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US cops seek perfect picture
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
POLICE in Dallas, the United States, where several convictions based on eyewitness testimony have been overturned, are taking part in a study to determine the best way to prevent witnesses from picking the wrong suspects in photo lineups.
Typically a detective shows a witness at least six pictures of possible suspects at the same time, but critics say the detective's body language and verbal cues can unintentionally taint results. As part of the study, Dallas police will use "sequential blind lineups" in which someone who doesn't know who the suspect is shows the photos one at a time.
Experts say the wrong person is less likely to be chosen if photos are viewed sequentially. It also keeps a witness from comparing one person to another and picking someone who closely resembles the criminal.
Misidentifications are a key factor in an estimated 75 percent of the 220 wrongful convictions exposed by DNA testing since 1989. Dallas County has had more DNA-based exonerations than any other place in the nation since 2001. All but one of the 19 DNA-based exonerations in Dallas were due to faulty eyewitness testimony.
Typically a detective shows a witness at least six pictures of possible suspects at the same time, but critics say the detective's body language and verbal cues can unintentionally taint results. As part of the study, Dallas police will use "sequential blind lineups" in which someone who doesn't know who the suspect is shows the photos one at a time.
Experts say the wrong person is less likely to be chosen if photos are viewed sequentially. It also keeps a witness from comparing one person to another and picking someone who closely resembles the criminal.
Misidentifications are a key factor in an estimated 75 percent of the 220 wrongful convictions exposed by DNA testing since 1989. Dallas County has had more DNA-based exonerations than any other place in the nation since 2001. All but one of the 19 DNA-based exonerations in Dallas were due to faulty eyewitness testimony.
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