We meet every day different people: kind, sad, strange, tall, obese, beautiful, funny ... Each person with whom some kind of communication takes place leaves a certain trace in our psyche. These "traces" are not without verbal description the appearance of the subject. In our mind or in a conversation with a girlfriend, we always rely on aspects of describing a person's appearance.

Description of a person's appearance: purpose

There are sciences that study the appearance of people, such as psychology, philology, forensics and some others. Doctors also encounter elements of the description of appearance when they study the history of the disease or the psychotype of the patient. This process is indispensable in business, especially show business. In modeling agencies, the appearance of a girl or a guy plays a key role, therefore, when meeting with the desired model in absentia, the investor or director first gets acquainted with the verbal portrait of the subject.

Description of appearance in everyday life broadens the horizon, contributes to the formation of taste and appreciation of people. In addition, the interlocutor can easily form the image of the described person in the mind according to certain adjectives.

In psychology, the description of appearance is also in an important place. Whole theories of personality and its behavior are based on the appearance of individuals. For example, Kretschmer's theory directly links the temperament, character and orientation of a person with his physique. And not only he noted a certain relationship between external data and the internal mood of people. Over the years, our emotions and stress leave an imprint on our appearance in the form of wrinkles, gait, gestures.

In jurisprudence, there is a huge section called forensic science. This science also uses the scientific description of a person's appearance, defining the criteria and rules for this process. Here, the description is also an important process, since victims and witnesses remember criminals according to external data. In this science, attention is paid to every element of the face, torso, limbs of a person. Along with this, they pay attention to clothes and other signs when they are looking for the missing.

Types of description of appearance

There are many varieties of theories and rules that allow you to describe a person externally as accurately as possible. But this process as a whole can be divided into two main types:

• arbitrary- which is characterized by the use of common folk words, not structured, so important points may be missed;
• systematized- used with the use of scientific or technical terms, compiled according to the method of verbal portrait.

What are the anatomical features of a person?

Description of a person's appearance is what many people encounter when communicating. There are times when you need to talk about a particular person, describing his appearance. Children may also experience this. school age, for example, if they were given the task to write an essay: "Description of a person's appearance."

Anatomical features of a person include organs and parts of the body, such as the head, chin, forehead, face or torso.

By anatomical features, you can determine the sex of a person, his age, height and physique. You can also determine the anthropological features of the appearance of a person, the structure of his body and head, and also an element of the face. Since the face is considered the "cover" that characterizes the appearance of a person, special attention is paid to it.

What characteristics are related to the functional description?

The description of a person's appearance cannot take place without determining his functional characteristics. The latter are manifested during human life. They characterize motor and physiological functions. A functional description of a person's appearance reflects the features of the manifestation of his life activity. Characteristics related to functional traits include posture, gestures, facial expressions, gait, and speech.

Creating a verbal portrait of a person, describing the appearance and determining its functional features, first of all, many pay attention to posture. It can be traced by the position of the head - its relation to the body. Also, posture is determined by the position of the body relative to the vertical. Describing it, you can use the following adjectives: hunched, stooped, free, straight and loose. For example, hands can be located along the body, on the hips, behind the back or in pockets. And the head is thrown back, tilted forward, or tilted to one of the sides.

When a student writes thematic essay: "Description of a person's appearance", then he can use adjectives to characterize the gait of this person. It can be, for example, slow, shuffling, heavy, bouncing, wobbling, fast, mincing, waddling, and waving its arms.

The verbal description of a person's appearance according to functional characteristics can be continued for a long time, because, as mentioned above, this includes gestures, facial expressions, as well as speech functions.

Methods of verbal portrait

A verbal portrait is a forensic way of describing a person's appearance using special terms. This method is carried out by a certain system for the purpose of criminal registration (for example, search and identification of living people or corpses).

Methods of verbal portrait are used to identify a person. This can be done by presenting for identification, comparing the appearance with a photographic portrait, with a verbal portrait, as well as comparing a verbal portrait with a photographic image.

Arbitrary description of appearance

Characteristics of a person and a description of his appearance can be made in an arbitrary way. They are given by eyewitnesses with words and expressions used in everyday speech. These can be household terms, local dialects, and the like.

Any person who saw the incident can give an arbitrary description. Moreover, he does this with the help of words familiar to him, without using scientific terms. Such descriptions often help criminalists find the right person.

