Alphonse Bertillon

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Bertillon - Signalement Anthropometrique

Bertillon, Alphonse, fiche anthropométrique recto-verso

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The speaking portrait

Alphonse Bertillon (24 April 1853 – 13 February 1914) was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied the anthropological technique of anthropometry to law enforcement, creating an identification system based on physical measurements. Before Bertillon, law enforcement agencies had no systematic way to identify repeat offenders, as the technology for reliable photographic documentation did not exist, and many criminals operated under multiple aliases.

Biography

Alphonse Bertillon was born in Paris, France, into a family with a strong interest in the emerging field of anthropology. His father, Louis Bertillon, was a renowned physician and anthropologist. Despite his family's academic background, Bertillon initially struggled in his educational pursuits. However, his career took a significant turn when he joined the Parisian police force in 1879.

In the early 1880s, Bertillon developed a method to identify individuals based on various body measurements, including head length, head width, length of the middle finger, length of the left foot, and the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, among others. This system, known as Bertillonage, was the first scientific system used by police to identify criminals. By 1884, the Paris Police Department had officially adopted Bertillon's system, and it quickly spread to other countries.

Bertillon System

The Bertillon System or Bertillonage involved taking a series of measurements of specific body parts of individuals who were arrested. These measurements, along with photographs (front and profile views, known as mug shots) and detailed descriptions of distinguishing marks or features, were recorded on cards that were then systematically filed. This allowed for the identification of repeat offenders and was a significant advancement in criminal investigation techniques at the time.

Despite its initial success, the Bertillon System had limitations. It was labor-intensive and required precise measurement, which could lead to errors. Moreover, the system was based on the assumption that adult bone structures do not change, which is not entirely accurate. The advent of fingerprinting as a more reliable and simpler method of identification led to the decline of anthropometry in criminal identification by the early 20th century.

Legacy

Alphonse Bertillon's contributions to criminal anthropology and forensic science cannot be understated. His work laid the groundwork for the modern practice of criminal identification. While the Bertillon System itself was eventually superseded by fingerprinting, Bertillon is also credited with standardizing the use of photography in criminal investigation, including the establishment of the mug shot as a standard practice.

Bertillon's work extended beyond his identification system. He was also involved in crime scene investigation, developing methods for the systematic collection and examination of physical evidence. This included the early use of ballistics and the study of bloodstains, which are now standard practices in forensic science.

Death and Recognition

Alphonse Bertillon died on 13 February 1914 in Paris. His legacy lives on in the field of forensic science and criminal investigation. Despite the eventual obsolescence of his anthropometric system, his innovative approach to criminal identification and his contributions to the standardization of forensic methods have had a lasting impact.