NCJ Number
36113
Date Published
1976
Length
106 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON THE FIRST PHASE OF A PROJECT TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT TO REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS A WITNESS MUST EXAMINE IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY A SUSPECT CONTAINED IN A MUG FILE.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO DO THIS, A SKETCH OF THE SUSPECT IS OBTAINED FROM THE WITNESS BY A POLICE ARTIST OF IDENTI-KIT. THEN CERTAIN MEASUREMENTS OF THE FACE AND INFORMATION REGARDING ITS FEATURES ARE TAKEN. THIS INFORMATION IS FED INTO A COMPUTER, WHICH DETERMINES A SET OF PROBABLE LOOK-ALIKES, WHICH ARE THEN SHOWN TO THE WITNESS. THIS PROCEDURE IS BELIEVED TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE 'RANDOM SELECTION' METHOD CURRENTLY IN USE. THE PHASE TWO EFFORT WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT, SUCH AS IDENTIFYING FACES WHOSE FEATURES HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND IMPROVING THE RESOLUTION OF PHOTOGRAPHYS OF BLACK SUSPECTS.