Which of the following may bias an eyewitness who is asked to find her attacker in a police line-up?
A) All of the individuals in the line-up are wearing similar clothing.
B) All of the individuals in the line-up are facing the same direction.
C) The witness is told that the suspect is in the line-up.
D) The witness is asked if she sees the person who attacked her.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the witness is told that the suspect is in the line-up, this creates a suggestion bias, which can lead the witness to choose a person who may not necessarily be the perpetrator. This is because the witness may feel pressured to choose someone from the line-up simply because they were told that the suspect is present. The other options (A, B, and D) are in fact recommended procedures for conducting a fair line-up and are less likely to create bias.

Which of the Following May Bias an Eyewitness Who Is