NCJ Number
148152
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 446-455
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The accuracy of video superimposition methods for identifying unknown human skulls was examines in a study in which three identified human skulls were each compared to 97 lateral view and 98 frontal view mug-shot photographs using two television cameras, an electronic signal mixer, and a video monitor.
Abstract
The skulls were not from individuals represented by the photographs. All comparisons were done without using anterior dentition. Results revealed that 9.6 percent of the lateral view and 8.5 percent of the frontal view superimpositions were classified as a consistent fit based on the criteria that were identified. The incidence of false matches was reduced to 0.6 percent of the sample when a frontal view and lateral view photograph of the same individual were both compared to one skull. Findings indicated that without anterior dentition, skull/photograph superimposition is reliable when two or more photographs that clearly depict the facial features from different angles are used in the comparison. Photographs, tables, and 37 references (Author abstract modified)