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  • 3.2 - Eyewitness Testimony

  • from Part III - Assessment
  • Edited by Jennifer M. Brown, London School of Economics and Political Science, Miranda A. H. Horvath
  • Book:
    The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology
    Published online:
    02 December 2021
    Print publication:
    09 December 2021, pp 353-368

  • Summary

    Eyewitnesses play a significant role in criminal investigations and legal processes worldwide. Just like any other type of forensic evidence, eyewitness evidence has a margin of error. These errors, caused by numerous factors, affect the validity of eyewitness testimony. Some factors emerge at the moment of witnessing, while others occur afterwards. One of the main challenges for legal practitioners is to base their interviewing practices and decision-making on solid scientific evidence. Insight into the cognitive processes of a witness is vital for understanding why people make mistakes. Therefore, our chapter starts with a brief explanation of the organization of memory. Then, using a realistic example, we describe several variables that affect witness testimony, while loosely following the three stages of memory: witnessing, retention and retrieval. Next, we discuss various factors affecting judges’ and jurors’ assessments of witness testimony, which in turn influence legal decision-making. Finally, we summarize our findings and make some concluding remarks.