IDENTI-KIT HANDBOOK

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
18
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 4, 2011
Sequence Number: 
61
Case Number: 
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6.pdf876.56 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 C 0 N E T~AL IDENTI-KIT HANDBOOK ,J~ J ~~ ''I C00 Ni i ; J . -. i ti J ' Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 IDENTI - KIT HANDBOOK -------------------------- Table of Contents FOREWORD Page No. 1 I. IDENTI-KIT 2 A. INTRODUCTION TO IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM 2 B. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF KIT 4 C. OPERATION OF KIT 6 D. CODING II. PSYCHOLOGY OF USE 9 A. INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES B. TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION III. CHARACTERISTICS CATALOG AGELINES (27) A BEARDS & MUSTACHES (19) B CHIN LINES (52) C EYE BROWS (80) D FACE COLORS (4) F GLASSES (9) G HAIR (102) H LIPS (33) L NOSES (32) N SCAR GRID (1) S HEAD GEAR (14) T EYES (102) 12 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 FOREWORD This handbook is intended for the use of the Identi-Kit operator as an aid in the interrogation of witnesses and as an instruction manual in the operation of the Identi-Kit. The first portion of the book is concerned with a description of the Identi-Kit and its manner of use. The next section is devoted to the interrogation techniques and techniques of observation which can result in ob- taining facial likenesses of the subject more accurately. The final portion of the handbook presents a complete illustrative catalog of the facial character- istics and accessories contained in the kit. These are arranged in order by characteristic, and are to be used by an operator or witness as an aid in deter- mining the facial make-up of a subject. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 1. THE IDENTI-KIT A. INTRODUCTION TO IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM In those fields requiring identification of individuals the Identi-Kit meets the need existing for a method or system to adequately describe and record recognizable facial characteristics of an individual. Such characteristics must be capable of being tabulated or coded in such a manner as to provide a ready catalog or file system by which a particular individual could be identified once his facial code data was established. The determination of individual human characteristics on a scientific basis was conceived by Bertillon at the beginning of the century. He called his identification system the "Portrait Parle" and while certain portions of this method of measurements have been used extensively by law enforcement agencies all over the world with tremendous success, until the Identi-Kit was developed no practical means had been utilized for describing an individual for visual iden- tification with respect to facial characteristics. The use of Bertillon' s methods, however, has made possible all of the infallible methods of identification that are acceptable today; that is, fingerprints, palm prints, poroscopy, and so forth. The basic premise of these systems is the scientifically established fact that Nature never repeats herself. Unfortunately, the use of these methods re- quires a physical contact of some type with the individual or suspect in order to obtain a "print" adequate for cataloguing and identification. On the other hand, with the Identi-Kit, no contact with the subject other than visual is required. The Identi-Kit system produces a head-on view of an individual and is compatible with the photographic system in use by all police forces producing the so-called "mug shots" showing a head-on and side view photograph of an individual' s face. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 A limit exists in that recognition of one human being by another human being, as a result of reducing to pictorial or schematic form certain character- istics which are peculiar to the subject who is to be recognized in combination with word descriptions of certain physical and habitual peculiarities, presents psychological problems which must be overcome. If it were possible to visually compare every natural mark and line in a human face with an adequate photo- graph of a subject, wherein all of those lines and marks were discernible, it would be possible to make complete and positive identification of an individual. Such a system, as a means of positive identification, is not practical for several reasons, the primary one which is the inability of the human eye and brain to look at a person' s face and see all of the natural marks and lines and to retain in their memory the exact location on that face so that a pictorial representa- tion could be made. The recognition of the impossibility of providing for this system is evident. Recognizing the fact that any system of visual identification must be limited in its practicability, consideration must be given to a concept of visual identification that is suitable for the requirements at hand. The Identi-Kit con- cept, in order to offer a practical and utilitarian approach, is actually based upon a process of elimination in which, by means of visual comparison, great numbers of possible individuals are eliminated because they do not approach, in any way, a comparative likeness of the wanted subject. The process of elimination should first be by means of the physical char- acteristics currently used by law enforcement agencies such as weight, height, hair coloring, and such similar physical data and then, further elimination is accomplished by the use of the visual or pictorial technique provided by the Identi -Kit . ?N1II ` (I -3- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 B. