A field evaluation of the VIPER system: a new technique for eliciting eyewitness identification evidence

Psychology, Crime & Law

2013

Self Cite

The current paper reviews research that has investigated developmental differences in lineup identification. A wealth of studies have shown that children can be as accurate as adults when making a correct identification from a target present lineup (TP), however children are more inclined to choose and thereby make a false identification from a target absent (TA) lineup, as compared to adults. The literature reviewed, suggests that the disparity between children's and adult's performances on TA lineups is due to children being unable to resist the social demands to choose someone from a lineup and/or the need to give a positive response. Employing a silhouette within a lineup, that can be chosen if the target is not recognised, appears to be the most successful technique for reducing false identifications made by child witnesses. Including a silhouette as a part of a lineup, along with the lineup administrator being attired in casual clothing, rather than a uniform, are two simple measures that could make child witness identification evidence more reliable.

Section: Methods To Increase Accuracy For Target Absent Lineupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Memon et al (2011) found that on average children (under 16 years of age) chose a foil from a lineup, one third of the time. False positives are not problematic if the police know that the foil chosen is innocent, the problem arises when the suspect is chosen, and the suspect is not actually the culprit.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Are children less reliable at making visual identifications than adults? A review

Psychology, Crime & Law

2013

Self Cite

“…A recent development in the use of identification evidence in the UK, is that every person under the age of 16 is given an opportunity to identify the offender from a video lineup (Vulnerable Witness Act, Scotland, 2004). A recent field survey of VIPER parades conducted in Scotland during 2008 found that one-third were viewed by witnesses under the age of 16 years of age (Memon, Havard, Clifford, & Gabbert, 2009). It is therefore important, not only to determine the efficacy of video lineups, but also to explore how well children under the age of 16 can make accurate identifications using this new technology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of video and static photo lineups with child and adolescent witnesses

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Memon

Clifford

et al. 2010

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In the UK video parades are the preferred method of identification employed in criminal cases. This policy implementation has been employed with little or no evidence concerning its validity. The reported research examines the effect of new video technology on children's identification evidence. The study compared 7-9 and 13-15-year olds' ability to make identifications from either video or static photo lineups. Two hundred and fifteen participants witnessed a live event and then after a delay of 2-3 days viewed a target present (TP), or target absent (TA) video or photo lineup. For video and photo TP lineups, correct responses did not differ as a function of age. Video lineups produced lower rates of false identifications for the TA lineups, but only for adolescent witnesses. It is concluded that there is nothing contra-indicated in the use of video identification procedures with children, and possibly certain benefits can accrue from its use.

“…A recent field survey of identification parades conducted in Scotland during 2008 found that one-third were viewed by witnesses younger than 16 years (Memon, Havard, Clifford, & Gabbert, 2011). Of the witnesses in this age group, 56% identified the suspect from the parade, a third identified a known innocent from the line-up and just over 10% did not make any identification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mystery Man Can Help Reduce False Identification for Child Witnesses: Evidence from Video Line‐ups

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Memon

2012

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Summary: It is well established that children (as young as 5 years) can correctly identify a target from a target present (TP) line-up as accurately as adults; however, when shown a target absent (TA) line-up, children make more false identifications. In the present study, children aged 5-7 and 8-11 years viewed a film of a staged theft, then 1-2 days later were shown either a TP or TA video lineup. Half of the witnesses viewed line-ups that included a 'mystery man' (a black silhouette with a white question mark), which they could select if they did not recognise anyone from the line-up. When the 'mystery man' was present in the line-up, there were significantly fewer false identifications for the TA line-ups. This study shows that including a silhouette in a video line-up can help reduce false identifications for children as young as 5 years of age, without reducing correct identifications.