NCJ Number
247250
Date Published
2012
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a survey of Virginia law enforcement agencies' lineup policies.
Abstract
This report by the Virginia State Crime Commission presents the results of a survey of State and local law enforcement agencies' lineup policies. The objectives of the survey were to determine the number of agencies that had a written lineup policy, if the sequential method or blind administration method were being used to conduct lineups, and the extent and availability of training that focused primarily on conducting lineups. Key findings from the survey include the following: the overall response rate for the survey was 51 percent, with 123 out of 263 law enforcement agencies completing the survey; of the 123 agencies, 93 percent had a written lineup policy as required by State law; 46 percent of responding agencies reported using the sequential lineup method, while 24 percent reported using this method when possible; and 13 percent of responding agencies reported using independent administrators to conduct lineups, while 59 percent did not. Data for this report were obtained from surveys completed by 123 of the 263 law enforcement agencies contacted by the Crime Commission. Of the 123 agencies that completed the survey, 115 also sent in a copy of their written lineup policy for review. Based on the findings of the survey, the Crime Commission made three recommendations: require the development of training for those officers routinely involved in conducting lineups; require the Department of Criminal Justice Services to conduct an audit and report the findings to the Crime Commission on the status of law enforcement agencies' adoption of lineup policies; and request the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission revise its accreditation standards for lineups. Tables and appendixes