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF KIT The Identi-Kit is available in two models; one model containing 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" transparent picture slides, and the other, a smaller model, for 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" slides. Each Identi-Kit consists of a container, transparent pictorial slides, and a handbook. Containers The larger metal container is a portable filing and storage bin for the films and handbook. When opened and latched into position this unit provides a table for operation of the kit. The handbook is retained in the left hand tray under the make-up pad. This pad is removable and can be placed on a table for greater freedom of operation if so desired. The right-hand tray can be used for dis- carded film, note paper, pencils, etc. Each half of the container is inscribed with the proper filing position of the films. This con- tainer is capable of being divided into two sections for insertion in a large brief case. The smaller container for the card size films is merely a storage receptacle for the slides and the handbook. A make-up pad is not provided, the slides being of such size that they can be easily handled in the hand for make-up. Slides The transparent pictorial slides are divided into groups of identifying facial characteristics and accessories, each of these groups having its own code letter and every slide in each respective group having an individual number. Each of these slides is coded with its respective letter and number code at the top of the slide for filing purposes, and at the bottom of the slide for final code reading of the completed picture. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 -5- In the larger model, each film has 5 notches along its side which are to lengthen or shorten any desired facial characteristic. The make-up pad of this model has an index pointer which acts as a regis- tration device. As each slide is placed on the pad the pointer fits into one of the five notches. The particular notch position of each individual slide on the make-up pad is noted in the final code reading. Some of the slides are notched on both sides for reversal of the slide on the make-up pad in order to obtain a more accurate representation. When a film is used in reverse position, this is also noted in the final code reading. Handbook The catalog portion of the handbook contains a picture of each slide together with its code letter and number. These pictures are grouped by code letter (pictorial group) but are not placed in numerical sequence. The catalog is used to select the particular individual facial character- istic or accessory which most closely illustrates the pictorial repre- sentation under consideration. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 C. OPE R.ATI ONj 9F KIT In building lO. a facial representation of a subject, slides of each group are selected on the; basis of the catalog illustrations and assembled one upon the other on the inae-up pad, in case of the larger model, or in the hand, in case of the sma14erl model. The individual slides when assembled will form a line drawing zepresentation of a face viewed head-on compatible with a head-on view produced by a "mug shot". Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 D. CODING The Identi-Kit code readings are to be used for transmittal and/or re- cording purposes. There are two aspects of coding from the Identi-Kit: (1) Coding of facial characteristics and accessories by.means of the code letter, number and notch used of each slide, and (2) Coding of scars, moles or marks on the face by use of the Scar Grid. 1. Coding of Facial Characteristics and Accessories When the code reading is determined by use of overlaid slides, it is obtained from the reading on the bottom of the slides. An example utilizing all facial characteristics and accessories would thus appear: A F N C E L D H G B T 17 01 21 30 76 16 55 92 07 11 12 The coding as presented from the above reading would be re- corded and/or transmitted as below: A17 F01 N21 C30 E76 L16 D55 H92 G07 B11 T12 Should any of the slides be raised or lowered by means of the notches on the side of the slide, the code of the respective slide would have the code notation of that particular notch. The coding of the five notches are: Xl - for the lowest notch X2 - for the next to lowest notch X3 - normal position (it is not necessary to note this position in code as it is assumed unless otherwise noted) X4 - for the next to highest notch X5 - for the highest notch As an example, the raising of the Hair to "X4" position and the lowering of the nose to a "Xl" position would make the code noted above read: A17 F01 N21X1 C30 E76 L16 D55 H92X4 G07 B11 T12 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 turned over, tbe- code. letter - " is added to the code: of the'rei O pective slide. ''AB; an: examp l.. tke -use ",of a,reveraed Hair 04* would re'olt in the following eode v-1H99 C4R ' WI en the coding, of the facial cbaracteriatics, and aicaes$ories.' As obtained by use., yf . the handbook , the same procedure is.. formed with the Operator obt tng the code number of the U. vidual characteriBttc and accessories: from the catalog p U 'ol the' hacdboik..