Unit 1: Eyewitness Testimony

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from notes on eyewitness testimony, including the reliability of these accounts and their implications in legal settings.

Eyewitness Testimony

A legal term referring to an account given by people who witnessed an event, often used as evidence in court.

Perception

The process by which the brain fills in missing information or edits what we see and hear.

Factors Associated with Wrongful Conviction

Elements that contribute to wrongful convictions, including eyewitness errors and police misconduct.

Eyewitness Errors

Mistakes made by individuals recalling details about a crime, leading to incorrect identifications.

Racial Disparity

The difference in accuracy of eyewitness testimony based on the racial similarity or dissimilarity between the witness and the suspect.

The Innocence Project

An organization focused on exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA evidence.

“The Bunny Effect”

A phenomenon where misleading or suggestive questioning can influence an eyewitness's memory.

Eyewitness Accounts

Testimonies from individuals who have seen an event, often influential but generally seen as flawed.

Memory and Stress

The relationship between the stress experienced during a crime and the accuracy of eyewitness recollections.

Leading Questions

Questions that suggest a certain answer or bias the witness's response.