Forensic art is referred to applying artistic skills such as drawing and image modifications to enhance the presentation of evidence in law enforcement or legal proceedings. These artistic skills of a forensic art specialist are commonly utilized in legal investigations, such as identifying a missing person or attempting to locate a suspect based on the testimony of an eyewitness. In some cases, they are also used to enhance a case’s visual aspects, such as video footage and eyewitness accounts.
There are various disciplines within the forensics art field. While an artist may specialize in multiple disciplines, most often, an artist specializes in one forensic art discipline using a particular medium.
Three major forensic art disciplines are composite sketching, age progression or image modification, and postmortem reconstruction.
The various artistic skills that a forensic art specialist uses are listed below.
- Composite Sketching: One of the most common types of work that they do is composite sketching, which is a process that involves drawing a single graphic image that is designed to resemble the description given by the victim or witness. Usually, these drawings are hand-drawn. However, more modernly, these are drawn using a computer/tablet screen and stylus or software programs, such as E-FIT and FACES. Based on the witness’s testimony, such programs allow the user to choose from a range of facial components to build up a likeness of the suspect.
- Image Modification: this is used to change and enhance a photograph to help an investigator and trial attorney. Examples include age progression/regression and clarifying images from CCTV footage to identify an individual.
- Age Progression/Regression: practical to determine a person’s appearance before or after some time. This is most commonly used in missing person cases or during cold cases when investigators need an idea of what an individual looked like years before or following the investigation.
- Image identification records a person’s distinguishing features for future reference. Investigators can use this tool to identify suspects who attempt to change their appearance to evade capture and study cold cases in which individuals may have changed their appearance since the event.
- Crime Scene Sketching: the drawing of a crime scene; in the sketch, an investigator includes measurements and dimensions to aid in displaying the scene’s layout. These sketches help support the information shown in photographs of the scene.
- Demonstrative Evidence: It is a law enforcement artistic technique that uses visual and physical materials used during legal proceedings as courtroom presentations or as investigative aids. These images can be everything from flat diagrams on illustration boards or multimedia animated crime scene reenactments. These are used to demonstrate aspects of the case, reconstruct an event, and illustrate what happened.
Forensic artists may also be called to assist with a postmortem drawing or facial reconstruction from a skull. This is done when human remains are recovered, but investigators have been unable to identify the body. The forensic artist’s image can assist investigators in searching missing person databases. DNA or dental comparisons can positively make the identification.
Based on the condition of the remains, the forensic artist must first decide whether to do a postmortem drawing from the morgue photos or a two or three-dimensional reconstruction of the face from the skull. The postmortem drawing would be done if enough soft tissue was still left on the skull. However, in most cases where the body is badly decomposed, facial reconstruction from the actual skull would have to be done.
- Postmortem Drawing: Postmortem reconstruction is when an artist uses clay sculpture, computer software, or pencil sketching to render a deceased person as they would have been in life. To create a postmortem reconstruction, a forensic artist references skeletal remains or photographs of remains. Postmortem reconstructions are most frequently used to identify unidentified and unclaimed remains.
- Facial Reconstruction: Method of identifying human remains in various conditions of decomposition. These include 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional facial reconstructions from the skull, sketches, and computer-generated images. For instance, in the case of an unidentified victim who has suffered significant injuries or severe decomposition, modifications may be made to restore the original appearance of the individual as best as possible while attempting to eliminate any signs of injury or death that may be upsetting.
- Forensic Sculpture: this is used to create three-dimensional models, usually using the skull of the victims. Other features are added, such as fake eyes and wigs to add realism. This process can also inform the investigators of specific characteristics of the victim – such as age, race, and gender—through detailed knowledge of the intricacies of skeletal structure and other corresponding features such as dental records. It is later photographed and used like postmortem and composite drawings. However, because forensic Sculpture relies heavily on assumptions made by the artist, it is not considered a legally recognized technique for identification. It is thus used in an advisory capacity only.
- Collaboration: forensic artists, anthropologists, and other professionals are used to help determine the age, sex, and race of an identified skull.
