Physical description resources Socio-Legal English

This document is a composite of different sources. First, there are some slides
which indicate the names of different parts of the face. Next, a number of pictures
containing vocabulary that can be used when describing somebody. The last two
pictures in this section refer to hair styles.

Please study the vocabulary in these slides, with the exception of the last picture
about hair styles (i.e. study pages 2-10 of this document, plus the vocabulary
on page 49 of the textbook).

Always bear in mind that any evaluative word (beautiful, hideous, etc.) or
personality adjective will be avoided in factual descriptions. Moreover, words
such as “fat” and “old” are usually replaced by other more politically correct
alternatives such as “overweight” or “elderly”/ “in his/her seventies”, etc.

The last eight pages in the document correspond to three sample suspect
description forms. These forms are sometimes used by police departments in
the US. If you are interested, googling “police suspect description” will render
many more similar models. You don’t need to know the new vocabulary in these
pages, which is detailed and sometimes difficult. Yet, it can prove useful as those
are authentic documents.
 SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
DESCRIPTION PAGES

Providing an accurate description:

A good description of a suspect/suspicious person or a suspicious vehicle is vital for patrol officers who are
responding to a report of a crime in progress or that had just occurred. When you call the police, the dispatcher
may ask you a number of questions. Please stay on the line and try to answer all the questions as accurately as
you can. If you do not recall a detail, tell the dispatcher you cannot remember and do not try to guess. Inaccurate
information may throw off a responding officer.

SUSPECT SUSPECT DESCRIPTION FORM (continued) SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT

DESCRIPTION 14. FACE SHAPE 15. SKIN 16. FACIAL HAIR 17. NECK VEHICLE DESCRIPTION FORM
FORM Oval
Square
Tan
Pale
Clean-shaven
Moustache
Tan line
Long neck
Diamond Healthy Sideburns Short neck
Thin Freckled Beard Adam’s Apple
Do not compare or discuss suspect description(s) with anyone until you have given it to a police of- Long Moles Goatee No neck/Thick
ficer or police detective. Case #: _______________________ Fat Acne Stubble Hairy
Wide Rough Dirty
Sex: Male Female 18. SCARS / TATTOOS 19. HANDS / NAILS
Race: Age: Height: Weight:
Describe: _____________________________ Long fingers Color:
Short fingers
____________________________________ Ring
Watch
Year:
____________________________________ Scars on hand
Slender
1. BUILD
None
2. HAIR
Black
3. HAIR COLOR
Small
4. FOREHEAD
Describe: __________________________________ Make:
Medium Long Brown Large ____________________________________ __________________________________
Heavy Short Lt. Brown Lines Model:
Fat Curly Blonde Scars ____________________________________ Dirty nails
Muscular Wavy
Straight
Red
Grey
Other: ________
____________________________________
Long nails
Chipped nails
License plate:
Dirty Other: __________ Painted nails
Oily Color: ___________ State of license:
20. CLOTHING DESCRIPTION Direction of travel:
5. EYEBROWS
Thick
6. EYE SHAPE
Almond
7. EYE COLOR
Brown
8. CHEEKS
High Cheekbones
9. NOSE
Long
HAT (Knit cap, Baseball, Cowboy, etc.): ________________________________________________________________
Time elapsed:
Bushy Round Dark Brown Fat Cheekbones Hooked GLASSES (Sunglasses, Tinted, Wire-rimmed, Dark): ______________________________________________________
Thin Small Hazel Dimples Crooked
COAT (Trenchcoat, Ski-jacket, Raincoat, Leather, Windbreaker, Sports-team): ____________________________________
Bumper stickers:
Arched Dark Circles Grey Fat Cheeks “Broken”
Plucked Bags Green Pock Marks Wide SHIRT (Long-sleeved, Short-sleeved, Tank top, T-shirt, Button-up, Pullover, Hooded): _______________________________ Body damage:
One brow Wrinkled Corner Blue Pimples Flat
Heavy Lids Bright Blue Freckles
Hollow
Pugged PANTS (Sweatpants, Jeans, Shorts, Slacks): _____________________________________________________________ Tinted windows:
BELT (Leather, Buckle: Gold/Silver, Cloth, Logo): ________________________________________________________
Unique characteristics:
SHOES (Logo/Running, Boots, Sandals, Dress): __________________________________________________________

SOCKS (None or Color): ________________________________________________________________________

10. LIPS 11. MOUTH 12. TEETH 13. CHIN
GLOVES (Leather, Knit, Color): ____________________________________________________________________
Hare lip Small Yellow/Stained Cleft
Full Large Gaps Dimpled JEWELRY (Watch, Earring(s) L/R ear, Diamond, Hoop) NECKLACE (Chain, Gold/Silver): __________________________
Thin Wide Crooked “No chin”
No Upper Lip Bow-shaped Large Pointed MASK (Ski mask, Other/Color): ___________________________________________________________________
Small Double
Braces Round CLOTHING NOTES: ___________________________________________________________________________
Missing Teeth Square
Long _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Using the forms:

These forms will help you document a complete and accurate description in an emergency. Please take the time
to review these pages and familiarize yourself with the information needed to provide a good description to
police. Make copies for yourself and your neighbors to have available in you witness a crime or suspicious activity.
An accurate description of a vehicle or person can make the difference between catching the culprit or allowing
a criminal to evade arrest.

