Eyewitness misidentifications play a key role in wrongful convictions. Many of them lead to the incarceration of innocent people. However, eyewitness testimony is not always accurate. It is also subject to the influence of various factors.
Understanding the factors contributing to eyewitness misidentifications helps address the issue. It also helps prevent wrongful convictions.
Factors influencing eyewitness misidentifications
Many factors can contribute to eyewitness misidentifications. Some of them include stress, weapon focus, cross-racial identification and suggestive lineup procedures. In high-stress situations, people may have difficulty recalling details or identifying perpetrators. The presence of a weapon can draw attention away from the perpetrator’s face. This can make identification more challenging. Cross-racial identifications are also prone to error. People may have difficulty distinguishing faces of other races. Suggestive lineup procedures can also lead to false identifications.
Understanding the consequences of wrongful convictions
Wrongful convictions resulting from eyewitness misidentifications have devastating consequences. For starters, they deprive people of their freedom. They also result in the loss of time, reputation and opportunities. Innocent people may spend years, or even decades, behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Many of them endure psychological trauma and stigmatization as a result. The true perpetrators remain free, posing a continued risk to society.
Addressing the issue
Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach. Implementing reforms to improve identification procedures may help. This might include adopting double-blind lineup procedures. In these procedures, the administrator is unaware of the suspect’s identity. Minimizing suggestive questioning may also help.
Per the Innocence Project, in one study, 69% of DNA-related exonerations involved eyewitness misidentifications. Addressing the factors contributing to them helps create a stronger criminal justice system.