Difference between revisions of "Eyewitness Misidentification"

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The variables that cause eyewitness misidentification can be divided into two categories: estimator variables and systems variables. (Innocence Project Website)  
 
The variables that cause eyewitness misidentification can be divided into two categories: estimator variables and systems variables. (Innocence Project Website)  
- Estimator variables cannot be controlled by the criminal justice system. Examples of estimator variables include: the lighting during which the crime took place, the distance from which the eyewitness saw the criminal, the race of the criminal, the presence of a weapon during the crime and the degree of stress and trauma suffered by the eyewitness during the crime.
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* Estimator variables cannot be controlled by the criminal justice system. Examples of estimator variables include: the lighting during which the crime took place, the distance from which the eyewitness saw the criminal, the race of the criminal, the presence of a weapon during the crime and the degree of stress and trauma suffered by the eyewitness during the crime.  
 
 
- Systems variables can and should be controlled by the criminal justice system. These include the manner in which the law enforcement system retrieves information from the eyewitness, such as lineups and photo arrays. Since system variables that affect the accuracy of identification include the type of lineup, the selection of "fillers, the manner in which the lineup is administers, instructions to witnesses before identification procedures, the identity of the person administering the lineup, and communication with witnesses after they make the identification.
 
  
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* Systems variables can and should be controlled by the criminal justice system. These include the manner in which the law enforcement system retrieves information from the eyewitness, such as lineups and photo arrays. Since system variables that affect the accuracy of identification include the type of lineup, the selection of "fillers, the manner in which the lineup is administers, instructions to witnesses before identification procedures, the identity of the person administering the lineup, and communication with witnesses after they make the identification.
  
 
== Policy ==
 
== Policy ==

Revision as of 10:15, 7 April 2010