Call police immediately and use the forms to help provide accurate information or fill out the forms while the
officers are on their way.

PLEASE CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE FILLING OUT THIS FORM.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
 SUSPECT
DESCRIPTION
FORM

Do not compare or discuss suspect description(s) with anyone until you have given it to a police of-
ficer or police detective. Case #: _______________________

Sex: Male Female

Race: Age: Height: Weight:

1. BUILD 2. HAIR 3. HAIR COLOR 4. FOREHEAD

Slender None Black Small
Medium Long Brown Large
Heavy Short Lt. Brown Lines
Fat Curly Blonde Scars
Muscular Wavy Red Other: ________
Straight Grey
Dirty Other: __________
Oily

5. EYEBROWS 6. EYE SHAPE 7. EYE COLOR 8. CHEEKS 9. NOSE

Thick Almond Brown High Cheekbones Long
Bushy Round Dark Brown Fat Cheekbones Hooked
Thin Small Hazel Dimples Crooked
Arched Dark Circles Grey Fat Cheeks “Broken”
Plucked Bags Green Pock Marks Wide
One brow Wrinkled Corner Blue Pimples Flat
Heavy Lids Bright Blue Freckles Pugged
Hollow

10. LIPS 11. MOUTH 12. TEETH 13. CHIN

Hare lip Small Yellow/Stained Cleft
Full Large Gaps Dimpled
Thin Wide Crooked “No chin”
No Upper Lip Bow-shaped Large Pointed
Small Double
Braces Round
Missing Teeth Square
Long
 SUSPECT DESCRIPTION FORM (continued)
14. FACE SHAPE 15. SKIN 16. FACIAL HAIR 17. NECK
Oval Tan Clean-shaven Tan line
Square Pale Moustache Long neck
Diamond Healthy Sideburns Short neck
Thin Freckled Beard Adam’s Apple
Long Moles Goatee No neck/Thick
Fat Acne Stubble Hairy
Wide Rough Dirty

18. SCARS / TATTOOS 19. HANDS / NAILS

Describe: _____________________________ Long fingers
Short fingers
____________________________________ Ring
Watch
____________________________________ Scars on hand
Describe: __________________________________
____________________________________ __________________________________

____________________________________ Dirty nails

Long nails
____________________________________ Chipped nails
Painted nails
Color: ___________

20. CLOTHING DESCRIPTION

HAT (Knit cap, Baseball, Cowboy, etc.): ________________________________________________________________

GLASSES (Sunglasses, Tinted, Wire-rimmed, Dark): ______________________________________________________

COAT (Trenchcoat, Ski-jacket, Raincoat, Leather, Windbreaker, Sports-team): ____________________________________

SHIRT (Long-sleeved, Short-sleeved, Tank top, T-shirt, Button-up, Pullover, Hooded): _______________________________

PANTS (Sweatpants, Jeans, Shorts, Slacks): _____________________________________________________________

BELT (Leather, Buckle: Gold/Silver, Cloth, Logo): ________________________________________________________

SHOES (Logo/Running, Boots, Sandals, Dress): __________________________________________________________

SOCKS (None or Color): ________________________________________________________________________

GLOVES (Leather, Knit, Color): ____________________________________________________________________

JEWELRY (Watch, Earring(s) L/R ear, Diamond, Hoop) NECKLACE (Chain, Gold/Silver): __________________________

MASK (Ski mask, Other/Color): ___________________________________________________________________

CLOTHING NOTES: ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
 SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION FORM

Color:
Year:
Make:
Model:
License plate:
State of license:
Direction of travel:
Time elapsed:
Bumper stickers:
Body damage:
Tinted windows:
Unique characteristics:
 SUSPECT DESCRIPTION FORM
NAME (Print) FIRST M.I. LAST EMPLOYEE
NON-EMPLOYEE
ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

TELEPHONE NUMBER
WORK: HOME: DATE: TIME:

Fill in the blanks below as soon after a robbery as possible on each suspect involved in the robbery. DO NOT
COMPARE YOUR NOTES WITH ANYONE ELSE. Do not guess. Describe only those items you are sure of. Once
completed, give this form to an investigating police officer or your supervisor.
DESCRIPTION OF ROBBER:
Race: Age: Sex: Height: Weight:

BUILD:
Slender Medium Heavy Obese
EYES:
Blue Gray Hazel Brown Black
Glasses Sunglasses Shape of Eyes:

COMPLEXION:

Light Medium Dark Freckled Ruddy

HAIR: Short Medium Long Other

Blonde Red Brown Black Gray Partially Gray
Bald Partially Bald Curly Straight Unkept Wavy
FACIAL HAIR:
Smooth Shaven Unshaven Sideburns Mustache Beard Goatee Facial Hair Length/Shape
Facial Hair Color

