Suggestive eyewitness identification procedures and the Supreme Court's reliability test in light of eyewitness science: 30 years later

Gary L. Wells, Deah S. Quinlivan
2009 Law and Human Behavior  
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling concerning suggestive eyewitness identification procedures (Manson v. Braithwaite, 1977, 432 U.S. 98) has not been revisited by the Court in the intervening 30+ years. Meanwhile, scientific studies of eyewitnesses have progressed and DNA exonerations show that mistaken identification is the primary cause of convictions of the innocent. We analyzed the two-inquiry logic in Manson in light of eyewitness science. Several problems are discussed. Ironically, we note
more » ... at suggestive identification procedures (determined in the first inquiry) boost the eyewitnesses' standing on three of the five criteria (used in the second inquiry) that are used to decide whether the suggestive procedures were a problem. The net effect undermines safeguards intended by the Court and destroys incentives to avoid suggestive procedures.
doi:10.1007/s10979-008-9130-3 pmid:18302010 fatcat:42yteno62jhkhjllpenedkw2qq