NCJ Number
176960
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: February 1999 Pages: 88-90
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the features of the Electronic Facial Identification Technique (EFIT), which uses computer software to create a composite of the facial features of a suspect described by a witness.
Abstract
In 1995 the Schaumburg Police Department (Illinois) purchased an EFIT. Schaumburg initially purchased the program with a single male-white database for the price of $5,500. A second program, male-black, was soon added for $880; later, a female-white database was acquired, and now a female-black is budgeted. Although the database for males is constructed for creating profiles of men aged 18 and above, by a few adjustments the trained EFIT operator is able to create profiles of boys as young as 12 years old. It is possible to create other ethnic groups with the standard databases. Prior to EFIT, a witness would be presented with multiple series of templates of profiles. The time-consuming nature of this process often led to confusion and boredom on the part of the witness. With EFIT the witness is told that the idea is to create a likeness of the person rather than a flat mug shot. The difference between the template system and EFIT might be compared to cutting and pasting features from various magazine photos to form a collage as opposed to using an Etch-a-Sketch that allows the user to create a face from scratch. The Schaumburg Police Department has purchased a laptop computer so that detectives can easily transport the system to the witness. Trained operators can age a face, retouch a morgue photo, or update an out-of-date picture by adding possible disguises. No prior computer experience is required to operate EFIT. In addition to free training, interactive help is available to the operator; full explanations are given for all functions and control.