How effective is the motion-to-suppress safeguard? Judges' perceptions of the suggestiveness and fairness of biased lineup procedures

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Stinson, V; Devenport, JL; Cutler, BL; Kravitz, DA
• 署名单位: University of Nebraska System; University of Nebraska Lincoln; State University System of Florida; Florida International University; Rice University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.82.2.211
• 发表日期: 1997
• 页码: 211-220

摘要

The motion-to-suppress safeguard is designed to prevent false eyewitness identifications from leading to wrongful convictions. This safeguard is effective only if judges are sensitive to factors that influence lineup suggestiveness. The present study assessed judge sensitivity to foil, instruction, and presentation biases. Judges (N = 99) read a description of a hypothetical crime, perpetrator, and identification procedure followed by a motion to suppress the identification. Judges completed a questionnaire in which they ruled on the motion and rated the lineup's suggestiveness and fairness. Foil bias and instruction bias influenced judges' rulings and lineup evaluations as predicted. Hypotheses concerning presentation bias were not supported. These results suggest that judges are somewhat sensitive to lineup suggestiveness but there is room for improvement.