Identifying Suspects With Unique Features Distorts Witness Memory For The Culprits Face

The current study was designed to assess the long-lived but untested belief amongst researchers that after making a misidentification, witnesses' memory for the original perpetrator will change to match the appearance of the innocent suspect. Participants viewed a video of a staged crime and made an identification from either a culprit-present or absent lineup that was either unaltered or displayed the designated-suspect with a tattoo. After randomly receiving feedback or no feedback, participants provided their recall of the perpetrator's appearance. Lineups included only one viable "designated-suspect," who looked undoubtedly the most like the perpetrator relative to the other fillers, despite having a tattoo on his cheek and neck. As expected, participant-witnesses who made an identification of a suspect with a tattoo on his face went on to report that the perpetrator in the crime video had a tattoo significantly more often than participants who were not exposed to a unique feature during the lineup identification. Further, this study reproduced the standard feedback effect, as participant-witnesses who received confirming feedback for their misidentification reported higher confidence in their identification decision and inflated reliability in other retrospective judgments. Contrary to our predictions, participant-witnesses who received confirming feedback were not significantly more likely to integrate the misinformation into their subsequent description of the perpetrator, compared to those who did not receive feedback.

Identifying the Culprit: Assessing Eyewitness Identification makes the case that better data collection and research on eyewitness identification, new law enforcement training protocols, standardized procedures for administering line-ups, and improvements in the handling of eyewitness identification in court can increase the chances that accurate identifications are made. This report explains the science that has emerged during the past 30 years on eyewitness identifications and identifies best practices in eyewitness procedures for the law enforcement community and in the presentation of eyewitness evidence in the courtroom. In order to continue the advancement of eyewitness identification research, the report recommends a focused research agenda.

This volume provides a tutorial review and evaluation of scientific research on the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness identification. The book starts with the perspective that there are a variety of conceptual and empirical problems with eyewitness identification as a form of forensic evidence, just as there are a variety of problems with other forms of forensic evidence. There is then an examination of the important results in the study of eyewitness memory and the implications of this research for psychological theory and for social and legal policy. The volume takes the perspective that research on eyewitness identification can be seen as the paradigmatic example of how psychological science can be successfully applied to real-world problems.

Examines traditional safeguards against mistaken eyewitness identification.

Forensic Facial Identification “A broad view of contemporary eyewitness research in both traditional and emerging areas. The international cast of contributors particularly highlights the interplay between law and research across countries — with lessons for all.” Steven D. Penrod, Distinguished Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice “At an age where we are relying more than ever on facial identification to ensure public safety, this volume represents an important milestone in ensuring our decisions are informed by the latest developments in technology and science. International experts provide practitioners with an exhaustive review of the tools needed to identify and investigate cases relying on facial identification, be they terror suspects or victims of disaster. What is unique about this book is that experts are encouraged to learn from mistakes made in the past and to equip themselves with theory and science to enable them to best use identification evidence to avoid miscarriages of justice. An outstanding contribution to the field.” Amina Memon, Professor of Psychology Royal Holloway, University of London Forensic Facial Identification provides an up-to-date set of best practices for professionals using eyewitness identification to solve crimes of all kinds. The book brings together a prominent group of contributors to discuss the latest scientific and technical advancements and their implications for practice. The contributors review current procedures for various facial identification methods and discuss their use and reliability. The chapters examine traditional forms of eyewitness identification, such as mugshots and line-ups, but also delve into newer technologies, such as facial identification using CCTV images and computerized automatic face recognition systems. Detailed case studies help put the latest research and technology in the proper legal context. Bridging the fields of psychology, criminology, and law, this essential volume, part of the Wiley Series in Crime, Policing and Law, is for those wishing to stay at the cutting-edge of this expanding and changing field.

Investigates the factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.

Findings from research on false memory have major implications for a number of fields central to human welfare, such as medicine and law. Although many important conclusions have been reached after a decade or so of intensive research, the majority of them are not well known outside the immediate field. To make this research accessible to a much wider audience, The Science of False Memory has been written to require little or no background knowledge of the theory and techniques used in memory research. Brainerd and Reyna introduce the volume by considering the progenitors to the modern science of false memory, and noting the remarkable degree to which core themes of contemporary research were anticipated by historical figure such as Binet, Piaget, and Bartlett. They continue with an account of the varied methods that have been used to study false memory both inside and outside of the laboratory. The first part of the volume focuses on the basic science of false memory, revolving around three topics: old and new theoretical ideas that have been used to explain false memory and make predictions about it; research findings and predictions about false memory in normal adults; and research findings and predictions about age-related changes in false memory between early childhood and adulthood. Throughout Part I, Brainerd and Reyna emphasize how current opponent-processes conceptions of false memory act as a unifying influence by integrating predictions and data across disparate forms of false memory. The second part focuses on the applied science of false memory, revolving around four topics: the falsifiability of witnesses and suspects memories of crimes, including false confessions by suspects; the falsifiability of eyewitness identifications of suspects; false-memory reports in investigative interviews of child victims and witnesses, particularly in connection with sexual-abuse crimes; false memory in psychotherapy, including recovered memories of childhood abuse, multiple-personality disorders, and recovered memories of previous lives. Although Part II is concerned with applied research, Brainerd and Reyna continue to emphasize the unifying influence of opponent-processes conceptions of false memory. The third part focuses on emerging trends, revolving around three expanding areas of false-memory research: mathematical models, aging effects, and cognitive neuroscience. False Memory will be an invaluable resource for professional researchers, practitioners, and students in the many fields for which false-memory research has implications, including child-protective services, clinical psychology, law, criminal justice, elementary and secondary education, general medicine, journalism, and psychiatry.

The legal system depends upon memory function in a number of critical ways, including the memories of victims, the memories of individuals who witness crimes or other critical events, the memories of investigators, lawyers, and judges engaged in the legal process, and the memories of jurors. How well memory works, how accurate it is, how it is affected by various aspects of the criminal justice system — these are all important questions. But there are others as well: Can we tell when someone is reporting an accurate memory? Can we distinguish a true memory from a false one? Can memories be selectively enhanced, or erased? Are memories altered by emotion, by stress, by drugs? These questions and more are addressed by Memory and Law, which aims to present the current state of knowledge among cognitive and neural scientists about memory as applied to the law.

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.