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Eyewitnesses

Over 75,000 people a year are charged with crimes on the basis of eyewitness identifications, but too rarely is this evidence challenged (or suppressed). The last 30 years have created a broad, sophisticated, and well-researched consensus among social scientists that human memory is subject to specific, non-intuitive influences. More than lighting conditions and elapsed time, subjects like lineup procedures, witness confidence inflation, weapon focus, and the difficulty of cross-racial identifications headline research. Defenders now have an obligation to use this science in the courtroom to challenge jurors’ and judges’ misconceptions and, where necessary, fight bad outdated precedents.

Where do I start?   Submit a Document
 
  • Forensics Library
    • Eyewitness Identification Eyewitness Identification
      • Eyewitness ID Research Articles Eyewitness ID Research Articles
        • Lay Understanding--Polls, Articles Lay Understanding--Polls, Articles
          Document What do Jurors Understand About Eyewitness ID? Survey says... Champion, April 2005. Describes survey of 1000 potential jurors in Washington DC about their understanding of eyewitness research findings. Shows eyewitness research really is "beyond the ken" of most jurors.
          [ Submitter: DC PDS  |  more info ]
          Document D.C. Poll of Juror Understanding of Eyewitness Factors This recent independent poll of 1000 members of the D.C. juror pool demonstrates that many factors of eyewitness reliability are NOT understood by laypeople. An essential weapon against opposition to expert testimony.
          [ Submitter: DC PDS  |  more info ]
          Document Summary of D.C. Poll Results By Timothy P. O'Toole, D.C. Public Defender Service.
          [ Submitter: DC PDS  |  more info ]