NCJ Number
223785
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 64,66,70
Date Published
July 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses improvements to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Art Unit providing enhanced photographs of victims and 2D drawings of postmortem reconstruction using a computer platform.
Abstract
Although relatively new, the Forensic Art Unit’s computerized photographs of victims enhancements and 2D drawings of postmortem reconstructions has helped medical examiners identify deceased homeless, homicide, crash, and accidental death victims. The unit’s enhanced capabilities also aid local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies with victim and wanted person identification. After realizing the need to expand the county’s forensic unit the Broward Sheriff’s Office Forensic Art Unit began using Photoshop, a graphics editing program by Adobe Systems to expedite their efforts. Using basic Photoshop CS3, takes hours away from doing composites by hand as a forensic artist. The electronic method is more accurate. The Forensic Art Unit has already seen an increase in production, caseload, and media visibility. With its revamped forensics unit, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office is not only closing cases, but is now reducing its operation time, better assisting community concerns, backing up other jurisdictions, and providing closure to people who have lost loved ones.