Feedback to eyewitnesses distorts their reports of the witnessing experience.
False identification is the primary cause of wrongful imprisonment.
While a witness may be hesitant and unsure while initially identifying a suspect, by the time it comes to trial, there is no doubt in the witness s mind. Wells and Bradfield theorize that this may be due to feedback received at the time of the initial identification. They were then shown mug shots. Unbeknownst to them, the suspect was not pictured in the mug shots. All subjects made a false identification.