Eyewitness Error Factors

Eyewitness Error Factors explores the pervasive issue of eyewitness misidentification and its significant role in wrongful convictions, a disturbing reality within the true crime landscape. The book delves into how courts assess witness reliability, often relying on flawed assumptions about human memory that can lead to unjust outcomes. Cognitive psychology reveals memory's fallibility; for instance, "weapon focus," where a witness fixates on a weapon, can impair their ability to accurately recall other details. This book advocates for a paradigm shift, urging the legal system to treat eyewitness accounts as one piece of evidence among many, subject to rigorous scrutiny. It examines how factors like stress and cross-racial identification can contribute to errors. By analyzing specific legal cases and drawing on empirical studies, the book presents a solutions-oriented approach, offering practical reforms like blind administration of lineups and sequential presentation of suspects, ultimately aiming to improve investigative protocols and reduce wrongful convictions.