mug file
Definition
Noun: A collection of photographs, specifically frontal portraits of individuals' faces, maintained by a law enforcement agency for identification purposes. These are typically photographs of people who have been arrested or are suspected of criminal activity.
Usage
A "mug file" is a physical or digital archive used by police. It is a specialized type of file where the primary content is "mug shots" (booking photographs).
Examples
- The detective searched the mug file for a suspect matching the witness's description.
- New digital systems have replaced the old physical mug file of printed photographs.
- Officers updated the mug file with the arrestee's photograph and details.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in the context of police procedure, criminal investigations, and forensic identification.
- While traditionally a physical file, the concept now commonly refers to a digital database.
Variants and Related Words
- Mug shot (noun): The individual photograph of a person's face, typically taken after an arrest.
- The suspect's mug shot was added to the file.
- Rogues' gallery (noun): A historical term for a collection of photographs or descriptions of known criminals.
Synonyms
- Photo file
- Police photo file
- Booking photo database
Related Phrases
- To be in the mug file: To have one's photograph stored in this police archive.
- He was arrested years ago, so he's probably in the mug file.
- To check the mug file: To review the archive during an investigation.
- The first step was to check the mug file for known burglars in the area.
Noun
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a file of mug shots (pictures of criminals that are kept on file by the police)