BERTILLON SYSTEM

Bertillon     system   (b<<schwa>>r-t<<schwa>>-lon   or         bair-tee-yawn). A          system   of anthropometry once used to identify criminals by measuring and describing them. • The Bertillon system is named for Alphonse Bertillon, the French anthropologist who developed the technique early in the 20th century. It has been largely replaced by fingerprinting. Cf. ANTHROPOMETRY.

“The system of identification known as the Bertillon system is worked out on the assumption that an individual’s physical measurements are constant after maturity is attained. Such measurements include height, span of arms, sitting height, length of head, width of right ear, length of left foot, length of left middle finger, length of left little finger, and length of left forearm. The Bertillon system also records photographs (front and profile), hair and eye color, complexion, scars, tattoo marks and any asymmetrical anomalies.” Encyclopedia of Criminology 81–82 (Vernon C. Branham & Samuel B. Kutash eds., 1949), s.v. “Criminalistics.” BES

bes (bes), n. [Latin] 1.Roman law. Two-thirds of the Roman as, or pound, consisting of 8

unciae (ounces) out of 12. See AS; UNCIA. 2.Civil law. Two-thirds of an inheritance.[Blacks Law 8th]