Question

Pick the correct answer and give a rationale for it.

Which of the following people is most likely to correctly identify the Caucasian criminal in a lineup?

The Black bystander who got a good look at the criminal’s face during the robbery.

The Caucasian store clerk who was 2 feet from the robber while the robber pointed a gun at him

The Caucasian bystander who got a good look at the criminal’s face during the robbery and immediately wrote down a description of the robber’s face after the robber fled.

The Caucasian bystander who got a good look at the criminal’s face during the robbery. A or D would be equally good at identifying the criminal in a lineup.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option C. The Caucasian bystander who got a good look at the criminal’s face during the robbery and immediately wrote down a description of the robber’s face after the robber fled. A person from a particular race would be more likely to identify another person from the same race. Also, the memory would be most accurate just after the event, so writing down the description would make it easier to recall accurately.