Why do police still use show ups
The Dallas Morning has started a series addressing the use of faulty eyewitness identifications in the Dallas County exonerations. The second article addressed the use of "show ups, which were involved in 3 of the 19 exonerations. For those that don't know, a show up is when a victim is shown a single person, and asked if that is the person who committed the offense. The suspect is almost always in police custody, and many times is sitting in a police car. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that is someone the police think may have committed the offense.
The problems with show ups are obvious - there is a preference to pick the person you are looking at. If the police don't get the right person, there is good chance the wrong person will be picked. Almost 40 years, the Supreme Court held one person show ups were dangerously suggestive, and discourage their use. Ten years ago the justice recommended stricter limits on the use of show ups. Despite all those admonishments, police continue to use show ups.
Why are police continuing to use. Part of the reason may be a lack of training and education, although its to believe even the worst trained officer wouldn't recognize the problems. The bigger reason is probably that they are easy; you don't have to really do anything, and you can resolve the case quickly. There's problem also an unstated mindset; they believe the have the right person, and don't have any doubts about it. Many probably also continue to believe that eyewitness identifications are always accurate, and the victim wouldn't pick someone out if it wasn't the person who committed the crime.
I think there is also another reason why police continue to use show ups. Prosecutors continue to accept them, and judges don't exclude them. If you can use it, why not do so. Prosecutors and judges rarely even question show ups, which means there is no reason for police to make sure they are carefully done. Jurors also seldom question them, and have no problem convicting people on such questionable identifications.
I don't have any hope that show ups will go away, although there is some hope. State Senator Rodney Elllis has stated that he will introduce a package of reforms, addressing the cause of wrongful convictions. That includes show ups, which he would like to see prohibited. Hopefully that will at least keep the issue before the public. in the end, education may be the best solution. If the public can be convinced of the dangers of show ups, prosecutors will have to listen.