Systematization in the description of a person's appearance

Systematized is a description by the method of verbal portrait. Basics of systematization in late XIX century laid Alphonse Bertillon. Such a description helps to uniformly characterize the elements of people's appearance, their signs and equally perceive the result of the description. There are also basic principles for describing appearance, through which uniformity is achieved. These are the principles:

• on the use of standardized terminology;
• on compliance with the sequence in the description;
• about maximum completeness;
• about the description in full face and in the right profile;
• description, which is carried out in relation to the standard position of the head and the state of appearance;
• about the description, in which special signs stand out.

What are the rules for describing appearances?

There are also rules developed by criminologists for describing a person's appearance, with the help of which a person is characterized by the method of a verbal portrait. This includes the completeness of the description of appearance. After all, the speed of searching for a person primarily depends on this, because it is not known by what signs it will be possible to find it.

The next rule is the sequence of description. This includes general physical characteristics such as gender and age. Then an anatomical description already takes place (for example, the figure as a whole, neck, shoulders, chest, back, head, including the face).

Then there is a description using special terminology. This is necessary in order to ensure a uniform understanding of the information received. But the sources of information are divided into subjective and objective.

The use of adjectives in describing a person in a picture

At first glance, it may seem that making a description of a person's appearance from a picture is not so difficult. But this will not be difficult if we know the person well, and if not, then some effort will have to be made. The first thing you need is to know adjectives well, with which you can make a description.

For example, looking at a picture, you can describe a person's head using adjectives that indicate its size: small, medium, or large. You can characterize a person’s hair from a picture using the following criteria: abundance, length, type, color or frontal line. Hair can be thick, medium or sparse. Length - short, medium length or long. Hair type can be straight, wavy and curly. Color - light blond, blond, dark blond, black and red. And the frontal line is straight, arcuate, wavy and broken.

Looking at the picture, you can use any adjectives to describe the face of a person as a whole, his forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, lips, teeth, chin, ear and neck. It also characterizes the shoulders, chest, back, arms and legs.

Characteristics of the appearance of a Russian person

Another mystery for ethnopsychologists, physiognomists, philologists is the appearance of a Russian person. It is not very easy to describe it, because it is a very vague concept. Many say that a real Russian person should have blue eyes, blond hair and a flat, tall figure. But if we go deeper into this issue, then it can be light or dark brown or blue eyes, as well as all colors and shades of green. The hair is light or dark blond and very thick, and the figure is slender, tall. There is no regularity in the shape of the nose and lips of a Russian person. They can be completely different. But the skin of Russians is often light and matte.

The ratio of the characteristics of a person and the description of his appearance

A few centuries ago, some scientists noticed a correspondence appearance and some character traits, personality characteristics. A full person is characterized by addictions (for example, to food), that is, he has weak willpower. Such people are guided by the opinions of others, friendly and love communication.

People with a visually large head and shoulders love risk, are prone to physical activity, but do not differ in mercy and compassion.

Thin people with a high forehead and a narrow chest are characterized as sensitive, loving solitude, quiet, secretive, inactive in communication.

There are theories that link complexion, its asymmetry, impulsiveness with the lifestyle that a person leads. The description of appearance in this case will be based on the external characteristics and characteristics of human activity.

In addition, there is back side this process. It is necessary to pay attention to who makes the description of the person's appearance. Example: a person who is inclined to control everything will first describe the leadership traits of a person and his behavior in this vein. Subjects seeking to constantly enrich themselves will pay attention to the cost of watches, cosmetics on the face and clothes, and so on.

The male, about 27 years old, European type, about 180 cm tall, average build.

Head medium height, oval shape.

Hair dark, straight, of medium density and length, the hairline is M-shaped, the hair is not combed.

Face oval, with medium features, medium fullness, convex profile. The forehead is of medium height and width, straight, tilted back.

Brows arcuate, long, tapering to the temples, oblique position, closely spaced, high, medium density.

Eyes almond-shaped, of medium length and opening, oblique position, gray-blue, with a moderately pronounced lower eyelid.

Nose of medium height (length), width, protrusion and depth of the nasal bridge, with a sinuous contour of the back of the nose, the base is horizontal.

Mouth of medium length, the corners of the mouth are horizontal, lips protruding in profile, the contour of the lips closing is straight, the height of the upper lip is medium.

