Verkkothroughout history, the process of capturing and documenting mugshots has evolved significantly. From its humble beginnings in the era of film photography to the. Verkkothe mug shots were part of a broader system of measuring and comparing body parts to help police departments organize thousands of criminal. Verkkonot long after its invention, in 1839, the technology began to be used for the twinned purposes of identification and surveillance. In paris, the police. Verkkothe term ‘mug shot’ to describe a portrait of a criminal seems to have first been used in the united states in the early 20th century. Verkkobertillon’s mug shot consisted of two photographs—one facing the camera, the other in profile—attached to a written description of physical features. Verkkoparisian police quickly adopted the new technology to try to catch serial offenders. Verkkothe prototypical mugshot usually has flat lighting to render facial features easily distinguishable by humans and computers alike. Verkkofrench criminologist alphonse bertillon believed each person’s physical measurements were as distinct as their fingerprints, and devised the first.