Criminal identification technologies

CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES
Trajectories, uses and practices
Diana Miranda (diana.miranda@open.ac.uk)
BACKGROUND
The identification of criminal bodies
End of the 19th century
Anthropometric, lofoscopic,
photographic and descriptive
Beginning of the 21st century
AIM
- To explore the meanings attributed to criminal
identification technologies, their uses and practices
What are the impacts of criminal identification
practices in the co-construction of the criminal body
and identity?
Genetic
METHODOLOGY
Documentary
Research
BODY
- source of information
- object of surveillance
Historical Archive
(Prison Services)
Direct
observation
Qualitative
Semistructured
Interviews
Prisoners, police inspectors, prison
wardens and probation officers
RESULTS
•
Historical trajectory of criminal identification technologies
•
Interactions between technological, human and non-human elements in a complex socio-technical network
•
The multiplicity of perspectives around technologies and the heterogeneity of its effects
• The process of co-construction of the criminal body and identity
DOUBLE GAME
I/other
DOUBLE AGENTS
Human/ non-humans
• Identification rituals and power configurations
Strategic game
Dynamics of dominance, submission and resistance