Why eyewitness testimony should CONTINUE TO BE a part of courtroom procedure

Sample Solution

  Eyewitness testimony is a form of evidence that is often used in court cases. It is the testimony of a person who claims to have seen an event happen. Eyewitness testimony can be very powerful evidence, but it is also important to remember that it is not always reliable.

Full Answer Section

  There are a number of reasons why eyewitness testimony should continue to be a part of courtroom procedure. First, eyewitness testimony can be very powerful evidence. It can provide jurors with a first-hand account of what happened, which can help them to understand the case better. Second, eyewitness testimony can be corroborated by other evidence. For example, if an eyewitness testifies that they saw a suspect commit a crime, and other evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA, also links the suspect to the crime, then the eyewitness testimony is more likely to be reliable. However, it is important to remember that eyewitness testimony is not always reliable. There are a number of factors that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, such as the amount of time that has passed since the event, the stress of the situation, and the relationship between the eyewitness and the suspect. Here are some of the reasons why eyewitness testimony should continue to be a part of courtroom procedure:

• It can be very powerful evidence. Eyewitness testimony can provide jurors with a first-hand account of what happened, which can help them to understand the case better.
• It can be corroborated by other evidence. For example, if an eyewitness testifies that they saw a suspect commit a crime, and other evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA, also links the suspect to the crime, then the eyewitness testimony is more likely to be reliable.
• It is often the only evidence available. In many cases, there is no other evidence available to prove or disprove what happened. In these cases, eyewitness testimony may be the only way to get justice for the victim.

Here are some of the factors that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony:

• The amount of time that has passed since the event. The longer it has been since the event, the less likely the eyewitness is to remember it accurately.
• The stress of the situation. If the eyewitness was under a lot of stress at the time of the event, they are more likely to make mistakes.
• The relationship between the eyewitness and the suspect. If the eyewitness knows the suspect, they may be more likely to remember the event accurately. However, they may also be biased in their testimony.

It is important to note that eyewitness testimony is not always reliable. However, it is still a valuable form of evidence, and it should continue to be used in court cases.** Here are some of the ways to improve the reliability of eyewitness testimony:

• Train eyewitnesses on how to give accurate testimony. This training should include information about how memory works and how to avoid making mistakes.
• Use lineups and photo spreads to help eyewitnesses identify suspects. Lineups and photo spreads should be conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
• Allow experts to testify about the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Expert witnesses can provide jurors with information about how memory works and how to assess the reliability of eyewitness testimony.

By taking these steps, we can help to improve the reliability of eyewitness testimony and ensure that it is used fairly in court cases.