic age assessment is strictly regulated by legislation. According to the Aliens Act (301/2004) and the amendment of the Act (549/2010), the police authorities, the frontier guard authorities, and the immigration authorities have the right to refer asylum seekers to the University of Helsinki, Department of Forensic Medicine, for age assessment. These assessments are especially performed to solve if the person is of major age, the cutoff being 18 completed years. The forensic age assessment is largely based on dental development, since the special permit of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) to the Department of Forensic Medicine of the University of Helsinki, allowing the use of ionizing radiation for non-medical purposes, includes dental and hand X-rays. Forensic age assessment is always performed by two forensic odontologists. In 2015, the total number of forensic age assessment examinations was 149, and the countries of origin of the asylum seekers were most commonly Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. The current legislation on forensic age assessment has been well received and approved. Radiological and other examinations can be performed in different parts of Finland, but the forensic odontologist at the University of Helsinki is always involved in the process and ensures joint quality standards for the forensic age assessment.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. The Finnish Immigration Service. http://www.migri.fi/download/43811_43667_Maahanmuuton_tilastokatsaus2012_web.pdf?58bc03b8b8a7d288

  2. Eurostat. Asylum statistics. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Asylum_statistics

  3. The government’s proposal to change Aliens Act (301/2014). http://www.finlex.fi/fi/esitykset/he/2009/20090240.pdf.

  4. Aliens Act 301/2004 and the Amendment of the Act 549/2010, Finnish Legislation. http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/2004/en20040301.pdf and http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2004/20040301

  5. Permission1/590/97 for the Department of the Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki signed by the the General Director Jukka Laaksonen and the Director Heimo Kahlos of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in September 19th 1997

  6. Radiation Act (592/1991) and amendment of the Act (1142/1998 Chapter 10), Finnish Legislation. http://plus.edilex.fi/stuklex/en/lainsaadanto/19910592

  7. Decree on use of radiation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (423/2000 8§). http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2000/20000423

  8. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. Reference levels for the patient’s radiation exposure for conventional X-ray examinations of adults, Decision 9/3020/2014. https://www.stuk.fi/documents/88234/1106801/decision-9-3020-2014-26-6-2014-reference-levels-for-the-patients-radiation-exposure-for-conventional-x-ray-examinations-of-adults.pdf/f0b113e1-ba1e-41c2-9077-1c3229001875

  9. Act on the Status and Rights of Patients (785/1992) and the amendment of the Act (653/2000 Chapter 4), Finnish Legislation. http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1992/en19920785.pdf

  10. Coercive Measures Act (806/2011) and the amendments of the Act (1146/2013 Chapter 8 32§ and 33§), Finnish Legislation. http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2011/en20110806.pdf

  11. United Nations General Assembly Convention on the Rights of the Child, A/RES/44/25 1989 http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/44/a44r025.htm

  12. European Migration Network Synthesis Report for the EMN Focussed Study 2014 (2015) Policies, practices and data on unaccompanied minors in the EU Member States and Norway. Synthesis Report: May 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/networks/european_migration_network/reports/docs/emn-studies/emn_study_policies_practices_and_data_on_unaccompanied_minors_in_the_eu_member_states_and_norway_s ynthesis_report_final_eu_2015.pdf

  13. Cameriere R, Ferrante L (2007) Canine pulp ratios in estimating pensionable age in subjects with questionable documents of identification. Forensic Sci Int 206:132–135. doi:10.1016/forsciint.2010.07.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sharma R, Srivastava A (2010) Radiographic evaluation of dental age of adults using Kvaal’s method. J Forensic Dent Sci 2:22–26. doi:10.4103/2948.71053

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Nyström M, Ranta H, Peltola J, Kataja M (2007) Timing of developmental stages in permanent mandibular teeth of Finns from birth to age 25. Acta Odontol Scand 65:36–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kataja M, Nyström M, Aine L (1989) Dental maturity standards in southern Finland. Proc Finn Dent Soc 85:187–197

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chaillet N, Nyström M, Demirjian A (2005) Comparison of dental maturity in children of different ethnic origins: international maturity curves for clinicians. J Forensic Sci 50:1164–1174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Willems G, Van Olmen A, Spiessens B, Carels C (2001) Dental age estimation in Belgian children: Demirjian’s technique revisited. J Forensic Sci 46:893–895

