Identifying the Culprit Assessing Eyewitness Identification (2014) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 9-20
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 9... ...
It is therefore crucial to develop eyewitness identification procedures that achieve maximum accuracy and reliability. Eyewitness evidence is not infallible.
|
From page 10... ...
The police then received a tip that a local man named Ronald Cotton resembled the composite, and shortly after the crime, Thompson was shown a photo array containing six photos. With some difficulty, she chose two pictures, one of which was of Cotton.
|
From page 11... ...
Erroneous eyewitness identifications can occur across the range of criminal convictions in which eyewitness evidence is presented, but most of these cases lack the biological material that can be tested for DNA and used for exoneration purposes. While eyewitness misidentifications may have been a dominant factor in some erroneous convictions, it is important to note that other factors, including errors at various stages of the legal and judicial processes, may have contributed to the erroneous convictions.
|
From page 12... ...
eyewitness identification and to recommend best practices11 for handling eyewitness identifications by law enforcement and the courts. The goal of this effort was to evaluate the scientific basis for eyewitness identification, to help establish the scientific foundation for effective real-world practices, and to facilitate the development of policies to improve eyewitness identification validity in the context of the American justice system.
|
From page 13... ...
Consequently, the law enforcement and legal communities have made important contributions to our understanding of eyewitness identifications and the improvements of practices in the field. Researchers have become increasingly involved in assessing eyewitness identification procedures as law enforcement, lawyers, and judges have themselves sought more accurate procedures and approaches.
|
From page 14... ...
In recent years, more law enforcement agencies have created written eyewitness identification policies and have adopted formalized training. However, there are many agencies that do not have standard written policies or formalized training for the administration of identification procedures or for ongoing interactions with witnesses.17 VISION AND MEMORY At its core, eyewitness identification relies on brain systems for visual perception and memory: The witness perceives the face and other aspects of the perpetrator's physical appearance and bearing, stores that informa 14 ational N Research Council, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward (Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2009)
|
From page 15... ...
Several factors are known to affect the fidelity of visual perception and the integrity of memory. In particular, vision and memory are constrained by processing bottlenecks and various sources of noise.19 Noise comes from a variety of sources, some associated with the structure of the visual environment, some inherent in the optical and neuronal processes involved, some reflecting sensory content not relevant to the observer's goals, and some originating with incorrect expectations derived from memory.
|
From page 16... ...
One important category of system variables concerns the conditions and protocols for lineup identification. Under current law enforcement practice, eyewitness identification procedures involve having a witness view individuals or images of individuals.
|
From page 17... ...
Both system and estimator variables will be discussed in detail in subsequent chapters. EFFORTS AT IMPROVEMENT In response to insights gained from research on erroneous convictions, there have been attempts to provide recommendations for improving the reliability and validity of eyewitness identifications.
|
From page 18... ...
Brathwaite ruling was not based on much of the research conducted by scientists on visual perception, memory, and eyewitness identification, and it fails to include important advances that have strengthened standards for judicial review of eyewitness identification evidence at the state level. In 2011, the Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court convened the Study Group on Eyewitness Identification to "offer guidance as to how our courts can most effectively deter unnecessarily suggestive identification procedures and minimize the risk of a wrongful conviction." The report made five recommendations to minimize inaccurate identifications: (1)
|
From page 19... ...
Henderson drew on an extensive review of scientific evidence regarding human vision, memory, and the various factors that can affect the reliability of eyewitness identifications. In July 2012, the court released expanded jury instructions and revised court rules relating to eyewitness identifications in criminal cases.27 In fall 2012, the Oregon Supreme Court also established a new procedure for evaluating whether eyewitness identifications could be used in court.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.