THE POLICE LINE-UP CHAPTER 5 QUESTIONS
Photo line-ups vs. real line-ups - Answers -- Photo line-ups are easier to put together,
thus more common
- Problem: they are done using mug shots, so they are all "possibles"
(e.g. all mug shots are possible suspects)
What is the leading cause of wrongful convictions? - Answers -Eyewitness
misidentification testimony
- It has been linked to 75% of the DNA exoneration cases
DNA exoneration data is only the tip of the iceberg... (3) - Answers -1- DNA has been
destroyed, lost, or has deteriorated
2- Most of them involved sexual assault - DNA for other crimes (e.g. murder, robbery,
drive-by shooting) is rarely obtainable
3- Sexual assault victims not necessarily more reliable or accurate
What are the implications of placing too much trust in eyewitness identification
procedures? - Answers -- Eyewitness identification evidence is considered "direct"
evidence, rather than a circumstantial evidence
e.g. finger prints are not "direct" evidence, therefore do not have the powerful status that
eyewitness identification evidence has
What are eyewitness identification evidence safeguards? (5) - Answers -1- presence of
council during line-ups
2- making motions to suppress identification
3- witness cross-identification
4- use of psychological experts to testify on the factors impacting eyewitness memory
5- Instructions from judges and juries as to how they should evaluate eyewitness
memory reports
What is the most common identification test for eyewitnesses? - Answers -The line-up
(e.g. photo array or live line-up)
What is sometimes assumed by lawyers, police officers, judges, jurors, and public, with
eyewitness identification evidence? - Answers -That memories are accurate
, e.g. The assumption that when identification is made, it reflects their memory
Why is it an error to think that memories are accurate? - Answers -Memory is
reconstructive and subject to modification
What happened in R. v. Goran? - Answers -Two victims attacked at a convenience
store
- Both victims initially picked out a person other than Goran from the police line-up
- Judge placed a lot of weight on the first victim's certainty that Goran was his attacker
What is the problem with R. v. Goran? - Answers -Judge failed to instruct himself
properly about mistaking certainty for accuracy
Define line-up - Answers -A procedure in which a suspect is grouped with other
individuals (e.g. live or photo format), and shown to a witness with the goal of identifying
the perpetrator
What judgement strategy is used in sequential line-ups? - Answers -Absolute strategy
Define absolute strategy - Answers -The eyewitness must compare each individual in
the line-up to his or her "actual" memory of the perpetrator
- One chance to say "that's the person" (e.g. don't know how many people will be in the
line-up)
What is said to decrease mistaken identification? - Answers -The sequential line-up
e.g. by almost 50%
- Also said to be decrease in accurate identification in target-present line-ups
What line-up shows more promise? - Answers -The sequential line-up
- It produces fewer mistaken identities
- Produces consistent hit rates
What is recommended to minimize social influence by line-up administrators? - Answers
-A "double-blind" procedure
Define "double-blind" procedure - Answers -The police officer administrating the line-up
is:
- unaware of who the suspect is
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