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Demirjian A, Goldstein H, Tanner JM (1973) A new system of dental age assessment. Hum Biol 45:211–227

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. AlQahtani SJ, Hector MP, Liversidge HM (2010) The London atlas of tooth development and eruption. Am J Phys Anthropol 142:481–490. doi:10.1002/ajpa.22473

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mincer HH, Harris EF, Berryman HE (1993) The A.B.F.O. study of third molar development and its use as an estimator of chronological age. J Forensic Sci 38:379–390

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Orhan K, Ozer L, Orhan AI, Dogan S, Paksoy CS (2007) Radiographic evaluation of third molar development in relation to chronological age among Turkish children and youth. Forensic Sci Int 165:46–51

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kvaal SI, Kolltveit KM, Thomsen IO, Solheim T (1995) Age estimation of adults from dental radiographs. Forensic Sci Int 74:175–185

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Greulich WW, Pyle SI (1959) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist, Second edn. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California

    Google Scholar 

  25. Tisé M, Mazzarini L, Fabrizzi G et al (2011) Applicability of Greulich and Pyle method for age assessment in forensic practice in Italian sample. Int J Legal Med 125:411–416. doi:10.1007/s00414-010-0541-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Loder RT, Estle DT, Morrison K, Eggleston D, Fish DN, Greenfield ML, Guire KE (1993) Applicability of the Greulich and Pyle skeletal age standards to black and white children of today. AJDC 147:1329–1333

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Lorek D, Vendura K, Markus W, Geserick G (2000) Effects of ethnicity on skeletal maturation: consequences for forensic age estimations. Int J Legal Med 113:253–258

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kullman L (1995) Accuracy of two dental and one skeletal age estimation method in Swedish adolescents. Forensic Sci Int 75:225–236

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ontell FK, Ivanovic M, Ablin DS, Barlow TW (1996) Bone age in children of diverse ethnicity. AJR 167:1395–1398

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Carel J-C, Lahlou N, Roger M, Chaussain L (2004) Precocious puberty and statural growth. Hum Reprod Update 10:135–147

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kamp GA, Waelkens JJ, de Muinck Keizer-Schrama SM, Delemarre-Van de Waal HA, Verhoeven-Wind L, Zwinderman AH, Wit JM (2002) High dose growth hormone treatment induces acceleration of skeletal maturation and an earlier onset of puberty in children with idiopathic short stature. Arch Dis Child 87:215–220

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Blodgett FM, Burgin L, Iezzoni D, Gribetz D, Talbot NB (1956) Effects of prolonged cortisone therapy on the statural growth, skeletal maturation and metabolic status of children. N Engl J Med 254:636–641

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kerrebijn KF, de Kroon JP (1968) Effect of height of corticosteroid therapy in asthmatic children. Arch Dis Child 231:556–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. The Finnish Immigration Service. http://www.migri.fi/about_us/statistics/statistics_on_asylum_and_refugees

  35. Valvira–National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Turvapaikanhakijoiden ja pakolaisten iänmääritystä koskevat tutkimukset; terveydenhuollon toimivalta ja terveystietojen salassapito, Directive 13/2010. https://www.valvira.fi/documents/14444/50159/Valvira_ohje_13_2010.pdf

  36. Separated Children in Europe Programme (SCEP), Thematic group on age assessment. Position paper on age assessment in the context of separated children in Europe 2012, May 2012. http://umf.asyl.at/files/DOK45Age_Assessment_PP.pdf

  37. European Asylum Support Office, EASO Age assessment practice in Europe, Publications Office of the European Union 2014. https://www.easo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/public/EASO-Age-assessment-practice-in-Europe.pdf. doi:10.2847/12152

  38. Solheim T, Vonen A (2006) Dental age estimation, quality assurance and age estimation of asylum seekers in Norway. Forensic Sci Int 159S:S56–S60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Council Directive 2005/85/EC (2005) EU-Procedure Directive Art. 17 para 5. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32005L0085

  40. Schmeling A, Dettmeyer R, Rudolf E, Vieth V, Geserick G (2016) Forensic age estimation: methods, certainty, and the law. www.aerzteblatt-international.de/ref0416

