NCJ Number
84304
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Procedures of eyewitness identification of suspects are described and assessed for the lineup, the showup (only one person to be viewed), and photographic identification.
Abstract
The lineup is usually a formal identification session at which a witness attempts to identify a suspect from among a group of persons; however, it can also be an informal viewing of a group of persons at a gathering where a suspect is believed to be present. Another 'live' procedure that has been questioned by the courts is the 'showup' of one suspect alone to be viewed by a witness or victim. The 'showup' has been allowed in cases of immediate 'back-to-the-scene' viewing after a crime and also when it is impossible for the police to create a fair lineup because of the perpetrator's unique appearance. Another major method of identification used by law enforcement is the photographic lineup, where the witness attempts to select a perpetrator's photograph from a group of photographs of persons of the same general description. An identification of this type should be supported by live identification before a formal court proceeding begins. A serious problem would develop if the appearance of the subject changed drastically between the time of identification and later court appearance when the witness will be asked to identify the perpetrator. The effectiveness of eyewitness identification evidence largely depends on the use of fair and proper methods being used in the identification. (Author summary modified)