The research literature on lineup has changed dramatically since 1985. In particular, the classic study by Wells and his colleagues has been widely critiqued and there is now a large body of research that has examined the effects of different lineup procedures on eyewitness identification accuracy. This research has shown that lineup procedures can have a significant impact on eyewitness identification accuracy, and that the type of lineup procedure used can make a difference in the outcome of an identification.
Other related questions:
Why are sequential lineups better?
There are a number of reasons why sequential lineups may be more effective than other lineup types. First, they allow witnesses to compare the suspect to each successive member of the lineup, rather than comparing the suspect to all members of the lineup at once. This may lead to more accurate identifications, as witnesses are able to better compare the suspect to each individual in the lineup.
Second, sequential lineups minimize the likelihood of witnesses mistakenly choosing the member of the lineup who most closely resembles the perpetrator (a phenomenon known as the “similarity effect”). This is because the witness is only exposed to the suspect once they have already seen the other members of the lineup, and so is less likely to be influenced by the physical similarity between the suspect and other members of the lineup.
Finally, sequential lineups reduce the chance that witnesses will choose the member of the lineup who they believe to be the most likely to be the perpetrator, regardless of whether or not they actually recognize them (a phenomenon known as the “guessing effect”). This is because witnesses are less likely to guess correctly if they are only exposed to the suspect after they have seen the other members of the lineup.
What is the critical difference between a simultaneous lineup and a sequential lineup?
There are several key differences between simultaneous and sequential lineups. In a simultaneous lineup, all members of the lineup are present at the same time and the witness is asked to identify the perpetrator, if any, from the lineup. In a sequential lineup, members of the lineup are presented one at a time to the witness, who is then asked if the individual is the perpetrator.
Simultaneous lineups are generally considered to be more reliable than sequential lineups, as they are less likely to be influenced by contextual cues. Additionally, research has shown that witnesses are more likely to correctly identify the perpetrator from a simultaneous lineup than a sequential lineup.
What is a sequential lineup?
A sequential lineup is a lineup where the suspects are presented to the witness sequentially, one at a time.
What are the recommended procedures for conducting lineups?
The recommended procedures for conducting lineups are as follows:
1. Select a lineup administrator who is not involved in the investigation and who is familiar with the procedures.
2. Inform the lineup participants of the purpose of the lineup and that they are not suspects.
3. Ensure that the lineup participants resemble the witness’s description of the suspect.
4. Show the witness the lineup one person at a time.
5. Ask the witness to make a decision without conferring with others.
6. Record the witness’s decision, the level of confidence, and any comments.
7. Thank the witness for their participation.
Bibliography
- A National Survey of Eyewitness Identification Procedures in …
- The Show-Up Identification Procedure: A Literature Review
- Do sequential lineups impair underlying discriminability?
- Line-Up Image Position in Simultaneous and Sequential Line …
- The potential benefits of context reinstatement – SelectedWorks
- Lineup Identification by Children: Effects of Clothing Bias – PMC
- Relative judgment theory and the mediation of facial recognition