U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 National Survey of Eyewitness Identification Procedures in Law Enforcement Agencies
NCJ Number
              242617

Date Published

March 2013
Length
              142 pages
Annotation
              This report presents the findings and methodology of the Police Executive Research Forum's (PERF's) nationwide assessment of the state of the field in eyewitness identification procedures being used by law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
              The survey found that police agencies use a variety of eyewitness-identification procedures and that most police agencies have not fully implemented all of the recommendations of the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) "Eyewitness Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement" (NIJ Guide), which was published in 1999. Most of the surveyed agencies did not have written policies for eyewitness identification procedures. The most commonly used procedure (94.1 percent of agencies responding) was the photo lineup. Other procedures used in order of frequency were show-ups, composite sketches, "mugshot" searches, and live lineups. Generally, when agencies used a particular procedure, they used it for most, if not all, Part I offenses in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) system. Large agencies (500 or more sworn officers) were more likely to report having a written policy for each of the eyewitness procedures used. Given the importance of eyewitness identifications in the Justice system and the growing number of exonerations of persons who have been convicted based primarily on eyewitness identifications, this study recommends that law enforcement agencies work with prosecutors and other criminal justice agencies in assessing and refining their current eyewitness identification practices in compliance with procedures recommended in the 1999 NIJ Guide. Also, field and case studies should be performed in continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of "blind" and "sequential" eyewitness procedures. This study consisted of a comprehensive review of relevant research, a national survey of a random stratified sample of U.S. law enforcement agencies, and a series of in-depth follow-up interviews with officials in 30 selected agencies. 24 tables, 3 figures, 59 references, and appended survey questionnaire and glossary
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2010-IJ-CX-0032


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Survey
                                Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        A National Survey of Eyewitness Identification Processes in Law Enforcement Agencies
    
  
  
Date Published: March 1, 2013
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF
                  PDF

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR34274
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Evidence collection
        Line-up
        Mug shots
        NIJ Grant-related Documents
        Police policies and procedures



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Racial Inequality in the Transition to Adulthood After Prison
                  Decomposition of Juvenile-Sized Remains: a Macro- and Microscopic Perspective
                  Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Latent Fingerprints Using Titanium Oxide Development Powder as an Existing Matrix
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov