Here is what you need to know about the work of forensic artists.
The work of a forensic artist can have a huge impact on criminal cases. Even though there have been many advancements in technology that can help solve a case, there is real power when it comes to a sketch on paper even today. These artists have a special skill and use things like eyewitness accounts to create close-to accurate faces of criminals and victims. However, they have more tricks up their sleeve than we realize to produce the best and most accurate sketch. Here are some fascinating insights into the valuable work they do.
1 Forensic artists can't take creative liberties
In order for a forensic artist to get an accurate depiction of a suspect, they have to create the sketch in a way that is realistic and not take creative liberties. A wrong feature or detail may make it difficult for someone who may know the suspect to identify them. This can defeat the purpose of their work.
2 Forensic sketches can sometimes be created with the help of smells
This is something not many people know. Most people believe that what a witness sees is the only thing that helps sketch artists create a criminal’s appearance. However, experts say all senses are helpful when it comes to this particular job. Remembering something striking or that was hard to miss, like the kind of scent a person had on, can help witnesses to better recollect other things that might be valuable to the case. When one can remember something like a certain smell, it can help to put the witness back at a scene, which may help to trigger something that will help them remember particular features of a person.
3 A skull can reveal a lot
Forensic artists do more than just sketch criminal suspects with the help of eyewitnesses. Some cases require more than that. Sometimes artists have to recreate a face from a skull. Artists use clay to sculpt the feature. They also use the help of a forensic anthropologist to be able to gauge a person's age, height and ancestry.
4 Forensic artists could draw someone police might already suspect
There are certain cases when the police may already suspect an individual of a crime. However, they may want to know if a sketch with the help of information provided by a witness matches the description of their suspect.
