bertillon system
The police officer uses the Bertillon system to record a suspect's measurements.
Noun: A system or procedure for identifying persons, specifically a method of criminal identification using detailed body measurements, physical descriptions, and photographs. It was an early form of anthropometry used by law enforcement.
The Bertillon system is used as a historical term to refer to a specific, now obsolete, method of identification. * The police department's archives contained Bertillon system cards for criminals from the early 20th century. * Before fingerprinting became standard, many countries relied on the Bertillon system. * The failure of the Bertillon system in a famous case led to the wider adoption of fingerprinting.
- The term is often used in historical or forensic contexts to discuss the evolution of identification techniques.
- It can be referenced critically to highlight the limitations of early biometric systems, which were susceptible to error if measurements were taken incorrectly or if the subject's body changed over time.
- Bertillonage (n): Another term for the practice or process of using the Bertillon system.
- Anthropometry (n): The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. The Bertillon system is a specific application of anthropometry.
- Anthropometric identification
- Bertillon method
- (Historical) criminal identification system
- Bertillon card/record: The specific form or card on which an individual's measurements and photographs were recorded under this system.
The police officer uses the Bertillon system to record a suspect's measurements.
- a system or procedure for identifying persons