-, owever', the 004k position cs *not be ue?ed when .transwittlAS4i kardiug the fr catalog ibis or r *es 'the sm~allarr taM iel, is uedd ,gd scars.,' moles oaf":: Idwr - The prat at "8" together --the 'IV" prefix and caber of to , wrarticii place a on tl Scar-. ;'and thr "Us' pi~e ?' number :,the how lslr~ p emQnt o the Scar Cori d, is used to, sites . the'`poaltis>a~ of *'acar,, maw aoct rks on the face. F, KU 11H tI a Coati is e o ny pmrens E 1 I pal!il! j"i!II;III!!Iilill!iili~!I! ~ i~'ilil!!I! the scar, Grid over., ' the aon%ple picture a4d noting the vertical . horizoutat' poai of these it o ", JV Should any of these films bd.useO n reversed pos#tisaf I. e.., tying marks. An example of the is .illustrated-On the right. The cods' reading from' a example womW be ef`hi ~ft! to 6A EMIM, V.7 to 4 0 -A AA ,ant. A91 ''4~h tits u rmiAativn of a~ a t :ot scars, motes and other marks iii made from the cat'al the same type; of.coding insd by utfli ng,%4 Scar- Grid .iUu ralien O pegs superior- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 -9 - II - PSYCHOLOGY OF USE A. TECHNIQUES OF OBSERVATION Because of its unique capabilities, the use of the Identi-Kit presents a new area of observation and requires recognition techniques with which most people are completely unfamiliar. The kit operator will notice that viewing the characteristic portions of the human face alone and not in their proper relation- ship with the rest of the face presents an identification problem that can be over- come only by modifying his present method of observation. He will find that this problem is present in an even greater degree by a witness who has viewed a sub- ject without contemplating the need for reconstruction of that face, feature by feature. People are just not familiar with viewing a pair of eyes, or a nose, or a mouth removed from the rest of the face. The usual manner of looking at a man's face is to see the whole face at one time, thereby forming a mental picture of the sum total of all the com- ponents of the face. Unfortunately, when the eyes, nose or mouth is removed from a face that has been viewed in this manner, the witness may fail to recog- nize it because it has been removed from its normal association with the other facial parts. Here it is being seen individually and not as a part of the entire picture. In order to become proficient in the use of the Identi-Kit, the observer must change his observation habits. He must learn to view the component parts of the face individually, and not as a part of the whole. In order to accomplish this change, it is necessary to make the observations in a definite pattern. A pattern of observation that has been found to be very effective has the observer first view the face of the subject to establish the presence or absence of age lines, wrinkles, permanent scars or marks. If any of these exigt, he will com- mit to memory their location on the face as related to the fixed portions of the face. If there are no such lines or marks, he will commit this fact to memory. The permanent lines, wrinkles and scars or marks of the face, or the absence of any of these, are important identifying data. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 After committing such primary identifying data to memory, the observer then views and commits to memory the hair line of the subject, not in relationship to the rest of the face, but as an individual hair line that might fit on any face. He should observe the eyes and eyebrows, noting their size, shape and expression; then the nose as to size, shape and length. This is followed by the mouth. Here the observer should view the mouth as to size, shape, and particularly the mouth line. Is it straight, turned up, or turned down? Are the lips heavy or thin? The mouth characteristics should be com- mitted to memory as an individual component, and not viewed in relationship with the other portions of the face. Lastly, the chin line should be memorized as to shape, size, and contour of the jaw line from the base of each ear to the point of the chin. After this process, the observer will view and categorize the subject as to the general physical characteristics, size, weight, and complexion, no- ticing peculiarities of manner and the general circumstances surrounding the subject. The observer will find that by continually following this pattern of observation he will be able to recall the data from his memory by following the same pattern in the recall process. He will become accustomed to view- ing component parts of the face as individual parts9 and will be able to identify them as individual parts on the slides of the "Identi-Kit". When all of these individual parts are recognized and placed on the viewing plate, the resulting picture will be a striking likeness of the subject. The adoption of this viewing pattern is not a tiring process nor a long one. The observer will find that in only a very few minutes of practice he will be able to conform with the pattern, and he will be surprised to discover that his process of recall from memory has been improved tremendously, almost immediately. The use of this observation pattern will simplify the use of the "Identi- Kit" and will clear up the confusion created by the inability to recognize indivi- dual component parts of the face. Invariably, a novice operator, when first Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 using the kit, will be unable to produce a good likeness, even if the subject is seated in front of him. Once he understands the observations pattern and tech- nique, he will be able to reproduce a likeness rapidly and accurately. When the operator is confronted with an untrained witness who has viewed a subject in the usual manner and who cannot recognize the individual parts of the face, a helpful technique in successfully completing a likeness of the wanted subject is to instruct the witness in the use of the kit and allow him to use it. This increases his interest, acquanits him with the operating process and keeps his attention. