The Art and Limitations of Police Sketches

When security cameras and facial recognition tools fail, law enforcement investigators fall back on a witness's memory and an artist's hand. Zachary Crockett's nose was a little bigger than that.

• SOURCES:
  • Lois Gibson, forensic artist.
  • David Sarni, adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Fighting Crime With Pencil and Paper," by J. David Goodman (New York Times, 2013)
  • "Something Sketchy About Identifying Suspects," by Stephen Owsinski (National Police Association).
  • "Forensic Art Certification Scope and Role," (International Association for Identification).
  • "Forensice Art Composites," (Samantha Steinberg).