The chin oval profile, low height, medium width, protruding.

auricles medium size, sloping back, general protrusion, rectangular in shape, with a separate attachment of the earlobe to the cheek.

hairline missing on the face.

Neck medium height and thickness, straight.

Special signs: No

dressed in a black T-shirt

With personal observation, the functional elements of appearance are described.

Questions for self-control on topic 9:

1. A system for classifying signs of a person's appearance,
2. Own elements and signs of a person's appearance.

3. Associated elements and signs of a person's appearance.

4. Special signs of a person's appearance.

5. Rules for describing appearance using the verbal portrait method,
6. Concept and types of subjective portraits.

7. The use of verbal and subjective portraits in the search activity of the internal affairs bodies.

8. Patterns of changes in the external appearance of a person.

9. Sources of information about the appearance of a person.

10. Displays of the external appearance of a person used in forensics
practice.

Additional reading on topic 9:

1. Alenin A.P., Dubyagin Yu.P., Kuznetsov A.A. The use of a verbal portrait in the search activity of the internal affairs bodies: Educational and practical guide. Omsk, 1996.

2. Restoration of the face from the skull in forensics; Tutorial/ Comp. B.A. Fedosyutkin et al., 1990.

3.Zinin A.M. The use of subjective portraits. M., 1996.

4. Forensic description of a person's appearance; Textbook / Under the general. ed. V.M. Snetkov, 1993.

7. Toporkov A.A. Verbal portrait.; Practical guide. M. .1999.

8. Tsvetkov P.P., Petrov V.P. Personal identification by photographs. L., 1996,

When verbally fixing the signs of appearance, they are guided by special rules that are part of the "verbal portrait" technique. A verbal portrait is a forensic method of describing a person's appearance using common terms, carried out according to a certain system for the purpose of criminal registration, search and identification of living persons and corpses.

The description rules according to the verbal portrait method are based on the interconnected principles of consistency and completeness. The principle of consistency determines the sequence (order) of the description. The principle of completeness provides a detailed description.

1. First, signs are recorded that characterize the general physical elements of appearance: gender, age, nationality (anthropological type), height, physique, then anatomical signs of individual areas of the body and elements; after that - functional signs of related items.

2. The description of signs of appearance is carried out according to the scheme "from general to particular" and "from top to bottom". At the same time, they first characterize the figure as a whole, the head as a whole, the face as a whole, its individual elements, neck, shoulders, back, chest, arms, legs.

3. Each of the anatomical elements is characterized by shape, size and position, and some by color.

3.1. When describing the form, the name of geometric lines (round, oval, rectangular, triangular, etc.) or geometric lines (straight, convex, sinuous, etc.) is used.

3.2. The description of the dimensions of the elements is given not in absolute terms, but in relation to other elements of the exterior. At the same time, its height, length, width, quantity, etc. are characterized. The gradation of values ​​is most often three-term: large, medium, small. Five-membered can also be used, with the addition of: very large and very small. With a seven-term gradation, they add: "above average", "below average". If there are doubts about the size characteristic, then it is indicated in two values: "medium-small", "large-medium".

3.3. The position of the element is determined relative to the vertical and horizontal planes of the body (horizontal, inclined, beveled inward, etc.), as well as by mutual position (fused, separate).

3.4. Hair is characterized by color (black, dark blond, light blond, blond, red, gray); eyes (black, brown, grey, etc.) and sometimes skin color (very red, yellow, bluish-red nose, birthmark color, etc.).

4. For the description, uniform terms accepted in the verbal portrait should be used, excluding discrepancy and ambiguity.

5. Anatomical features are described in relation to two angles: front view and side view (full face and right profile). In this case, the head should be in a "normal" position, when the horizontal line passes through the bridge of the nose, the outer corner of the eye and the upper third of the auricle (the so-called French anthropological horizontal). The muscles of the face should be in a calm state (without a smile, facial expressions, grimace), there should be no cosmetics, hair removed from the forehead and ears, glasses and a headdress removed (their description is given in the accompanying signs).

Below is a scheme for describing external features using the "verbal portrait" method (Fig. 2, 2a), compiled in compliance with the above principles.

Description of anatomical features

Floor: male, female.

Age. Established: a) according to the documents, if they are not in doubt; b) "in appearance" (indicating this circumstance and within certain limits: in appearance 25-30 years old, in appearance 50-60 years old, etc.); c) according to the data of a medical examination or a forensic medical examination.

