Divergent viewpoints about lineups: What policy for the identification of criminals?

Publication date: September 2013 Source:Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée/European Review of Applied Psychology, Volume 63, Issue 5 Author(s): S. Demarchi Introduction A fair lineup is needed to maximize the likelihood of correct identification of the criminal and minimize the likelihood of mistaken identification. Fairness depends on distractor plausibility and the lineup method (i.e., simultaneous or sequential). Objective This paper aims to evaluate the advantages and the limits of distractor plausibility and the presentation of the lineup members, and thus show the best method to ensure correct identification. Method Our conclusions are based on the major experiments published in the field and on recent debates in the scientific community. Results and conclusion In addition to distractor plausibility, our conclusions, which are based on previous work by Malpass (2006), suggest that sequential and simultaneous lineups are complementary rather than opposed. The paper argues that two tools specifically designed for and adapted to particular situations are better than one.

Source: European Review of Applied Psychology - October 12, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research