MAN-COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR SOLUTION OF THE MUG FILE PROBLEM

• NCJ Number: 36113
• Author(s): K R Laughery; J D Bargainer; J R Townes; G W Batten
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 106 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-0023
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Houston
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

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.