Nationality(face type). In the absence of documents and other reliable information confirming the nationality of a person, it is permissible to determine the type of person. This can be an anthropological type of appearance characteristic of a particular race (Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid, etc.) or a comparative definition of the type in relation to our country: European type, Caucasian, Central Asian, Mongolian, etc.

Overall figure

Growth is most often determined by a three-term gradation: low (for men up to 160 cm), medium (for men from 160 cm to 170 cm) and high (for men over 170 cm). Permissible characteristic: very low, very high. If data of anthropometric measurements are available or can be obtained (medical record, etc.), then the height is indicated in absolute terms.

Rice. 2.

1a. A, B, C, D, E, F, G - anthropometric points of the face (superior frontal, glabella, upper nasal, pupillary, transnasal, chin, mandibular).

1 - forehead height, 2 - forehead width, 3 - eyebrow position line, 4 - palpebral fissure position line, 5 - pupillary line, 6 - palpebral fissure length, 7 - nasal bridge width, 8 - nose height (nasal part of the face) , 9 - width of the nose, 10 - height of the upper lip, 11 - length of the oral fissure, 12 - height of the chin, 13 - protrusion of the auricle, 14 - height of the auricle, 15 - axial (medial) line. 16. 1 - hairline, 2 - frontal tubercles, 3 - superciliary arches, 4 - eyebrow heads, 5 - eyebrow contours, b - eyebrow tails, 7 - inner corners of the eyes, 8 - outer corners of the eyes, 9 - contours folds of the upper eyelids, 10 - nasolabial filter, 11 - contour of the border of the upper lip, 12 - contour of the border of the lower lip, 13 - contour of the chin, 14 - contour of the curl, 15 - contour of the antihelix, 16 - contour of the tragus.

The physique is characterized depending on the development of the musculoskeletal system and the degree of body fat. There are physique: weak, very weak, medium, stocky, athletic. According to the degree of fatness, a person can be characterized by the following features: thin, thin, average fatness, full (features - very thin, very full - "fat").

Description of functional features

Posture- the usual position of the torso and head (the usual posture of a person). At the same time, the position of the head relative to the body is noted (deflected to the right or left shoulder, tilted forward, thrown back), as well as the position of the body in relation to the vertical (back is straight, stooped, hunched).

Rice. 2a. Elements and features of the face in profile. On the. 1, 2, 3 - frontal, nasal, oral part of the face and their heights, 4 - position (tilt) of the forehead, 5, b - measurement of the height and depth of the bridge of the nose, 7 - protrusion of the back of the nose, 8 - protrusion of the nose, 9 - base line nose, 10 - auricle width, 11 - auricle height, 12 - vertical (frontal) line. 116. 1 - the contour of the forehead, 2 - the contour of the back of the nose, 3 - the contour of the lower edge of the wing of the nose, 4 - the contour of the chin, 5 - the position of the upper lip, 6 - the position of the lower lip, 7 - the outer corner of the eye, 8 - the line of the base of the ear shells, 9 - curl, 10 - tragus, 11 - antihelix, 12 - antitragus, 13 - earlobe.

Gait- a set of habitual automatic movements when walking as a manifestation of a certain dynamic stereotype formed in a person. This circumstance determines the constancy of such elements of gait as step length (left, right), step width, step angle, turn angle, and feet. Therefore, when describing the gait, the step size (long, short) is noted. Step width (narrow or short spacing of the feet, setting of the feet when walking (toes out, toes in, parallel), pace (fast, slow), appearance (gait is soft, heavy, staggering, waggling, bouncing, mincing, wobbling). also lameness, dragging of the leg, position of the arms when walking (waving arms, hands in pockets, laid behind) Gait may change under the influence of diseases of the legs, nervous system suffered head injuries.

Gesticulation- a complex of movements of the hands, shoulders (sometimes the head) of a person with which he accompanies his speech in order to give it more expressiveness. When describing gestures, its tempo (fast, slow), expressiveness (live, energetic, sluggish), the nature of gestures and their content (indicative, pictorial, etc.) are recorded.

facial expressions- the movement of muscles and facial elements that change its expression depending on emotional state person or desire. It can be very developed or unimpressive. Usually, the most pronounced and familiar facial expressions are noted (raising the eyebrows, biting the lips, winks, etc.).

