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Document Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

The role of eyewitness identification in the conviction process has become of increasing interest within the realm of psychology and law. Concern over the accuracy of such eyewitness testimony has led to a growing body of research examining a number of issues that could possibly bias eyewitness identifications. Variables that may affect eyewitness identifications can be broken into two categories: estimator variables and system variables. One way to measure possible biases due to system variable effects is through the use of mock witnesses. Mock witnesses are people who do not have any knowledge of the crime, but are asked to pick the suspect out of a lineup based solely on a verbal description. A mock witnesses' function is to determine whether lineup procedures were fair or biased. They can also be used to evaluate the role of post event information on eyewitness identification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using mock witnesses, a lineup used in a recent case in which photos and composite sketches of the suspect were broadcast on national television, widely distributed throughout the neighborhood, and appeared in both local and national newspapers.

Publication Date

2003

Journal Title

Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference

Volume

7

Issue

1

First Page

137

Last Page

139

Copyright

©2003 by the University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Publisher

University of Northern Iowa

City

Cedar Falls, IA

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