ABSTRACT
Eyewitness reliability and the factors that affect it have been the subject of study within the field of psychology for over a hundred years. This chapter reviews the research on the estimator and system variables that have been identified and studied. Estimator variables (characteristics of the witness, characteristics of the event, and characteristics of the testimony) are reviewed first. Next, system variables (the procedures used by the police and other members of the criminal justice system) are reviewed, with an eye toward improving the collection of eyewitness evidence by law enforcement officers. Finally, the increasing use of expert testimony in cases involving eyewitness evidence is discussed, along with a review of judge’s decisions on admissibility of such expert testimony.