Speech- in relation to it, they characterize both data related to speech itself and data of the speech mechanism. In the first case, the languages ​​spoken by a person are noted, and which of them is native to him, dialect or adverb, accent, pronunciation features, construction of phrases, use of slang words, clogged speech (“here”, “you understand”, etc.) .).

In relation to the speech mechanism, the pace (slow, fast), character (speech is calm, excited), speech features (burr, lisp, nasal, etc.) are noted. The voice is characterized by timbre (bass, baritone, tenor, alto, treble), strength (weak, medium, strong) and purity (clear, hoarse, deaf, hoarse).

Manners (habits) of behavior are formed in the course of a person's life and are expressed in the monotonous (usually automatic, uncontrolled) performance of certain actions (rubbing the palms, stroking the head, mustache, stepping from foot to foot, lighting up, greeting, etc.).

Description of related elements and their features

This description refers to clothing, footwear, headgear and items that. usually a person has with him (glasses, a ring, chains, a pendant, etc.) With regard to clothing, its name is noted (jacket, raincoat, jacket, etc.), type (civilian, sports, military, uniform, etc.). etc.), style and cut (single-breasted jacket, raglan coat, earflap hat, etc.), color, pattern, material, clothing condition, performance characteristics. Other related items are described in a similar way.

Some of the illustrations in this chapter are based on the work of: Snetkov V. A., Velichko I. F., Zhitnikov V. S., Zinin A. M., Ovsyannikova M. N. Forensic description of a person’s appearance. M., 1984.

For women, these figures apply for each category 10 cm less.

Chapter 19

§ 2. Methodology for describing the signs of a person's appearance (method of verbal portrait)

Photo from cyclowiki.org

Cesare Lombroso, an Italian psychiatrist and professor of forensic medicine of the 19th century, is often called the founder of criminal anthropology. This science tries to explain the relationship between anatomical and physiological characteristics person and his propensity to commit crimes. Lombroso came to the conclusion that there is such a connection, and it is direct: crimes are committed by people with a certain appearance and character *.

As a rule, criminals have congenital physical and mental defects, Lombroso believed. It's about about anomalies of the internal and external anatomical structure, characteristic of primitive people and great apes. Thus, criminals are not made, but born. Whether a person is a criminal or not depends only on an innate predisposition, and each type of crime has its own anomalies.

Lombroso devoted his entire life to developing this theory. He examined 383 skulls of the dead and 3839 skulls of living criminals. In addition, the scientist studied the characteristics of the body (pulse, temperature, bodily sensitivity, intelligence, habits, diseases, handwriting) of 26,886 criminals and 25,447 respectable citizens.

Appearance of criminals

Lombroso singled out a number of physical signs ("stigmata"), which, in his opinion, characterize a person endowed with criminal inclinations from birth. This is irregular shape skulls, narrow and sloping forehead (or bifurcated frontal bone), asymmetry of the face and eye sockets, overdeveloped jaws. Red criminals are extremely rare. Most often, brunettes and brown-haired people commit crimes. Brunettes prefer to steal or set fires, while brown-haired people are prone to murder. Blondes are sometimes found among rapists and scammers.

Appearance of a typical rapist

Big bulging eyes, plump lips, long eyelashes, flattened and crooked nose. Most often lean and rickety blondes, sometimes humpbacked.

Appearance of a typical thief

Irregular small skull, elongated head, straight nose (often upturned at the base), running or, on the contrary, tenacious eyes, black hair and a sparse beard.

Appearance of a typical killer

Large skull, short head (width greater than height), sharp frontal sinus, voluminous cheekbones, long nose (sometimes bent down), square jaws, huge eye sockets, protruding quadrangular chin, motionless glassy gaze, thin lips, well developed fangs.

The most dangerous killers most often have black, curly hair, a sparse beard, short hands, excessively large or, conversely, too small earlobes.

Appearance of a typical scammer

The face is pale, the eyes are small, stern, the nose is crooked, the head is bald. In general, the appearance of scammers is quite good-natured.

Features of criminals

“I myself observed that during a thunderstorm, when seizures become more frequent in epileptics, prisoners in prison also become more dangerous: they tear their clothes, break furniture, beat ministers,” Lombroso wrote. In criminals, in his opinion, the sensitivity of the senses and pain sensitivity is reduced. They are not able to realize the immorality of their actions, therefore, repentance is unknown to them.

