NCJ Number
64298
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 21-25
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF BANK ROBBERY FILMS FOR USE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
Abstract
SINCE THE BANK PROTECTION ACT WAS ENACTED IN 1968, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SURVEILLANCE FILMS OBTAINED DURING THE COURSE OF BANK ROBBERIES. ALTHOUGH 800 TO 1,000 PICTURES ARE USUALLY TAKEN OF THE BANK ROBBERS, LESS THAN A DOZEN CONTAIN ANY USEFUL INFORMATION. HOWEVER, THE TECHNIQUE OF COMPARING THE CLOTHING DEPICTED IN A BANK ROBBERY SURVEILLANCE FILM WITH THE CLOTHING IN POSSESSION OF AN ARRESTED SUSPECT HAS BEEN PROVEN SUCCESSFUL. IF THE HEIGHT OF THE BANK ROBBER CAN ALSO BE CALCULATED AND MATCHED WITH A SUSPECT IN POSSESSION OF THE CLOTHING, THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IS ALSO INCREASED. THE PROCEDURE INVOLVES PHOTOGRAPHING RECOVERED CLOTHING ON A BLACK AND WHITE PANCHROMATIC FILM SIMILAR TO THE SURVEILLANCE FILM. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE THEN COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE SURVEILLANCE FILMS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GRAY TONE RENDITIONS ARE PRESENT IN BOTH. BANK ROBBERY FILMS ARE ALSO SURVEYED TO SEE IF UNUSUAL PATTERNS OR DEFECTS OCCUR IN THE CLOTHING. THE COMBINATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OBTAINED FROM THE COLLECTION OF CLOTHING AND A TEAM EFFORT BY INVESTIGATORS, LABORATORY TECHNICAL PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND EXAMINERS ALL AFFECT THE FINAL IDENTIFICATION. HEIGHT DETERMINATION FROM PHOTOGRAPHY CAN ALSO ELIMINATE SUSPECTS AS WELL AS AID IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BANK ROBBER. IN FILMS WHERE THE ROBBER DOES NOT WEAR A MASK, FACIAL COMPARISONS CAN BE MADE WITH KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUSPECTS. A LABORATORY CAN ALSO MAKE MEASUREMENTS BASED ON KNOWN HEIGHTS OF OBJECTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. ANALYSIS OF FILMS DEPENDS ON LIGHTING AT THE TIME OF THE ROBBERY, FILM DEVELOPMENT, CAMERA ANGLES, LENS FOCAL LENGTHS, SHUTTER SPEEDS, AND OTHER VARIABLES. TECHNIQUES OF FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS ARE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING, AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES CAN BE DEVELOPED TO MEET EACH NEW SITUATION. PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANY THE ARTICLE. (MJW)