This paper looks at the reliability of eyewitness testimony within the criminal justice system in the United States.
Written in 2009; 1,275 words; 7 sources; APA; $ 43.95
Paper Summary:
In this article, the writer notes that eyewitness testimony plays a vital role in the prosecution of crimes in the United States, as thousands and thousands of suspects face indictment based on eyewitness identification evidence each year. Yet, much of the information is considered faulty. This paper takes a look at the reliability of eyewitness witnesses. The writer examines the credibility of eyewitnesses and focuses on the reliability of eyewitness testimony in relation to cross-racial identifications. The writer maintains that if police do not keep witnesses away from news and other people's testimony, there is a greater chance that their memory will be altered. The writer concludes that memory is an ongoing process, not a static state and it is a process that never happens the same way twice.
Outline:
"Cross-Racial Identification of Defendants in Criminal Cases: A Proposed Model Jury Instruction."
"Eyewitness Memory in Context: Toward a Systematic Understanding of Eyewitness Evidence"
"Interviewing Witnesses: The Effect of Forced Confabulation on Event Memory"
From the Paper:
" In comparing these three articles, it can be said, overall, that eyewitness testimony is not reliable a lot of the time. There are so many variables that go into what we remember, and if we remember it correctly. The first article related to cross-racial eyewitness accounts can be compared to the second about eyewitness memory in context. The first article stated that research has shown it is more difficult for members of one race to accurately identify perpetrators of another race. The second article stated as well that so much of eyewitness testimony depends on factors that we cannot control - such as culture. This research leads us to believe that there is not much we can do to make eyewitness testimony reliable. When the credibility is related to factors outside of our control -such as gender, race, etc., this makes it nearly impossible to get an true testimony most of the time; of course, there could be exceptions to this."
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