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 B. INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES The basic problem presented to the interrogator or kit operator is that of extracting from the memory of another individual, the witness, the necessary data to construct a recognizable likeness of a person the individual has viewed sometime in the past. In most cases there is an attitude of com- plete cooperation on the part of the person trying to furnish the information, but a difficulty arises by his inability to recall from memory the faciJ details required. At least part of this failure is the result of lack of understanding of the process of "memory recall". It therefore becomes necessary for the kit operator to explain the phenomona of "Memory Recall", and describe techniques that will assist the individual in accomplishing the desired results. The follow- ing explanation has been found to be very effective: "The human brain is probably the greatest filing system known in all of the world. It is a fact that everything the human eye sees is indelibly recorded on the brain. If twenty years ago the witness had seen a very complicated piece of machinery with hundreds of moving parts, the image of that piece of machinery is still filed away in the brain. It is there in all of the minutest detail. Every other object seen by the human eye over the years is also filed away in the human brain. This scientific fact is proven in various ways, the most common of which is the pro- cess of recession in hypnotism. In this process an adult is hypnotized and taken back through the years to his childhood days. fie is then able to recall circumstances vividly and to describe objects and persons in detail that he has not recalled or thought of in any way for many years. The hypnotist makes no suggestions as to the subject. The memory recall is entire- ly voluntary. The subject can then be transported mentally forward through the years, recalling incident after incident accurately, proving conclusively that the information is filed Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 in the brain, and that the inability of an individual to remember is only the result of a failure in perfecting a method of recall. This explanation should help in convincing the witness that the informa- tion the operator is trying to extract from his memory is actually there and that it can be recalled if the proper recall pattern is applied. Once the sub- ject believes this to be true, his attitude, which might have been I-just-can't- do-anj-more, will change and he will begin to cooperate with the operator in trying to discover the proper recall pattern. The operator must be very cautious at this point and not suggest any specific features to the witness. The witness is literally racking his brain trying to recall the desired information, and if specific suggestions are made, it is likely that subconsciously he will accept the suggestion, and in a short time hand it bacK to the operator as a bit of recall information. The witness, in following this pattern, is quite sincere, and does not realize that he is using the suggestion of the operator. Rather than suggesting certain facial features, the operator should use the following technique which has been proven to be very helpful: The operator should question the witness as to the exact circumstances under which he viewed the individual in question. He should insist upon the most minute detail in the description of those circumstances, i. e. , a man sit- ting in a cafe drinking it cup of coffee. Exactly how was he dressed? With which hand did he handle the cup? Between which fingers did he hold the handle of the cup? What was the color and specific design of his tie? The operator will refrain from referring to the facial characteristics during this type of interrogation. Oniy after he has completed the entire pic- ture of the surrounding circumstances in the most minute detail will he again refer to the facial characteristics. It will be found that by forcing the witness to remember the details in the less important areas, their ability to recall Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 the detail in the facial characteristics will be greatly improved. In those cases where the witness denies complete ability to recall the identifying data desired, it is suggested that the operator consider a different technique. Take the very vague and general descriptive material forthcoming from any witness and reduce this material to a pictorial likeness representing the operator's conception of the individual. This pictorial representation should be constructed out of view of the witness. The complete picture should then.be shown to the witness and the question asked, "Is this a good likeness of the man you are trying to describe?" The witness will, in most cases, answer yes or no. If the answer is yes, the operator should destroy the picture and then in- sist upon the witness rebuilding it. If the answer is no, the witness automatically and almost without knowledge, affirms the fact that they would recognize a proper likeness, that they do know exactly what the subject looks like, and, in fact, did recognize immediately that the