Officials’ & professionals’ opinions on factors hindering eyewitness testimony in the Greek Criminal Justice System

• In Event: POLWG Panel 7. Police and Criminal Justice Evidence Gathering: Interview and Interrogation techniques

Abstract

While the witness holds a central role in the Greek Criminal Justice System, the methodologies of eliciting eyewitness testimonies have not been studied sufficiently. This study investigates the factors that hinder eyewitness testimony, through the opinions of 87 professionals that consist of penal system officials including judicial officers, pre-investigative officers, and judicial interviewers, as well as professionals involved with the criminal justice system. Analysis indicated that delays in the witness examination, as well as the long period intervening between the incident and the identification of the suspect, suggestible questions, constant interruptions, misleading questions, pressure in the witness during the identification process, lack of technical material and bad lineups are factors reported with the highest frequency. The results of this study can help strengthen the representatives of the criminal justice system and improve their methodologies.

Authors

• Stelios Nikopoulos, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

• Elli Anitsi, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens