Jurors overestimate the validity of eyewitnesses’ testimony because they do not appear to be aware of some of the factors that may impact the accuracy of the eyewitnesses’ memory. Name three of these factors. Access the Innocence Project (Links to an external site.) and click on “The Cases”. Reflect on the role this organization serves. (www.innocenceproject.org) as you respond to these questions in your discussion post:
- Imagine that you are a juror in a murder case where an eyewitness testifies. In what ways might your knowledge of memory errors affect your use of this testimony?
- How true to life do you think television shows such as CSI or Law & Order are in their portrayals of eyewitnesses?
- Many jurisdictions in the United States use “show-ups,” where an eyewitness is brought to a suspect (who may be standing on the street or in handcuffs in the back of a police car) and asked, “Is this the perpetrator?” Is this a good or bad idea, from a psychological perspective? Why?
