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Home > Law > Law glossary > Law glossary
Identification evidence
Last modified: Thu Feb 23 16:37:37 2006
A number of egregious miscarriages of justice has been associated with over-reliance on
eyewitness identification evidence. The main reason for mis-identification appears to
be that eyewitnesses overestimate their ability to recall the features of a person
they saw. Moreover, if the identification is not challenged, over time the
eyewitness tends to become more, rather than less, sure of the reliability of
his identification. Evidence has been admitted into court in the past which is based on
fleeting glimpses of the perpetrator in the dark; eyewitnesses proferring such
evidence are often extremely convincing. Convictions have been obtained on the
basis of a single, uncorroborated identification made in less than ideal
circumstances.
Consequently, there have been efforts recently to tighten up the rules on identification,
and give juries proper guidance on how to interpret eyewitness evidence.
For a more detailed discussion of issues relating to identification, see:
IdentificationParade
Photofit
TrackerDog
TurnbullDirection
EvidenceLaw
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