Lombroso was able to identify the features of the handwriting of various types of criminals. The handwriting of murderers, robbers and robbers is distinguished by elongated letters, curvilinear and definite features in the endings of letters. The handwriting of thieves is characterized by extended letters, without sharp outlines and curvilinear endings.

The nature and lifestyle of criminals

According to Lombroso's theory, criminals are characterized by a desire for vagrancy, shamelessness, laziness. Many of them have tattoos. For persons prone to crime, boasting, pretense, weakness of character, irritability, highly developed vanity bordering on megalomania, rapid mood swings, cowardice and painful irritability are characteristic. These people are aggressive, vengeful, they are not capable of repentance and are not tormented by remorse. Graphomania can also indicate criminal inclinations.

Lombroso believed that people from the lower class become murderers, robbers and rapists. Representatives of the middle and upper class are more likely to be professional scammers.

Criticism of Lombroso's theory

Even during the life of Lombroso, his theory was criticized. Not surprisingly, many senior government officials had an appearance that completely coincided with the description of born criminals. Many are sure that the scientist exaggerated the biological and completely did not take into account the social component in the cause of crime. Perhaps this is what forced Lombroso to reconsider some of his views towards the end of his life. In particular, he began to argue that the presence of a criminal appearance does not necessarily mean that a person has committed a crime - it rather speaks of his propensity for illegal acts. If a person of criminal appearance is well-off, he falls into the category of hidden criminals who have no external reason to break the law.

Lombroso's reputation suffered greatly when the Nazis began to use his ideas - they measured the skulls of concentration camp prisoners before they were sent to the ovens. In the Soviet period, the doctrine of a born criminal was also criticized for its contradiction to the principle of legality, anti-people and reactionary.

As far as we were able to find out, Lombroso's theory was never used in lawsuits - even the scientist himself did not see any practical value in it, as he said at one scientific dispute: "I work not in order to give my research applied application in the field of jurisprudence; in as a scientist, I serve science only for the sake of science." Nevertheless, the concept of a criminal person proposed by him came into use, and his developments are still used in physiognomy, criminal anthropology, sociology and psychology.

* The information is taken from the following books: Cesare Lombroso. "Criminal Man" Milgard. 2005; Mikhail Shterenshis. "Cesare Lombroso". IsraDon. 2010

Forensic identification of a person by signs of appearance

Identification of a person is possible not only by papillary hand patterns, composition of hair, blood, saliva, semen, nails, bone remains, scent substances, traces of lips, teeth, shoes, legs, but also on the basis of a person's appearance, i.e. according to the totality of visually perceived external data. Forensic science also uses the terms "habitology" and "gabitoscopy" which reflect the concepts of science and descriptions of the external appearance of a person.

In order to organize the search for a hidden criminal, as well as to identify an unknown person or a corpse, it is necessary to collect and possibly more fully and accurately record forensically significant signs of his appearance.

The scientific basis for using the description of the external appearance of a person for his identification, first of all, was the established and proven position that when a certain age (about 25 years) is reached, the bone-cartilage base and the appearance of a person stabilize. The scientific forensic basis is a specially developed system for describing a person, for his identification, search, crimes static accounting. Signs of appearance have the following properties: originality, stability, visibility. These signs are divided into two main groups: anatomical (static), characterizing the external structure of the human body, its parts and cover, and functional (dynamic), expressed in habitual, automated movements, the position of the human body (posture, gait, gestures, facial expressions, skills skills, habits). Essential for identification by signs of appearance is the characteristic of general physical elements that make up physical type person (sex, age, racial-ethnic and constitutional type).

The external appearance of a person, in addition, is characterized by the so-called special and catchy signs. Special signs are rare congenital or acquired signs during life, which are deviations from the normal structure or condition or condition (anomalies). Moreover, anatomical special signs include physical defects (curvature of the spine, fused fingers, tattoos, etc.), and functional ones include the manner of holding the head, speaking, gesticulation, facial expressions, etc. Catchy signs are those signs that are relatively rare and easily detected, as they are located on exposed parts of the body. For a verbal portrait, accompanying features are also important: a description of clothes, shoes, wrist watch, lighters, rings, glasses and other things-accessories that people are used to, are constantly used by them.

