[Age determination of living probands--experiences from Hannover studies].

Since 1982 we examined 26 living human beings in our institute to determine their age. Two third of all cases were children of gipsy-clans being arrested without exception after theft and having no or false identity cards, so that the authorities were not sure about the use of either of juvenile or adult criminal law. Besides other investigations best results were obtained by X-ray examinations of the teeth, the shoulder and the hand and wrist. In consideration of the limitations by the used scientific methods we were able to determine age in all cases.