Mug shot

A mug shot (mugshot or head shot) is a photographic portrait taken immediately after one is arrested. Most mug shots are two-part, with one side-view photo, and one front-view.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Commonly, the accused is asked to hold a card with their name, the date, and other information on it. The purpose of the mug shot is to allow law enforcement to have a photographic record of all arrested individuals to allow for identification by victims and other investigations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The term derives from mug, an English slang term for face, dating from the 18th Century. Another source suggests the term comes from mug, as in grimace, because early subjects would try to reduce their mugshot's value for later identification by grimacing or otherwise twisting their facial muscles (mugging).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The phrase has also come to refer to any small picture of a face used for any reason.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As part of a public record, mug shots are ineligible for copyright, and are in the public domain.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Photograph: :Photo redirects here. For the French magazine, see Photo (magazine)....

Portrait: :Portrait also means a document or image where height is greater than width (opposite of Landscape position)....

Arrest: An arrest is the action of police or other authority, or even in some circumstances a private civilian, to apprehend and take under guard a person who is suspected of committing a crime. The term is Frankish in origin and is related to the French word Arr?t, meaning "stop". In many legal systems, an...

Mug shot related Images and Photos (experimental)

"Californication ""Free Hank"" Mug Shot Men's T-Shirt"	The Office Mug Shot T-Shirt	Vader's Mug Shot	Vader's Mug Shot
Vader's Mug Shot	FTW! Mug	Mug Boss	Shot Shaker
Giggling Elmo's Hot Tomato Game	U2 Mug	Geek. Shot Glass	Pug Mug