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Eyewitness Evidence Executive Summary

Learning Team A

CJA/364

February 17, 2015
Jeff Walters
University of Phoenix

Eyewitness Evidence Executive Summary

Law enforcement officials have many resources and techniques to help apprehend suspects. The help of an eyewitness is one of the most beneficial resources they can receive. One way an eyewitness can help identify a suspect is by being involved in a police lineup. Another way an eyewitness can help capture a suspect is by getting involved in a composite image. The suspect lineup allows the witness a chance to help the police find the suspect in a crime. It is important for the police to maintain a good status when doing an eyewitness lineup because there have been many people falsely accused trough these lineups. The police believe with the witness present at the crime, he or she saw everything that happened and could possibly identify the suspect (Huff, 2002). The lineup consists of individuals that line up in a row that preferably look the same in gender, facial hair, ethnicity, age, and height (“Dallas Police Department”, n.d.). The witness should meditate back on the incident, and the officer must remind the eyewitness that the suspect may not be present. The police prefer the observer to use his or her memory when selecting from the police lineup, and during the lineup, the police should not coerce the witness in any form. The witness is assured by police of his or her security while doing the lineup. This is done by placing the witness behind mirrored glass (“Dallas Police Department”, n.d.). While preparing the witness for the lineup, the police use admonition cards so that they remember the steps taken to perform a proper lineup. The term composite image is used when referring to a facial or full body image of a person of interest or suspect. The composite image is assembled with the assistance of a witness, regardless of the techniques used for production. The intent of providing a reliable composite image is to generate a visual aid that will cause recognition of the person of interest. The Forensic Art Subcommittee of the International Association for Identification published the following standards and guidelines in April of 2010 (Richardson, 2010). The composite image may be compiled by freehand drawing of an artist, or by assembling an image through the use of computer software designed for this purpose. Both methods should be done through the direction of a witness and accompanied by the implementation of an interview technique, such as the cognitive interview. A witness’s ability to provide a description of the suspect is the key element in a successful composite image being generated. It is important to evaluate the witness’s state of mind when he or she encountered the suspect and at the time the composite is being done. Care should be taken to remove any possible distractions to the witness while the composite is being produced (Eyewitness Evidence: A Trainer’s Manual for Law Enforcement, 2003). If there are multiple witnesses, the composites should be produced separately so that each witness is not influenced by another’s observation or descriptions. When the composite image is complete, the witness needs to be asked if it is a reasonable representation of the suspect. If not, the witness should be allowed to suggest modifications. The entire procedure, including the technique used and the witness’s evaluation of the final composite, should be documented as they may become an important factor in the investigation and any court proceedings (Eyewitness Evidence: A Trainer’s Manual for Law Enforcement, 2003). The help of an eyewitness is very beneficial. Officers can ask a witness to be a part of a lineup to help identify a suspect. This is where they come to the police station, stand behind mirrored glass, then try to identify the suspect out of a group of very similar people. Eyewitnesses can also help capture suspects by getting involved in a composite image. This is where a witness gives details about the suspect to someone who either draws the details provided or enters them into a computer. The generated composite can then be used to help identify the suspect. With the help of eyewitness’s, officers can ensure suspect pay for their crimes.

References
Huff, R. C. (2002, February). Wrongful conviction and public policy: The American Society of Criminology 2001 Presidential address. ProQuest, 40(1), 1-18.
Dallas Police Department. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cga.ct.gov/jud/eyewitness/docs/dallas/Dallas,%20TX%20Eye%20ID%20Forms.pdf
Eyewitness Evidence: A Trainer’s Manual for Law Enforcement. (2003, September). Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/nij/eyewitness/188678.pdf
Richardson, J. (2010, April). Standards and Guidelines for Forensic Art and Facial Identification. Retrieved from http://www.theiai.org/disciplines/art/ForensicArtGuidelinesSGFAFI1stEd.pdf

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