Bertillon Method Notes
8.19.11
Methods of Identification?
Methods of Identification?

Fingerprint

DNA

Iris (eye) scan

Voice recognition
software

Blood type
Late 1800’s

Prior to current technologies, law
enforcement had no reliable way to
identify individuals

Problem?
Late 1800’s

Prior to current technologies, law
enforcement had no reliable way to
identify individuals

Problem? -Many repeat offenders were
booked as first time criminals due to
lack of proper identification, thus they
were not given the appropriate sentence
Alphonse Bertillon
In 1879 he devised a system of
measurement that could reliably identify
an individual
 Started with 9 basic measurements,
currently over 1,000 are used
 Became standard identification system
until early 1900s, replaced by
fingerprints

Measurement Details
Height
2. Stretch: length of body
from left shoulder to tip of
right middle finger with arm
to side
3. “Bust”: Length of torso
from head to seat, taken
when seated
4. Length of head: crown
(back) to forehead
1.
Measurement Details
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Width of head: temple to
temple
Length of right ear
Length of left foot
Length of left middle finger
Length of left cubit: elbow
to middle fingertip