Methods investigators use as eyewitnesses to crimes to identify criminal offenders

Full Answer Section

1. Live Lineups: Similar to photo arrays, but instead of photographs, the eyewitness views a group of live individuals, including the suspect and fillers. This allows for a more dynamic assessment, but it can be more challenging to arrange and may introduce additional biases.

2. Composite Sketches: If a suspect is not immediately known, investigators may work with an eyewitness to create a composite sketch of the offender's face. This involves using software or traditional artistic methods to piece together facial features based on the eyewitness's memory.

3. Showups: In certain circumstances, investigators may present a single suspect to the eyewitness for immediate identification, often in the field shortly after the crime. This method is used sparingly due to its inherent suggestiveness.

Reliability of Eyewitness Identification:

Eyewitness identification is a powerful form of evidence, but it's also known to be unreliable. Research has shown that eyewitnesses can make mistakes due to various factors:

• Memory is fallible: Memory is not a perfect recording. It can be influenced by stress, emotions, and the passage of time. Eyewitnesses may unintentionally incorporate information from other sources or fill in gaps in their memory with assumptions.
• Suggestive procedures: The way investigators conduct interviews, photo arrays, or lineups can inadvertently influence an eyewitness's choices. Leading questions, biased instructions, or the presence of other witnesses can all contribute to misidentification.
• Cross-racial identification: Eyewitnesses are generally more accurate when identifying individuals of their own race. Cross-racial identifications are more prone to error due to factors such as less familiarity with facial features of other races.
• Stress and trauma: The stress and trauma of witnessing a crime can impair memory and perception, making it more difficult for eyewitnesses to accurately recall details.
• Weapon focus: If a weapon is present during a crime, eyewitnesses may focus their attention on the weapon rather than the perpetrator's face, leading to less accurate identification.

Improving Reliability:

While eyewitness identification is inherently imperfect, there are steps that can be taken to improve its reliability:

• Double-blind administration: The person administering a photo array or lineup should not know who the suspect is to avoid unintentional cues.
• Sequential presentation: Presenting lineup members one at a time, rather than all at once, can reduce the tendency for witnesses to make relative judgments.
• Proper instructions: Eyewitnesses should be clearly instructed that the perpetrator may or may not be present in the lineup or photo array.
• Confidence statements: Immediately after making an identification, eyewitnesses should be asked to state their level of confidence in their choice.
• Documentation: The entire identification process should be thoroughly documented, including any statements made by the eyewitness.

It's crucial for investigators and the legal system to recognize the limitations of eyewitness identification and to consider other forms of evidence when evaluating the guilt or innocence of a suspect. Eyewitness testimony should be treated with caution and corroborated by other evidence whenever possible.

Sample Answer

Eyewitnesses can play a crucial role in identifying criminal offenders, but their accounts are also known to be fallible. Investigators use various methods to gather information from eyewitnesses, but it's important to understand the limitations and potential biases associated with eyewitness identification.

Methods Used to Identify Criminal Offenders:

1. Interviews: Investigators conduct interviews with eyewitnesses to gather information about what they saw and heard. This may involve open-ended questions, specific inquiries about the offender's appearance, and attempts to reconstruct the events of the crime.

2. Photo Arrays: Eyewitnesses are shown a series of photographs, including a picture of the suspect and several "fillers" (individuals who resemble the suspect). The eyewitness is asked if they recognize the perpetrator among the photos.