NCJ Number
183264
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2000 Pages: 231-258
Date Published
April 2000
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Two experiments directly compare two methods of selecting foils for identification lineups.
Abstract
The suspect-matched method selects foils based on their match to the suspect; whereas, the description-matched method selects foils based on their match to the witness's description of the perpetrator. Theoretical analyses and previous results predict an advantage for description-matched lineups both in terms of correctly identifying the perpetrator and minimizing false identification of innocent suspects. The advantage for description-matched lineups should be particularly pronounced if the foils selected in suspect-matched lineups are too similar to the suspect. In Experiment 1, the lineups were created by trained police officers, and in Experiment 2, the lineups were constructed by undergraduate college students. The results of both experiments showed higher suspect-to-foil similarity for suspect-matched lineups than for description-matched lineups; however, neither experiment showed a difference in correct or false identification rates. Both experiments did, however, show that there may be an advantage for suspect-matched lineups in terms of no-pick and rejection responses. From these results, the endorsement of one method over the other seems premature. 4 tables, 3 figures, and 20 references