NCJ Number
213293
Journal
Acta Criminologica Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 29-42
Date Published
2005
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This literature review focuses on the factors that can impair the accuracy of eyewitness' memory after the event at issue has occurred.
Abstract
One factor that can influence the accuracy of an eyewitness' memory is the passage of time between the initial observation and recording of suspect characteristics in the memory and the point in time when retrieval of that information is required. This occurs either at a suspect line-up or a description of the suspect to police investigators. The view of many researchers is that accuracy of recall decreases with the passage of time. Also, research has produced findings that an eyewitness' memory can be distorted by new information to which the eyewitness is exposed during the time between witnessing the incident and testifying about it. Information from other witnesses, the police, and interviewers could cause a weakening of initial memory recollections. Suggestive questioning has been shown to cause eyewitness memories to change in accordance with suggestions being offered by the interviewer. Information from other eyewitnesses received after the initial recording of events by an individual's memory can also cause changes in the original memory. This happens particularly when the eyewitness has been told by other witnesses what they have seen or when a police interviewer inadvertently tells eyewitnesses what other witnesses have said. Being confronted with the circumstances of a line-up can also involve pressures to make identification even though it does not completely match the memory images brought to the line-up by the eyewitness. Psychological responses of individual eyewitnesses can also distort memories, such as the desire to please authority figures (police), a reluctance to admit uncertainty, and low self-esteem that undermines confidence in memory under intense cross-examination. 95 references