Researcher crafts tattoo / scar matching system to nab outlaws

Passports and licenses are so last century -- these days, sophisticated crooks can change their identity on a whim, and one particular Michigan State University researcher is looking to stay one step ahead. Anil Jain has created an automatic image retrieval system dubbed Tattoo-ID, which "includes an annotated database containing images of scars, marks and tattoos" that is "linked to the criminal history records of all the suspects and convicts who have a tattoo." Essentially, the application will give law enforcement the ability to query on permanent skin markings, which sure beats manually flipping through ginormous books of images just hoping for a match. Reportedly, Jain and his team are continuing to improve the system, but there's been no word on how long it'll take before implementation can begin. Better stay on the straight and narrow, Zune Guy Microsoft Zune.

[Via TG Daily]

[Tim @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:53AM]

and how does this account for gang tattoos? (read, identical tats shared by multiple inmates) clearly a skilled tattoo artist can make symbols that more closely resemble each other than any current imaging system could distinguish. especially factoring in the natural variance due to age, weight gain/ loss, or a multitude of other factors that inevitably change the appearance of one's skin over time. Furthermore, I really can't imagine a situation where the detailing of a tattoo is caught sufficiently to act as evidence but no other evidence could be found, at least not one prevalent enough to make this a worthwhile contribution to forensics.

[guilt+1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:04AM]

If you have a gang tattoo surely you're guilty of something anyway ?

[commandoclayproductions @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:24AM]

not necessarily...

but if youre in a gang, youd think that you would have more than one tattoo... and youd think that gangs would have gang tattoos that have a little bit something original on them, like a nick name or something

i dunno really, im just a white boy from canada, i dont "do" gangs

[guilt+1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:52AM]

So you mean likke those "good" gangs that have their members get tattoos ?


Like the cub scouts.... and um err

[Echo1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:12PM]

wouldn't it make sense that with a gang tattoo, there is some sort of heraldry internally within the gang; the longer your in the more conflicts you've seen. Common sense who dictate that with a great battle, the ones there would try and remember/ prove they were there. Tattoo's could serve that purpose. For the sake of law enforcement, If a victim were to remember an older tattoo, it would mean that person has longer tenure

Note that this system would also factor in natural scarring. For example I could be recognized within this database as one who has an eye-like scar on my right shoulder (a mole was growing there was I was young, had to have it removed), and one who has second degree burns on his left foot (scalding hot water from a pot when the handle broke.

[Dr Zoidberg @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:00AM]

Lets hope there's never such a thing as: make-up, skin grafts & laser removal. Otherwise this idea is pretty much screwed

[Morgan @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:19AM]

Ummm....we've been doing this for ages; it's part of my job in law enforcement. When we run criminal history record inquiries, the subject's scars, marks and tattoos are listed in great detail, along will all other unique identifiers. Granted, it's all based on descriptions and not images, so I do see the innovation at work here, but this is more evolution than revolution. NCIC 2000 brought us photos associated with CHRI (Criminal History Record Information); I guess NCIC 2010 will add tattoo photos?

[LondonConsultant @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:23AM]

Michael Scofield would be screwed...

[XenoX101 @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:03AM]

I think the breakthrough here is the computerised comparisons made between tattoos, as in miniscule details that we can't manually compare being done so automatically via a scanner of some sort.

This is quite interesting, as for Dr Zoidberg's comment. make up won't do anything to stop these scanners, skin grafts will, but laser removal will still leave scars behind.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:29AM]

my alma mater some years ago patented the "sweat swab" now used by all scandinavian polices to nab drivers under the influence of narcotics (it identifies 130 illegal substances assumed up to 6 days before the test in less than 3 minutes).
The same system can be ued to analyze and compare traces of DNA for identification, but at the moment it is illegal to use.

[Steve Sparkes @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:58AM]

NYPD call tattoos "bar codes for perps"

[Stem $ell @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:41AM]

Especially when the tat's UPC reads: "I did it!"

[johnzilla @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:34PM]

Yeah, because only criminals have tattoos...not.

[ulle53 @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:26AM]

considering how many criminals are posting their crimes on video via youtube, now the police would be able to quickly identify the crooks from any tattoos showing

[DrNelson15 @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:22PM]

Heyyy, MSU did this! Go Green! Go White! Hahah

[johnzilla @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:33PM]

I don't see how this can be used as evidence...what's to say the image being used for comparison wasn't mocked up in Photoshop?

"Your honor, this photo we have of a tattoo matches the suspect's tattoo exactly."
"Where did you get the photo?"
"Um, well, um...."

[Morgan @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:05PM]

Because, just like a mug shot or fingerprint card, it's collected at the time of booking with several sworn officers present. And, just as mug shots and fingerprints can be used as a baseline when fingering a suspect, this is a similar investigative tool to be used to identify the suspect or suspects, and is only one small part of a massive portfolio of evidence in a case. Granted, I can see this being heavily appealed when (if?) it ever comes into regular use, but the other two visual ID methods have stood the test of time. We shall see.

[mclephi @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:36PM]

I hope she realizes that you can cover up a tattoo, so just because i used to have Snoopy on my ass doesn't mean i still do.

http://everythingbutamericasucks.wordpress.com/

[Mr Crash @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:10AM]

I don't know a hell of a lot of people who get tattoos removed...

I do know a bunch that get *extra* work done on existing ink.
Wouldn't that be a little difficult for this system to sort out?