Opinion ID: 1442836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: composing the photo or live lineup

Text: The following procedures will result in the composition of a photo or live lineup in which a suspect does not unduly stand out. An identification obtained through a lineup composed in this manner should minimize any risk of misidentification and have stronger evidentiary value than one obtained without these procedures. A. In order to ensure that inadvertent verbal cues or body language do not impact on a witness, whenever practical, considering the time of day, day of the week, and other personnel conditions within the agency or department, the person conducting the photo or live lineup identification procedure should be someone other than the primary investigator assigned to the case. The Attorney General recognizes that in many departments, depending upon the size and other assignments of personnel, this may be impossible in a given case. In those cases where the primary investigating officer conducts the photo or live lineup identification procedure, he or she should be careful to avoid inadvertent signaling to the witness of the correct response. B. The witness should be instructed prior to the photo or live lineup identification procedure that the perpetrator may not be among those in the photo array or live lineup and, therefore, they should not feel compelled to make an identification. C. When possible, photo or live lineup identification procedures should be conducted sequentially, i.e., showing one photo or one person at a time to the witness, rather than simultaneously. D. In composing a photo or live lineup, the person administering the identification procedure should ensure that the lineup is comprised in such a manner that the suspect does not unduly stand out. However, complete uniformity of features is not required. E. Photo Lineup. In composing a photo lineup, the lineup administrator or investigator should: 1. Include only one suspect in each identification procedure. 2. Select fillers (nonsuspects) who generally fit the witness' description of the perpetrator. When there is a limited or inadequate description of the perpetrator provided by the witness, or when the description of the perpetrator differs significantly from the appearance of the suspect, fillers should resemble the suspect in significant features. 3. Select a photo that resembles the suspect's description or appearance at the time of the incident if multiple photos of the suspect are reasonably available to the investigator. 4. Include a minimum of five fillers (nonsuspects) per identification procedure. 5. Consider placing the suspect in different positions in each lineup when conducting more than one lineup for a case due to multiple witnesses. 6. Avoid reusing fillers in lineups shown to the same witness when showing a new suspect. 7. Ensure that no writings or information concerning previous arrest(s) will be visible to the witness. 8. View the array, once completed, to ensure that the suspect does not unduly stand out. 9. Preserve the presentation order of the photo lineup. In addition, the photos themselves should be preserved in their original condition. F. Live Lineups. In composing a live lineup, the lineup administrator or investigator should: 1. Include only one suspect in each identification procedure. 2. Select fillers (nonsuspects) who generally fit the witness' description of the perpetrator. When there is a limited or inadequate description of the perpetrator provided by the witness, or when the description of the perpetrator differs significantly from the appearance of the suspect, fillers should resemble the suspect in significant features. 3. Consider placing the suspect in different positions in each lineup when conducting more than one lineup for a case due to multiple witnesses. 4. Include a minimum of four fillers (nonsuspects) per identification procedure. 5. Avoid reusing fillers in lineups shown to the same witness when showing a new suspect.