The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) reading detailed the absence of uniformity between police departments in how they handle witnesses who “saw it with [their] own eyes.” Needless to say, the questionable nature of eyewitness accounts has resulted in eyewitness identification being described as the best evidence for the prosecutor and the worst evidence for an innocent person wrongfully identified.
1. Given these parameters, which side of this issue affirmatively resonates with your opinion regarding eyewitness testimony?
2. Why is mistaken identity so common?
3. What should investigators and prosecutors do to avoid using this type of evidence in their cases?
4. Go to: https://public.psych.iastate.edu/glwells/theeyewitnesstest.html
View the video and then the lineup. Were you able to identify the suspect? What factors effected your ability to ID him the most? Which step of the three parts of eyewitness identification did you find most difficult?
#2
This is a multi-part topic. Please make sure you address all questions to earn full credit.
Upon arriving at a crime scene, what are the first actions that should be taken by a Crime Scene Technician?
How are these responsibilities different from those of the first responding police officer?
Does this difference surprise you? Why or why not?