Journal article
Safeguards Against Wrongful Conviction in Eyewitness Identification Cases: Insights from Empirical Research
Canadian criminal law review, Vol.18(2)
01 Jun 2014
Abstract
Eyewitness evidence can be crucial to convicting guilty persons. Yet, the memories of eyewitnesses are not infallible. Indeed, numerous catalogues indicate that eyewitness mistakes figure prominently in the conviction of innocent persons. Safeguards designed to prevent the conviction of mistakenly identified persons include best-practice identification procedures and courtroom safeguards. Best-practice identification procedures are procedures that reduce the risk of mistaken identification and increase the probability that a suspect is guilty given identification. Courtroom safeguards are the procedural and evidentiary rules designed to prevent the conviction of mistakenly identified persons. We draw insights from the empirical literature about the efficacy of these two forms of safeguards in preventing wrongful convictions via eyewitness mistake. Our review of the literature suggests that the best way to prevent conviction of the innocent is to adopt identification procedures that limit innocent suspect identifications. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
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Details
- Title
- Safeguards Against Wrongful Conviction in Eyewitness Identification Cases: Insights from Empirical Research
- Creators
- Andrew SmithLisa Dufraimont
- Publication Details
- Canadian criminal law review, Vol.18(2)
- Publisher
- HAB Press Limited
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- English and Philosophy
- Identifiers
- 991021013084704721