Eyewitness Testimony Problems One of Essay

Total Length: 1623 words ( 5 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 4

Page 1 of 5

Thus while an interviewer may simply be trying to pin down additional details of an incident (for example), the eyewitness may believe that she or he is being challenged about the accuracy of his or her memory and statement and begin (again, most likely unconsciously and not in any attempt to commit perjury) to shift answers to coincide with what the witness believes the interviewer want to hear (Poole & White, 1991).

The precautions that interviewers (from social workers to district attorneys) must take with children extend to all eyewitnesses. These include such procedures as having witnesses interviewed by someone who has no established theory about the case; having the interviewer make a written assessment of the eyewitness' certainty and apparent accuracy immediately after an interview; taking caution in repeating a question; and warning witnesses to a line-up that the suspect may or may not be present so that the eyewitness does not feel any subconscious pressure to make a positive identification.


The importance of such best practices cannot be overstated. One has only to remember that people have been set free from Death Rows around the country when DNA evidence has freed them from the condemnation of eyewitness testimony......

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Eyewitness Testimony Problems One Of" (2010, January 10) Retrieved May 19, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/eyewitness-testimony-problems-one-15884

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Eyewitness Testimony Problems One Of" 10 January 2010. Web.19 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/eyewitness-testimony-problems-one-15884>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Eyewitness Testimony Problems One Of", 10 January 2010, Accessed.19 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/eyewitness-testimony-problems-one-15884