True or False: Prior to a show-up, a witness should be able to describe the suspect with certainty.

True or False: Prior to a show-up, a witness should be able to describe the suspect with certainty.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is the reliability of eyewitness identification. Show-ups are highly suggestive because the suspect is presented alone, so investigators rely on the witness’s memory while minimizing bias. To protect the integrity of the identification, the witness should have described the suspect from memory with as much certainty as possible before any show-up occurs. If the witness cannot describe the suspect with certainty, proceeding with a show-up risks shaping the identification to fit what the witness has just seen, which can lead to false identifications. So, having a confident, independent description beforehand helps ensure that any identification reflects the witness’s own recall rather than the suggestive nature of the show-up. If certainty isn’t present, investigators should seek more details or use non-suggestive methods (like a proper lineup) to improve reliability.

The key idea here is the reliability of eyewitness identification. Show-ups are highly suggestive because the suspect is presented alone, so investigators rely on the witness’s memory while minimizing bias. To protect the integrity of the identification, the witness should have described the suspect from memory with as much certainty as possible before any show-up occurs. If the witness cannot describe the suspect with certainty, proceeding with a show-up risks shaping the identification to fit what the witness has just seen, which can lead to false identifications. So, having a confident, independent description beforehand helps ensure that any identification reflects the witness’s own recall rather than the suggestive nature of the show-up. If certainty isn’t present, investigators should seek more details or use non-suggestive methods (like a proper lineup) to improve reliability.