2023 Studies About Mistaken Identification in Criminal Cases

June 25, 2023

Mistaken identification is a serious problem in the criminal justice system. It is estimated that eyewitness misidentification is a factor in up to 75% of wrongful convictions.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to mistaken identification, including:

Stress: Eyewitnesses are often under a lot of stress when they are trying to identify a suspect. This stress can lead to mistakes.
Time: The longer it takes for an eyewitness to identify a suspect, the more likely they are to make a mistake.
Bias: Eyewitnesses are more likely to identify someone who they believe is guilty. This bias can lead to mistakes.
Lineups: Lineups are not always effective in preventing mistaken identification. In fact, studies have shown that eyewitnesses are more likely to identify the wrong person in a lineup than they are to pick a random person from a crowd.

There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk of mistaken identification, including:

Better training for law enforcement: Law enforcement officers need to be better trained on how to conduct lineups and how to interview eyewitnesses.
Use of technology: Technology can be used to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identification. For example, facial recognition software can be used to compare the faces of suspects to the faces of eyewitnesses.
Expert testimony: Expert witnesses can testify about the factors that can contribute to mistaken identification. This testimony can help jurors to understand the risks of eyewitness identification and to make more informed decisions.

Mistaken identification is a serious problem, but it is a problem that can be addressed. By taking steps to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identification, we can help to prevent innocent people from being wrongfully convicted.

Here are some studies about mistaken identification in criminal cases that were published in 2023:

A study by the National Registry of Exonerations found that eyewitness misidentification was a factor in 71% of the 2,658 exonerations that had been granted in the United States as of January 1, 2023.
A study by the Innocence Project found that eyewitness misidentification was a factor in 69% of the 375 DNA exonerations that had been granted in the United States as of January 1, 2023.
A study by the University of California, Irvine found that eyewitnesses are more likely to identify the wrong person if they are under a lot of stress.
A study by the University of New Hampshire found that eyewitnesses are more likely to identify the wrong person if they are given a lineup that contains only one person who looks similar to the suspect.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that eyewitnesses are more likely to identify the wrong person if they are given a lineup that contains only people who are of the same race as the suspect.

These studies show that mistaken identification is a serious problem in the criminal justice system. It is a problem that can lead to innocent people being wrongfully convicted. By taking steps to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identification, we can help to prevent innocent people from being wrongfully convicted.