PECULIAR CASE OF 'VOICEPRINT' (FROM SELECTED MATERIALS ON LEGAL AND TECHICAL ASPECTS OF 'VOICEPRINTS' IDENTIFICATION, 1976 - SEE NCJ-44202)

• NCJ Number: 44207
• Author(s): H HOLLIEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: National College of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE USE OF VOICEPRINTS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND IN COURTS OF LAW IS EXAMINED, AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONTROVERSY IS DETRACTING FROM MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES IS RAISED.

Abstract

ANY ISSUES RELATED TO SPEAKER IDENTIFICATION MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED. IT IS IMPROPER TO VIEW THE VOICEPRINT CONTROVERSY MERELY AS A SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY. THE LARGER ISSUE CONCERNS THE POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR SPEECH BY WHATEVER APPROACH OR COMBINATION OF APPROACHES PROVES EFFECTIVE. A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE POPULAR APPEAL OF THE VOICEPRINT-FINGERPRINT ANALOGY, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A PREMATURE NARROWING OF FOCUS IN SPEAKER IDENTIFICATION RESEARCH. PROPONENTS OF THE VOICEPRINT TECHNIQUE FAIL TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS AND RESEARCH IN ACTUAL, OR EVEN SIMULATED, LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS. IN ADDITION, PROPONENTS OF THE VOICEPRINT APPEAR TO EXHIBIT A BIAS THAT TRANSCENDS SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVITY, CITING SUPPORT FOR THE VOICEPRINT METHOD FROM THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WHEN SUCH SUPPORT IS NOT DOCUMENTED, AND EMPHASIZING THE COMPETENCY OF 'PROFESSIONAL EXAMINERS' WHEN FEW SUCH PROFESSIONALS EXIST. IF ATTENTION CONTINUES TO BE FOCUSED ON THE VOICEPRINT CONTROVERSY RATHER THAN ON A SUSTAINED EFFORT TO DEVELOP VALID, RELIABLE SPEAKER IDENTIFICATION METHODS IRREPARABLE HARM WILL BE DONE.