eyewitness testimony

n. Eyewitness testimony is the information that an individual can provide about a crime. This includes information about the perpetrator(s) as well as information about the crime and crime scene. Research has shown that factors present during the crime can influence the accuracy of an eyewitness's memory. These include duration of the event, lighting, presence of a weapon, race of the perpetrator, violence level of the event, use of disguises, and the distinctiveness of the perpetrator's physical appearance. The eyewitness’s level of stress, age, biases, and expectations can also influence accuracy. When reporting the event, other factors can play a role such as the length of time between the event and questioning, the wording of the questioning, the interview technique, the use of hypnosis, the use of imagery, the construction of the lineup, the use of a mug shot search, and the presence of leading questions, suggestive comments, and misleading information. - lmb