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Eyewitness Testimony

  • Why is This Important?
  • Background of the Problem?
    • Eyewitness unreliability
    • Unscientific thinking
  • How Long Has This Problem Been Known?
    • At least since 1908
    • Important book written in 1937
  • The Consequences
    • False convictions
    • Lawsuits
  • The View from the Law
    • Scientific
    • Legal
  • Hypotheses
    • Current safeguards adequate
    • Judge can reliably evaluate safeguards
    • Jury can reliably detect eyewitness error
    • Cross-examination can detect errors
    • Witness confidence assures accuracy
    • Trained person will not make errors
    • Witness lies will be detected
    • We know how many false convictions have occurred
  • What Can Be Done?
    • Change police procedure
    • Courts be more careful and scientific
    • Devlin Report recommendations
  • Two Questions for the Jury
  • Comments
  • Some Questions