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Lineup and Photo Array Suspect Identification
Lineup and Photo Array Suspect Identification
Jake J. Koppenhaver
CJ-210
Professor Brown
February 9, 2008
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Lineup and Photo Array Suspect Identification
Nothing short of a solid, accepted confession can bolster the spirits of investigators and
solidify their position in a case quite like witness identification. As far as identifying suspects go,
there are a few main ways of doing this, the first being the classic “lineup,” the second being
variations of a suspect photo array. Both of these tactics allow for investigators to identify
suspects up close to make sure they are suspecting the correct person, however the legalities
The famous lineup procedure involves taking a witness’ statement of the suspect’s
description and creating a “line” of people with similar descriptions, including a suspect taken
into custody by police. What is shown on most police and courtroom drama shows is not the
entire issue, however, and much work goes into planning and validating the lineup on both sides.
Before conducting a lineup, investigators must gather several non-suspects based on the witness
description of height, weight, race, hair color, eye color, and other physical characteristics. The
participants must also be of same demeanor, as differences in mood and outward feeling can ruin
an otherwise successful procedure (for example, if the suspect is nervous and jittery, the other
participants cannot be smiling and relaxed). In some instances, visible tattoos or scars must also
Even if investigators are confident that the suspect in custody is in fact guilty, they must
go to great lengths not to implicate them in front of the identifying witness. The lineup must also
be recorded in great detail, to include the place it was conducted, those present, and every words
that was said during the process. Legal council for the suspect is usually present during the
procedure to maintain the best interests for their client. The entire process revolves around
producing a clean, unbiased identification of the suspect by the witness, without any help from
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either side of the legal system. This is often helped by the lineups being performed by an
Photo arrays are an alternative to lineups, which are usually only performed in assault,
sexual assault, and homicide cases, and do not have to be conducted with an attorney present for
the suspect, or even in the presence of police. Usually six photographs are presented to the
witness, either in person or via postal mail, and upon identifying the suspect based on
photograph only, the correct image is circled, signed, and dated by the witness. This method is
not only useful for situations involving uncooperative suspects, but also for crimes that do not
Eyewitness identifications must usually be done according to a few basic tenets: the
identification should take place while the memory is fresh in the witness’ mind (if not
immediately during a “show-up” then as quick as possible); if multiple witness’ are to identify a
suspect, they should do it separately to avoid influencing each other’s opinions (sequestering
them prior to and after an identification is ideal); the non-suspects must accurately, to a degree,
represent the suspect’s description by the witness, to avoid differences that could make the
Suspect identification is by far the most accurate way for a witness to place the suspect as
the positive offender, besides an actual video recording of the event that clearly displays the
criminal and their actions. Due to much legality involved, the process must be done in a way that
does not compromise the case, and therefore regulations and statues have been constructed to
avoid tainting of the identification. If identification is proved to be tainted, the suspect is unlikely
to be prosecuted.
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References
Osterburg, James & Ward, Richard (2004). Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing
Wikipedia (2006). Police lineup. Retrieved June 12, 2006, from web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_lineup.