NCJ Number
9852
Journal
Trial Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1973) Pages: 44 & 48
Date Published
1973
Length
2 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM A COMBINED LABORATORY AND FIELD EXPERIMENT SPONSORED BY THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE TO STUDY THE RELIABILITY OF VOICEPRINT IDENTIFICATIONS.
Abstract
THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT VOICEPRINTS ARE AN ACCURATE METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING OR ELIMINATING AN UNKNOWN SPEAKER AMONG KNOWN ONES, BASED ON BOTH VISUAL AND AURAL EXAMINATION OF THE SIMILAR FEATURES OF THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN VOICES. THE EXPERIMENT RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF VOICEPRINTS AS AN IDENTIFICATION TOOL - EXAMINATIONS MUST INCLUDE BOTH AURAL AND VISUAL COMPARISONS, THE EXAMINER MUST BE A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL, THE EXAMINER MUST REFRAIN FROM OFFERING ANY POSITIVE CONCLUSION WHEN HE HAS THE LEAST DOUBT, THE EXAMINER MUST BE ENTITLED TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AND TO USE AS MANY SAMPLES AS HE DEEMS NECESSARY TO REACH A CONCLUSION. IN KEEPING WITH THESE STANDARDS, THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE DECIDED TO EMPLOY VOICEPRINTS AS LEGAL EVIDENCE IN DECEMBER, 1970.