The Economics of Everyday Things 98. Police Sketches
The Surprising Power and Pitfalls of Police Sketches in Crime Solving
Police sketches, drawings based on witnesses' memories, remain a crucial tool for law enforcement even in the era of surveillance cameras and facial recognition. Lois Gibson, a legendary forensic artist with the Houston Police Department, shares how her sketches helped solve over 1,300 cases, including cold homicides, with about a 30% success rate. However, sketches are limited by the accuracy of human memory — witnesses may exaggerate or misremember features, which leads to potential misidentifications.
Moreover, computer-generated composites are sometimes less effective because their overly precise images discourage public tips; hand-drawn sketches convey approximation, inviting recognition. While sketches can initiate arrests, detectives stress that they are just the starting point — additional evidence and lineup identification are needed to confirm suspects and avoid wrongful convictions. The artist's role is to capture impressions, but the criminal justice system must carefully evaluate the evidence to ensure accurate outcomes.
Lois Gibson's Traumatic Start
- Lois Gibson survived a violent attack before becoming a forensic artist for the Houston Police Department.
- She worked there for over three decades and contributed to over 1,300 police sketches leading to arrests.
Handling Trauma with Empathy
- Begin with easing the witness into conversation to handle trauma before sketching.
- Gather basic descriptive details before starting the composite sketch process.