Signs of appearance have varying degrees of stability. The most stable are anatomical features determined by the bone and cartilage basis (shape and size of the forehead, back of the nose, auricles, etc.). The identification value of any trait depends not only on its stability, but also on the frequency of occurrence (rare traits have a greater identification value). Therefore, the reliability of identification depends on the selected set of compared features and the correct assessment of their identification value.

"Verbal" portrait, order of compilation, forensic significance

To identify a person by outward signs in forensics, a special system for describing a person's appearance (verbal portrait) is used. This system was first developed A. Bertillon in 1879, published in the pamphlet " Practical use anthropometry" (1881), and then improved and simplified R. BUT. Reiss in 1911. It is used in forensic registration, to search for hidden criminals and missing persons, in the course of expert identification of living persons and corpses. The description is carried out in a certain sequence (from general to particular, from top to bottom) using special terminology. Anatomical features are described by size, position, size, shape, color; facial features are described in two positions - full face and right profile. The value of the sign is determined in comparison with other parts of the face, body (very large, large, medium, small, very small). Geometric terms are used to describe the shape (straight, convex, concave, oval, etc.). The position of the exterior elements is characterized as horizontal, vertical, oblique internal, raised, lowered, protruding, retracted.

Currently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has adopted the following system of verbal portrait:

1. Gender (male, female).

2. Age (children - up to 12 years old, adolescent (12-16 years old), youthful (17-21 years old), young (22-35 years old), middle (36-60 years old), elderly (61-75 years old) and senile (76- 90).

3. Height ("dwarf" - up to 1m, low (up to 155cm - for women, up to 65cm - for men), medium (155-165cm - for women and 165-175cm - for men), high (more than 165cm - for women and more than 175 cm - for men), "giant" - more than 2).

4. Physique in terms of skeleton and muscles (weak, medium, stocky, athletic); by body fat (lean, average fatness, full, obese);

5. Face shape in front: in width (round, oval, triangular, rectangular, square, diamond-shaped); in height (elongated, medium, wide); by completeness (thin, average fullness, full); by features - skin defects (pigmentation, streaked, smallpox scars, etc.);

6. Forehead: height (high, medium, low); in width (wide, medium, narrow); in relation to the vertical (contour) (straight, convex, concave); by slope in profile (beveled, vertical, protruding); features (according to the severity of the superciliary arches and the presence of frontal tubercles) - the frontal fossa, a tumor in the frontal and temporal parts.

7. Eyebrows: by length (short, medium, long); in width (narrow, medium, wide); by density (rare, medium, thick); in the direction - horizontal, beveled with the outer ends up, down; along the contour (relative to the edge of the eye orbit) - high, medium, low; features (bushy, fused, asymmetric, etc.);

8. Eyes: according to the position of the palpebral fissure (horizontal, oblique, oblique internal); according to the degree of opening of the palpebral fissure (triangular, slit-like, almond-shaped); according to the degree of convexity of the eyeballs (convex, sunken, normal); by color (blue, gray, greenish, brown, etc.); size (large, medium, small); in shape (round, oval); on the inner corners of the eyes (rounded, pointed); by features (strabismus, cataract, prosthesis); according to anomalies (multicolor, the presence of spots of a different color or a grayish border in the iris).

9. Hoc: by length (long, medium, short); height (long, medium, short); by the depth and width of the nose bridge (large, medium, small); in width (wide, medium, narrow); on performance(large, medium); according to the position of the base of the nose (horizontal, lowered, raised); according to the shape of the tip of the nose (rounded, pointed); according to the position of the wings of the nose (raised, lowered, average), along the contour of the nostrils (oval, triangular, slit-like); according to the size of the nostrils (large medium, small); by features (very narrow (wide), excessive speech, congenital curvature, nose shade (reddish, bluish, etc.);

10. Lips: by thickness (thick, medium, thin); by position (protruding, retracted (one upper, one lower), no protrusion); according to the width of the border of the lips (large, medium, small); along the contour of the border of the upper lip (straight, sinuous, oval); by features (the presence of a "cleft lip", invertedness upper lip, chapped); by shades of lips (bluish, pale, red, etc.);

11 Mouth; size (large, medium, small); according to the position of the corners of the mouth (horizontal, raised lowered); by features (mouth ajar, sunken, asymmetry of the corners of the mouth, etc.);

12. Chin: height (high, medium, low); in width (wide, medium, narrow); by position (straight, protruding, beveled); in shape (along the contour of the lower edge) - oval, triangular, square; by features (presence of a fossa, bifurcation, transverse furrow, "double" chin, pendulous, etc.);

