BERTILLONAGE Meaning and
Definition
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Bertillonage, also known as anthropometry, refers to a system of identification and classification developed in the late 19th century by Alphonse Bertillon, a French criminologist. This technique gained prominence as a scientific method of personal identification before the advent of modern fingerprinting and DNA analysis.
Bertillonage primarily relies on the accurate measurement and detailed description of various bodily features and dimensions to uniquely identify individuals. It involves recording and tabulating a range of physical characteristics, such as height, weight, proportions of different body parts, eye color, hair color, and unique marks or scars. Additionally, detailed photographs and handprint records may also be included in the dossier.
The main goal of Bertillonage was to create a precise and standardized system that could be used for both identification and criminal investigation purposes. By keeping detailed files of criminals and suspects, law enforcement agencies believed they could enhance their ability to identify repeat offenders and track their movements.
Although Bertillonage was initially embraced by several law enforcement agencies around the world, its effectiveness and reliability were eventually overshadowed by the advent of fingerprinting. Fingerprint analysis proved to be a more accurate and efficient method of identification, leading to a decline in the use of Bertillonage in the early 20th century.
Today, Bertillonage holds historical significance as an early attempt to systemize identification techniques, paving the way for more advanced forensic methods in criminal investigations.
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A method of careful physical measurements of recruits, criminals, and others for purposes of identification.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BERTILLONAGE
- vertillonage
- nertillonage
- hertillonage
- gertillonage
- bwrtillonage
- bsrtillonage
- bdrtillonage
- brrtillonage
- b4rtillonage
- b3rtillonage
- beetillonage
- bedtillonage
- beftillonage
- bettillonage
- be5tillonage
- be4tillonage
- berrillonage
- berfillonage
- bergillonage
- beryillonage
Etymology of BERTILLONAGE
The word "bertillonage" is derived from the surname of Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer and biometrics researcher who developed this method of criminal identification in the late 19th century. Combining his name with the French suffix "-age" (indicating a process or system), the term "bertillonage" was coined to refer to the specific system of anthropometric measurements and identification techniques developed by Bertillon.
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