NCJ Number
85195
Journal
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (June 1982) Pages: 150-157
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Research indicates that eyewitness identification on the basis of a matching of perceptual characteristics can seldom be made beyond reasonable doubt, which suggests that other forensic evidence should be provided in support of the eyewitness identification.
Abstract
Research indicates that eyewitnesses will seldom be able to positively identify a suspect unfamiliar to them prior to the incident and who was not apprehended at the scene of the crime. In such a circumstance, witnesses must compare the perceptual features yielded by each member of a lineup with the remembered perceptual features of the offender. Witnesses should be encouraged to select all persons in the lineup perceived as being similar in features to the offender. Witnesses may subsequently be able to specify the nature of the similarities. The court will be responsible for inferring the identity of the offender from the perceived similarities. Where the witness has identified the suspect as the offender solely on the basis of perceptual features, this identification should be accepted with extreme caution. Members of the lineup should be dressed in similar clothing, preferably in clothing similar to that worn by the offender when committing the crime. Further, lineups should be staged as soon as possible after the offense so as to maximize accuracy and minimize distortion. The fairness of lineups should be checked by taking photographs or making videotapes of the lineup and submitting this to the court. Also, a description of the offense should be given to non-witnesses who will be asked to select the person in the lineup they believe is likely to be the offender. Fairness can also be served by having lineups conducted by a body independent of the police. Tabular data from the research and 11 references are provided.