NCJ Number
198062
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 26 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2002 Pages: 24,26,28,30
Date Published
October 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article details police departments’ use of facial recognition software.
Abstract
Focusing on ways that police officers are beginning to identify crime subjects even when disguised, this article discusses the use of facial recognition software. After describing how facial recognition software scans faces looking for identifiable features that are then compared to features recorded in databases, the author explains that all facial recognition software works in essentially the same manner by mapping people’s faces. Following a discussion of the ways that Face-It Argus from Identix measures relative distance between peaks and valleys of the face and the ways that ID-2000 from Imagis Industries uses light reflectants to recognize facial features, the article focuses on compatibility issues explaining how many police agencies use the same recognition software to insure compatibility. Highlighting practical applications of facial recognition software, the author describes how this approach handles issues of false identity, individuals who refuse to reveal their identity, and the issue of missing children. Recognizing the importance of police departments staying ahead of criminals in the software game, the author concludes by discussing how 3D imagining is believed to be the next incarnation of facial recognition software.