NCJ Number
17237
Date Published
1973
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER IS THE RESULT OF A ONE-MONTH SURVEY OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED AUTHORITIES TO QUESTION THE USE OF EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY.
Abstract
DISCUSSED ARE THE EYEWITNESS'S ABILITY TO RECORD A SUSPECT'S CHARACTERISTICS, RETAIN THEM, AND COMMUNICATE THEM ACCURATELY AND SPECIFICALLY. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE THE POLICE PROCEDURES IN OBTAINING EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION AND THE COURT PROCEDURES IN PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY. BOTH CORPOREAL (LINE-UP AND SHOW-UP) AND NON-CORPOREAL (PHOTO IDENTIFICATION) METHODS OF SUSPECT IDENTIFICATION ARE EXPLAINED AND COMPARED FOR OBJECTIVITY AND RELIABILITY. THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES USED BY THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR CONDUCTING LINE-UPS IS HIGHLIGHTED. THE COURT PROCEDURES FOR EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION ARE ALSO NOTED, ALONG WITH COURT RULINGS ON THE USE AND ADMISSIBILITY OF LINE-UP IDENTIFICATIONS AS EVIDENCE IN COURT TRIALS. THE INFLUENCE OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS ON JURY VERDICTS IS ALSO EXPLORED. SEVERAL DANGER SIGNALS THAT JURIES SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR WHEN JUDGING EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY ARE OUTLINED. RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT THE LINE-UP IS A BETTER METHOD OF OBTAINING THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPECTS THAN SHOW-UP. RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LINE-UP PROCEDURE INCLUDED USING VIDEOTAPE RECORDINGS TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM OF FINDING SUITABLE FILLERS FOR LINE-UPS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.