Mug shot facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Butch Cassidy mugshot detail
Mugshot of the well-known outlaw Butch Cassidy. This was taken when he was put in jail in 1894.

A mug shot, or booking photograph, is a photographic portrait taken after someone is arrested. The mug shot is taken to allow law enforcement to have a photographic record of the arrested person to allow for identification by victims and investigators. Most mug shots are two-part, with one side-view photo, and one front-view.

Images for kids

  • Bertillon selfportrait

    Self-portrait mug shot of Alphonse Bertillon, who developed and standardized this type of photograph, 22 August 1900

  • Mug shot camera, Alcatraz

    Camera used for taking mug shots at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, California, US


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Mug shot Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.