Fundamentals of expert opinions on child pornographic images in forensic medicine

The extensive seizure of child pornographic material from suspects throughout Germany is leading to an increasing number of requests for analysis being received by forensic medical institutes and anthropological experts. Depending on the type of material and the circumstances of the case, different issues have to be considered. These range from the identification of the depicted perpetrator and/or victim to questions of age determination and the question of penetration into the body, which is important for the legal evaluation. It is easy to comprehend that the assessability of the material plays an essential role here, and limitations in the validity of the evidence must be clearly and communicated, whether in a written or oral expert opinion. The relevance of these expert opinions for criminal proceedings is high. Critical queries, e.g. in a main court hearing, are therefore unavoidable. The expert must be appropriately prepared for these situations