Witness Misidentification: Policies and Procedures that Increase Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony, is it Effective?

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

In the mid 1970’s when the War on Drugs and “Get Tough” on crime policies were enforced in the United States it caused incarceration rates to increase 342% nationwide. With a 20 year surge of arrests, and convictions, recent research has provided evidence of flaws in the Criminal Justice System resulting in high numbers of wrongful convictions. Close to 75% of those who have been wrongfully convicted is caused by witness misidentification. A witness misidentification occurs when a victim or witness of a crime incorrectly identifies the perpetrator of a crime. In current research, policy adjustments have been developed and suggested to police departments to change their identification procedures that can increase their accuracy rate of a witness correctly identifying a suspect. This developing study will gather the opinions of police officers in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office about their current knowledge of wrongful convictions, their active role in the identification process, and their willingness to accept new policy changes. Overall, this study will provide more in depth research about police officers and their willingness to adjust their policies.

Author

• Alexandria Lama, University of South Florida