13. Auricle: in size (large, medium, small); in shape (rectangular, triangular, round, oval); fit (protrusion)- upper, lower, general; by features (asymmetry in size, shape);

Lobe: size (large, medium, small); in shape (rounded, triangular, oval, rectangular); by features (lobe fused with the cheek; the presence of a transverse or longitudinal fold, pierced). Antitragus- horizontal, beveled; straight, concave, convex. Curl (outer edge of the ear) and antihelix(inner part) may have a characteristic shape and position. The diversity and stability of the anatomical features of the structure of the auricle increases its info mative and identification value. In addition, it should be noted that this detail, as a rule, is visible and well viewed from the side, which does not arouse the suspect's alertness if he is seen in a crowd or among a large number of people in the hall.

14. Coloring of the skin of the face (pink, gray, bluish, etc.);

15. Wrinkles (number, position, direction, shape);

16. Head hair: by length (short, medium length, long); in shape (wavy, curly, curly); by density (thick, medium density, rare); by color (black, dark blond, blond, light blond, red); along the contour of the growth line (straight, arcuate, winding, broken); by the nature of the hairstyle (low, high, combed (back, right, left), location of the parting (straight, left, right), by the degree and localization of baldness (general, on the crown, on the back of the head, temples, etc.); the presence of a mustache, beard, sideburns (shape, size, color, haircut style);

17. Teeth: by size (large, medium, small); by shape (contour - even, sinuous; by the color of tooth enamel (white, yellow, blackened); by features (absence, damage, the presence of prostheses, fillings, crowns; rare, crooked teeth, etc.);

18. Neck: height, thickness, features;

19. Shoulders: width, slope;

20. Torso: chest width, back contour;

21. Hands: total length and width; Brush: length and width; Fingers: length, thickness, features;

22. Legs: total length and width; Foot: length, width, features;

23. Skin signs (scars, birthmarks, tumors, tattoos, calluses, professional staining of individual skin areas): position, shape, size, color;

Functional (dynamic) features:

24. Posture (usual position): torso, head, arms;

25. Gait: pace of movement, positioning of the legs during movement, step length, step angle, features;

26. The way to perform certain actions;

30. Speech: pace, emotional expression of feelings, intelligibility, pronunciation defects, accent, vocabulary;

Accessories:

31 Clothing: name, material, color, style, finish, size, brand, degree of wear, damage, conformity of the size to the person's height, wearing habit.

The description of individual objects - personal belongings, should be as detailed as possible, since in certain cases they can play the role of catchy signs.

Preparation of materials for expert identification of a person from photographs

A forensic photo-portrait examination is carried out in order to identify a person by signs of appearance captured in photographs. The success of expert identification based on photographs largely depends on the thoroughness of the preparation of the material submitted for the study. For examination, high-quality images of faces photographed with a small gap in time and approximately in the same conditions (person's posture, lighting, state of individual elements of appearance) are required, i.e. the images being compared must be comparable.

The question is usually raised about the permission of a photo-portrait examination; the same or different faces are depicted in the photographs.

Photo-portrait examination is carried out using the following methods.

1. Comparative method (comparison, combination, overlay),

Image comparison - oriented square grids are applied to face images, and the identified features on the compared images should not only match in shape, size and position, but also be placed in the same squares.

Combination (montage) of images - the compared image is brought to the same size, then they are cut along the medial line of the face and the right half of one image is combined with the left half of the other.

Overlay - on the screen (TV, projector) produce a combination and overlay of images in different lighting conditions.

2. Measuring method - angular values ​​are measured between the anatomical points of the compared faces.

3. Graphical method - on the compared images, the most characteristic signs of the same name are determined, which are then connected by straight lines, forming triangles, rhombuses, trapeziums and others geometric figures, which should be similar (equal) on the compared images.

Identification of a person by skull and intravital photograph produced using method photo applications- the image of the skull is imprinted in the photograph of the wanted person.

Questions to prepare for current control on this topic

• What is forensic gabitoscopy.
• Who are the subjects of application of data on appearance.
• How is a person's appearance determined?
• How are the signs of a person's appearance classified?
• Verbal portrait and rules for its compilation.
• Portrait examination.
• Rules for drawing up a subjective portrait.