Forensic arts
Encyclopedia
Forensic art is any art
used in law enforcement
or legal proceedings
. Within this field are such skills as composite drawing
, crime scene sketching, image modification and image identification, courtroom drawings, demonstrative evidence, and postmortem and facial approximation aids. Not every forensic artist uses all of these skills.http://www.theiai.org/disciplines/art/history.php
The term forensic comes from the Roman forum
where law and politics were debated.See National Forensic League
for an example of this original meaning, pertaining to debate and oratory
. From this beginning, the word forensic now means anything pertaining to law or law enforcement or debate
.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/forensic
The skill of facial approximation is closely associated and related to forensic anthropology
in that an artist specializes in the reconstruction of the remains of a human body. Generally this discipline focuses on the human face for identification purposes. The forensic artist can create a facial approximation in a number of ways to include 2D (drawing
), 3D (sculpture
) and by methods using new computerized technology. Forensic artists generally can add greater character and make their subjects come back to "life".
Most forensic artists do the job as a collateral duty to their "regular" job in law enforcement, such as police officer, crime scene tech, etc. They do the work on salary, and normally are not paid extra for it. There are extremely few full-time forensic artist jobs to be had. Most full-time artists work in large cities, or in state or federal agencies. "Freelancing" in forensic art is extremely difficult to build as a career, as ties to law enforcement are a necessary part of the job, and agencies have limited budgets to pay contractors.
The University of Dundee in Scotland is the only university in the world to offer a masters course in forensic art.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
used in law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
or legal proceedings
Legal proceedings
Legal proceedings may refer to:*Legal process** Trial :*** Lawsuit, a civil trial*** Criminal trial* Hearing ** Administrative hearing** Congressional hearing* Impeachment proceedings* Court orders**Foreclosure**Receivership*Arbitration...
. Within this field are such skills as composite drawing
Facial composite
A facial composite is a graphical representation of an eyewitness's memory of a face, as recorded by a composite artist. Facial composites are used mainly by police in their investigation of crimes.-PhotoFIT generation:...
, crime scene sketching, image modification and image identification, courtroom drawings, demonstrative evidence, and postmortem and facial approximation aids. Not every forensic artist uses all of these skills.http://www.theiai.org/disciplines/art/history.php
The term forensic comes from the Roman forum
Forum (Roman)
A forum was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls...
where law and politics were debated.See National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
for an example of this original meaning, pertaining to debate and oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
. From this beginning, the word forensic now means anything pertaining to law or law enforcement or debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/forensic
The skill of facial approximation is closely associated and related to forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased...
in that an artist specializes in the reconstruction of the remains of a human body. Generally this discipline focuses on the human face for identification purposes. The forensic artist can create a facial approximation in a number of ways to include 2D (drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
), 3D (sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
) and by methods using new computerized technology. Forensic artists generally can add greater character and make their subjects come back to "life".
Most forensic artists do the job as a collateral duty to their "regular" job in law enforcement, such as police officer, crime scene tech, etc. They do the work on salary, and normally are not paid extra for it. There are extremely few full-time forensic artist jobs to be had. Most full-time artists work in large cities, or in state or federal agencies. "Freelancing" in forensic art is extremely difficult to build as a career, as ties to law enforcement are a necessary part of the job, and agencies have limited budgets to pay contractors.
The University of Dundee in Scotland is the only university in the world to offer a masters course in forensic art.