NCJ Number
80984
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 2/3 Dated: special issue (1981) Pages: 209-218
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Computer-Aided Design Center (CADC) in England has developed a new face recall system enabling witnesses to construct suspects' images on a television screen. The system currently uses the Photofit library and method of construction. Likenesses of target faces produced by 36 subjects using the new system were compared to conventional Photofits produced by another 36 subjects of the same targets.
Abstract
There was no difference on any of the three measures employed in the assessed quality of likenesses produced by both systems. Both tended to produce more recognizable composites when construction was carried out in the presence of the target, compared to its absence. Composites made from memory on the initial trial were marginally better with the CADC system than with Photofit. While both systems showed low absolute accuracy, they enjoyed a measure of success in transmitting a likeness of a facial 'type.' While the CADC system shows promise, psychological constraints upon witnesses' powers of recall may place limits on the absolute accuracy achievable with any system of face reconstruction. Tables, face constructions, and 16 references are included. (Author abstract modified)