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Forensic art (as it is usually called) plays an important role in the criminal justice system. Without that infamous and widely distributed sketch of the Unabomber, the FBI might never have caught Ted Kaczynski. In order to become a forensic artist, a candidate obviously must be able to draw accurate renditions of suspects from verbal descriptions, but they must also be board-certified, trustworthy, and of sound moral character. According to the International Association for Identification (IAI), the leading global organization for all forensic disciplines, a candidate must be certified by its Forensic Art Certification Board. An integral part of the certification process is proof of the artist's rendering, investigative, and intuitive skills. There are two levels of qualification. In order to be a Level-II forensic artist (which requires more credentials than Level-I), the candidate must meet the following requirements: - 120 hours of education: 80 hours of composite art from an approved school and 40 hours in related courses
- A minimum of five years with a bona fide law enforcement agency
- Five successful composite drawings (hits), including written description of case specifics and how the drawings were completed
- Three
letters of recommendation, one from a supervisor certifying the submitted drawing samples
- A written, practical, and verbal exam including an "on the spot" composite sketch based on a pre-selected photographed "suspect"
In addition, an applicant must be of "good moral character, high integrity, good repute, and must possess a high ethical and professional standing." An applicant must also agree to abide by a code of ethics that states that he or she "will use all of the scientific, interviewing and investigative techniques at their command to ascertain all of the significant facts relative to the matters under investigation." In the United States, forensic
artists are also trained in the fields of human anatomy and odontology (study of teeth), age progression, psychology, and, in some cases, 3D imagery. Their talents are called upon for courtroom sketches, "wanted" posters, drafting crime scenes, medical drawings for autopsies, and facial reconstruction from skulls. Forensic artists have played an important role in the identification of bodies, and also helped police capture elusive criminals, such as serial killer Ted Bundy and Richard Allen Davis, who killed Polly Klaas.
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