Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Tenth Circuit Blog

Criminal Law

: Tenth Circuit Blog

Innocence Project Report Focuses on Eyewitness Identification

By Shari Allison

A new report from the Innocence Project of the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, focuses on eyewitness identifications and lineups. Called "Reevaluating Lineups: Why Witnesses Make Mistakes and How to Reduce the Chance of a Misidentification," describes common problems with lineups and suggests changes to prevent erroneous identifications that result in the convictions of innocent persons.The report discusses a host of factors that can contribute to wrongful identifications. These include conditions at the time of the crime (such as poor lighting), increased stress at the time of the crime (such as from the presence of a weapon), and cross-racial identification. These factors are inherent in the situation. However, the report also discusses procedural problems in the identification process that can lead to erroneous results and altered memories...continue to full post

Full post as published by Tenth Circuit Blog on July 22, 2009 (boomark / email).