SPEECH:
Loud Soft Rapid Slow Profane Refined
Raspy Lisp Effeminate Nasal Stutters or Stammers

ACCENT:
None Southern New England Spanish English Western Other

SCARS, MARKS AND OTHER PROMINENT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Pimples Pock Marks Tattoos Heavy Scars Moles Birthmarks
Double Chin Eye Pouches Dimple Twitch Hare Lip Baby Faced
Freckled Hollow Cheeked Broken Nose Lines or Wrinkles
Prominent Adam's Apple Warts Where Other
TEETH:
Good All Missing Several Missing Stained Braces or Retainer Capped
Decayed Gaps Crooked Buck Teeth Gold/Silver False
CLOTHING: Check if wearing item, and briefly describe (i,e.) color, material, style, etc.
Hat Overcoat Raincoat

Jacket Shoes Hose

Trousers Skirt Blouse\Shirt

Dress Tie Gloves

Other
 SUSPECT DESCRIPTION FORM
JEWELRY: Check if wearing item, and briefly describe.
Ring(s) Which hand?

Wrist watch Which wrist?

Pin(s) Tie Clasp
Bracelets Earrings

Other
MASK OR FALSE FACE:
Yes No Describe
AMPUTATIONS:
Yes No Location of Amputation
DEFORMITIES: None
Stoop Shouldered Hunchback Stiff Fingers Crippled Arm
Deformed Hand Which hand? Lame Crippled Leg

Crippled Feet Bowlegged Limp Other

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Chewed Gum Cigar Pipe Cigarette Nervous
Calm Intoxicated Liquor on Breath Left Handed Bites Fingernails
Smiling Licks Lips Other

WEAPON:
Revolver Automatic Rifle Shotgun Knife Bomb

Other Color, Length of Barrel or Blade Which hand was used?

NAME USED:
None
NOTE:
Did robber use note: Yes No Were you able to retain note: Yes No

Wording (If note not retained) Written Printed Other

METHOD OF ESCAPE:
Car On Foot Direction of Travel Don't Know

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:
Was anyone in the vehicle who was not taking part inside the bank? Yes No
If yes, describe him or her on a separate CRIMINAL SUSPECT DESCRIPTION.

Make Model Year

2 Door 4 Door Wagon Van Truck Motorcycle

Color License plate number

Other distinguishing characteristics (dents, customizations, etc.)

Where was the vehicle parked?

From what direction did it come?

In what direction did the vehicle go when it left?

 Case#
Investigating Officer
Name First MI Last DOB SSN

Address Street City State Zip

Telephone# Home: Cell: Date: Time:

Work:
Fill in the blanks below as soon after the incident as possible on each suspect involved. DO NOT COMPARE YOUR
NOTES WITH ANYONE ELSE. DO NOT GUESS. DESCRIBE ONLY THOSE ITEMS OF WHICH YOU ARE CERTAIN. Once
completed, give this form to the investigating officer.
Gender Male Female

Race: White Black Asian Hispanic Other:

Build: Slender Medium Heavy Obese

Complexion: Light Medium Dark Freckled

Hair: Black Brown Blonde Red White Gray

Other - Describe:

Facial Hair: Smooth shaven Unshaven Sideburns Mustache Beard

Goatee Facial Hair Length/Shape: Facial Hair color:

Speech: Loud Soft Rapid Slow Profane Raspy Lisp

Nasal Stutters or Stammers Other -Describe:

Teeth: Good All Missing Several Missing Stained Braces or Retainer Capped

Decayed Gaps Crooked Buck Teeth Gold/Silver False

Clothing: Describe if wearing item, and briefly describe color, material, style, etc.
Hat: Overcoat: Raincoat:

Jacket: Shoes: Socks:

Pants: Skirt: Blouse/Shirt:

Dress: Tie: Gloves:

Other

Deformities: None Stoop Shoulder Hunchback Stiff Fingers Lame

Deformed Hand-left or right(circle one)? Feet Bowlegged

Limp - Which leg-left or right (circle one)? Amputations : Describe

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 Case#
Investigating Officer
Jewelry: Check if wearing item and briefly describe.
Ring Which hand?

Wrist watch Which wrist?

Pin Tie clasp

Bracelets Earrings

Other
Personal
Chewed Gum Cigar Pipe Cigarette Nervous
Characteristics:
Liquor on Breath Intoxicated Calm Left handed Right handed

Smiling Licks Lips Bites fingernails Other

Piercings, scars, marks, tattoos? Describe:

Weapon:
None Revolver Automatic Rifle Shotgun

Knife Bomb Other:

Method of
Car On foot Direction of Travel Don’t Know
Escape:
Vehicle Description:
Plate number & state:

Make: Model: Color:

2 door 4 door Wagon SUV Van Truck Motorcycle

Other distinguishing characteristics:

Was anyone in the vehicle who was not taking part? Yes No Don’t Know
Where was vehicle parked:

From what direction did it come?

Monitor the MUPD website mansfield.edu/police for updates Call MUPD 570-662-4900

Signature Date

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