Making a sketch of a suspect in a crime can assist law enforcement in many ways.
When a crime takes place there is often no one who can describe the appearance of the perpetrator aside from eyewitnesses or victims. Since these people are not likely to take a photo of the criminal, the next best way to get a visual reference to help locate the suspect is to have someone in forensics complete a composite sketch using the descriptions of eyewitnesses and victims. Having a sketch photo of the suspect can help the investigation in many ways.
Eliminate And Identify
The most significant advantage of the suspect sketch is to give the authorities a reference to identify an alleged criminal based on physical description. This sketch will instantly give police someone to look for. Passing copies of the sketch to all patrolling officers and other law enforcement personnel working on the case will help them to quickly locate the suspect before another crime is committed or before he or she can flee the area.
The sketch is also helpful in eliminating any suspects from the investigation. Sometimes suspects are detained for questioning because of past records and/or coincidental circumstances that placed them in the area at the time of a crime. If the sketch based on eyewitness statements reveals a person who looks nothing like the suspect, then they can and should be set free unless there is other evidence that they are connected to the crime.
Easy Circulation
A big advantage of the suspect sketch is that it is an easily circulated document. Multiple copies of the sketch can be posted at various high-traffic areas around the city or town, and it can be given to local television stations and newspapers to show the sketch to the public with a phone number to call with any information. Citizens in the area can then watch out for the suspect and report his whereabouts. This will make it far more difficult for the suspect to stay at large for very long.
Good For Any Crime
A composite sketch is universal when it comes to identification of criminals. It doesn’t matter if the suspect is accused of rape, robbery, murder or any other crime-the sketch works just as well in all types of crime. This advantage makes this a widely used tactic for police in all areas of crime.
Basis Of Aging
When a sketch of a suspect is made and the victim or eyewitness agrees that the sketch looks like the perpetrator, then police can keep the sketch on file long-term, even if the criminal is never brought to justice.
Many artists who draw composite sketches are also talented in estimating how a suspect may look as they get older. The original sketch can be used as the basis of the new sketch to make a drawing that may represent how a suspect looks several years after the incident if he is still at large. Changes in hair, face and eyes are often indicators of age.
