Researchers even studied mug shots to determine how physical traits predicted criminal behavior.

Kypros / getty images.

From kurt cobain to martin luther king jr. , see some of history's most famous mugshots and learn why these iconic figures were arrested in the first place.

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With the growth of mass media and improvements in communication technology, celebrity mugshots are now like gasoline for the media fire.

Webby john kuroski | edited by savannah cox.

Published june 16, 2017.

Updated may 9, 2024.

Webthis slideshow displays a sample of the amazing 19th century mug shots that formed part of a show i curated at the new zealand police museum last year, suspicious looking (available here as an online exhibition).

Webupdated april 12, 2021.

From a kid who can't be older than 13 giving the police the evil eye to three.

Webthis slideshow displays a sample of the amazing 19th century mug shots that formed part of a show i curated at the new zealand police museum last year, suspicious looking (available here as an online exhibition).

Webupdated april 12, 2021.

From a kid who can't be older than 13 giving the police the evil eye to three.

From a woman who sliced off her husband's penis to a serial killer who gleefully confessed to murdering 21 people, these vintage mugshots are just as unsettling as they are compelling.

Webthese vintage mugshots allow us to see both the horror and humanity in the faces of criminals from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Webin 1871, the prevention of crimes act made it a legal requirement that anybody who was arrested in england and wales had to have their photograph taken—thus was born the official “mug shot”.

Webused with permission and in collaboration earlier on last year, we got a massive scoop on a large collection of early 1900s mug shots found in sydney and curated by the sydney living museums.

Webknown as “mug shots” (after the british slang word “mug” meaning “face”), these images replaced drawings and descriptions on wanted posters.

Webin 1871, the prevention of crimes act made it a legal requirement that anybody who was arrested in england and wales had to have their photograph taken—thus was born the official “mug shot”.

Webused with permission and in collaboration earlier on last year, we got a massive scoop on a large collection of early 1900s mug shots found in sydney and curated by the sydney living museums.

Webknown as “mug shots” (after the british slang word “mug” meaning “face”), these images replaced drawings and descriptions on wanted posters.

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