  41. Rudolf E, Kramer J, Gebauer A et al (2015) Standardized medical age assessment of refugees with questionable minority claim—a summary of 591 case studies. Int J Legal Med 129:595–602. doi:10.1007/s00414-014-1122-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Varkkola O, Ranta H, Metsäniitty M, Sajantila A (2011) Age assessment by the Greulich and Pyle method compared to other skeletal X-ray and dental methods in data from Finnish child victims of the southeast Asian tsunami. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 7:311–316. doi:10.1007/s12024-010-9173-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Rijn van RR, Lequin MH, Robben SGF, Hop WJ, Kuijk van C (2001) Is the Greulich and Pyle atlas still valid for Dutch Caucasian children today? Pediatr Radiol 31:748–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Cole TJ, Rousham EK, Hawley NL, Cameron N, Norris SA, Pettifor JM (2015) Ethnic and sex differences in skeletal maturation among the birth to twenty cohort in South Africa. Arch Dis Child 100:138–143. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2014-306399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Meijerman L, Maat GJR, Schulz R, Schmeling A (2007) Variables affecting the probability of complete fusion of medial clavicular epiphysis. Int J Legal Med 121:463–468. doi:10.1007/s00414-007-0189-z

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Chaillet N, Willems G, Demirjian (2004) A dental maturity in Belgian children using Demirjian’s method and polynomial functions: new standard curves for forensic and clinical use. J Forensic Odontostomatol 22:18–27

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Thevissen PW, Fieuws S, Willems G (2010) Human third molars development: comparison of 9 country specific populations. Forensic Sci Int 201:102–105. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.054

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Council Directive 2013/32/EU (2013) EU-Procedure Directive Art. 25 para 5. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013L0032

  49. Schmeling A, Grundmann C, Fuhrmann A, Kaatsch H-J, Knell B, Ramsthaler F, Reisinger W, Riepert T, Ritz-Timme S, Rösing FW, Rötzscher K, Geserick G (2008) Criteria for age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 122:457–460. doi:10.1007/s00414-008-0254-2

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Cameriere R, De Luca S, De Angelis D, Merelli V, Giuliodori A, Cingolani M, Cattaneo C, Ferrante L (2012) Reliability of Schmeling’s stages of ossification of medial clavicular epiphyses and its validity to assess 18 years of age in living subjects. Int J Legal Med 126:923–932. doi:10.1007/s00414-012-0769-4

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Wittschieber D, Ottow C, Vieth V, Küppers M, Schulz R, Hassu J, Bajanowski T, Püschel K, Ramsthaler F, Pfeiffer H, Schmidt S, Schmeling A (2015) Projection radiography of the clavicle: still recommendable for forensic age diagnostics in living individuals? Int J Legal Med 129:187–193. doi:10.1007/s00414-014-1067-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kellinghaus M, Schulz R, Vieth V, Schmidt S, Schmeling A (2010) Forensic age estimation in living subjects based on the ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis as revealed by thin-slice multidetector computed tomography. Int J Legal Med 124:149–154. doi:10.1007/s00414-009-0398-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM (2013) EU-Medical Exposure Directive Art. 5 and 55 para 1. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013L0059

  54. Thevissen PW, Kvaal SI, Willems G (2012) Ethics in age estimation of unaccompanied minors. J Forensic Odontostomatol 30S:84–10

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Patrick Thevissen, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Forensic Dentistry, KU Leuven, Belgium, whose suggestions greatly improved the manuscript.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 40, Kytösuontie 11, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Mari Metsäniitty, Olli Varkkola & Helena Ranta

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, Mannerheimintie 172, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Janna Waltimo-Sirén

Authors
  1. Mari Metsäniitty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olli Varkkola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Janna Waltimo-Sirén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Helena Ranta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mari Metsäniitty.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Metsäniitty, M., Varkkola, O., Waltimo-Sirén, J. et al. Forensic age assessment of asylum seekers in Finland. Int J Legal Med 131, 243–250 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1498-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1498-x

Keywords

  • Asylum seekers
  • Forensic age assessment
  • Forensic odontology
  • Legislation
  • Radiology