picture in front of them was not a proper likeness. At this point the operator should begin the process of trying each of the features individually in the picture or allowing the witness to do this himself. This negative recognition indicates that when the proper characteristic is placed in the picture, the witness will probably recognize it. If the witness's answer to the question is neither yes nor no, but "I don't know", it is quite possible that the witness truly can be of no assistance. In this case, the witness's story as to the circumstances under which he saw the subject should be investigated thoroughly. The investigation will probably show that the witness did not actually see the person or saw him under such cir- cumstances as to prevent a positive identification. In those most difficult cases where it is obvious to the operator that the witness did actually view the subject in question, and where all other tech- niques have failed in producing the required data, the following method may be successful: The interrogator will reduce all of the information available regarding the subject, the circumstances surrounding the viewing, the mannerisms, etc. , to writing, and then by apply- ing a process of analytical thinking, separate those items which Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 he can definitely pinpoint as being facts, I. e. , a subject was a very large person, both in height and in weight, with a large paunch, heavy, thick neck, and fat hands. He was seen in a cafe, let us say, that caters almost entirely to Italians. His manners were loud and coarse. Having pinpointed the above observations as to being possible identifica- tion factors, it becomes possible to determine that the facial characteristics of the man would certainly not be slender or fine; that the jaw line could hardly be pointed, that the lips would most probably not be thin, etc. An operator, by virtue of his experience in the field of facial synthesis, would be projecting from a basis provided by known facts and further authenticated by the depth of his experience. He would build a face that would fit the skeletal description, plus a figure picture. Mannerisms, which so often result from the individual's desire to compensate for facial appearances, often provide detail with such accuracy as to provide a startling likeness of the individual so described, to the point where the witness's memory would be orientated into complete recall of the errors contained in the picture, thus enabling the witness to apply corrective measures. In those cases where the operator suspects the witness is deliberately lying, either for the purpose of giving a faulty description to mislead the oper- ator, or where the witness is claiming to have seen a certain person and has never actually seen him, but is trying to collect some type of reward for com- ing up with a good description, the following technique may be used to expose the lie. The operator will determine all of the supporting information before going into the detail of the facial characteristics. The general physical des- cription of the individual will indicate, at least generally, the type of facial characteristics. The operator will then begin the process of obtaining the identifying data regarding the facial characteristics. During this process he will suggest that he has some other source of information concerning the facial o"i Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 d. _ Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6 -16- appearance of the individual, and is using this witness only to fill in the blank spots. The operator will then indicate certain features that have already been placed in the face by the other source. These features will not be compatible with the general description. If the witness agrees that these features are the proper ones, and completes the picture with matching features resulting in an entire face that is completely incompatible with the other physical features, it is obvious that he is only agreeing with what he thinks is another source of in- formation and that he is not concerned with setting forth the true facts. If he has never seen the person and is only making the attempt for purposes of re- ward, he will quickly agree with the supposed other source. If, on the other hand, he actually knows the individual, and is deliberately attempting to re- produce a picture that does not in any way resemble the subject, he will realize that his purpose is being well served by agreeing with the other source. This technique is almost fool proof. It affords the liar the very oppor- tunity he is seeking. It offers support of the lie from some other source and affords the operator a system that he can use to definitely trap the liar, leaving no doors open for him to wiggle out. Once the witness has definitely stated that the likeness in front of him is a true likeness of the subject, he is trapped. Another technique that can be used to trap the liar, but which is some- what more obvious, is for the operator to request that the witness construct a picture of a subject whom the operator either knows, or has a picture of. He will emphasize the importance of the identification and the amount of reward forthcoming if a good picture is constructed. Any attempt to construct a picture of this individual is subject to a direct comparison with a good picture of the in- dividual, or the operator's knowledge of him, and the truth is quickly eptablished. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04: CIA-RDP78-03642A000500030061-6