A facial composite is a sketch or computer-generated image used to create a visual representation of a person's face, based on memory, and in lieu of an actual photograph.
Although they may be used in other situations as well, facial composites are most commonly associated with police work. When a crime has been committed, and the identity of the suspect is unknown, eyewitnesses descriptions are sometimes used to create a graphical representation of the face of the suspect.
When facial composites were first introduced to police work, eyewitnesses would be asked to cooperate with a sketch artist to create a likeness of the suspect's face. While this method is still used, law enforcement agencies more commonly use computer programs to aid in this process today.
Typically, facial composite programs use database libraries of facial features that can be combined, resized, or otherwise manipulated to create a face. These libraries consist of prominent features, such as hair, eyes, nose, and lips, as well as more detailed features like eye lines and mouth lines. In effect, witnesses are asked to choose images from the database that comes closest to matching the facial features of the suspect. These features can then be resized or otherwise manipulated to render the most accurate result, from the witness's memory of the suspect. Identifying marks, such as tattoos or scars, can also be added. The resulting image may be used to create a wanted poster or an image that can assist investigators in checking leads. Facial composites are sometimes also used to warn populations against serial offenders.
Computerized systems are believed to produce better results, and can be utilized by people with less training than a sketch artist.
While facial composites can be useful to law enforcement, the resulting sketches are prone to error. The situations in which witnesses view a crime are typically stressful, and this can affect the accuracy of the details remembered by an eyewitness. Additionally, many eyewitnesses are prone to suggestion, and may become convinced of details that did not actually exist.
Nevertheless, facial composite images remain a valuable tool in police investigations and criminal prosecutions.
When there is more than one eyewitness to a crime, the process of morphing composites prepared by two or more witnesses has been found to create a more accurate representation.
While most facial composite systems use a feature-based methodology, more recently developed systems may utilize a holistic methodology, attempting to create a likeness of the individual through a different mechanism, in which a witness's response to groups of complete faces, rather than features.
Whatever the methodology or purpose, any computer software system designed to produce facial composites is appropriate for this category, as are sites whose topics focus on facial composite software.
Recommended Resources
Developed by the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Stirling, EvoFIT is a software tool designed to construct facial composites of offenders by witnesses and victims of crime. With the assistance of the program, witnesses and victims select from screens of complete faces and a composite of the suspect is evolved over time. Unlike the feature method, the system does not require witnesses to have good recall of an offender’s face, but to have seen it clearly.
https://evofit.co.uk/
Used by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the Missing Children’s Information Center, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security, the software system is developed by FaceLogics Technology. The application is available as an online SaaS package, which includes remote composite, photo enhancement, photo lineup, and array, facial reconstruction, surveillance footage cleanup, age progression and regression, audio cleanup, and custom requests.
https://www.facelogics.com/
Developed by IQBiometric, the facial composite software system operates on Windows and Mac systems and has law enforcement and educational uses. Its products include single-user, user lab, and a building site license for FACES EDU for education, as well as a single-user or professional license for FACES LE for law enforcement purposes, each of which may be purchased from the site. The hardware requirements, a user guide, and customer support services are featured.
https://www.facialcomposites.com/
The original Identi-Kit was developed in 1959, and first put to use at the Los Angeles Identification Bureau, and soon gained worldwide use. Today’s version of the system is a software application that contains more than two thousand library images processed at high resolution, and sketches can be easily exported to posters or transmitted by fax, email, web, or social media. Its usage includes law enforcement and education. Training and certification programs are available.
https://identikit.net/
Designed for creating facial composites, SketchCop is a software application for law enforcement and educators. Available for purchase rather than by subscription, a thirty-day trial offer is available to qualified law enforcement personnel and agencies, select government agencies, military, intelligence, and private security investigators. Compatible with the Windows operating system, the hardware system requirements are stated, and its features and benefits are elaborated upon.
https://sketchcop.com/
Offering a choice of two facial composite systems, VisionMetric’s E-FIT program is a feature-based system, while EFIT6 is a holistic system that involves selecting and rejecting complete faces. A trial version is available on request, and the system may be purchased as a software application that will run on most modern computers, or its EFIT6 software may also be purchased along with high-performance hardware that is supplied in a protective carry case. Training programs are available.
https://visionmetric.com/
