Brief of the American Psychological Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Defendant-Appellant
American Psychological Association
SimpleOriginal

Summary

Juries should be instructed that cross-racial identifications are less reliable because research shows a strong own-race bias, jurors often misunderstand it, and mistaken eyewitness identifications cause wrongful convictions.

2017 | State Juristiction

Brief of the American Psychological Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Defendant-Appellant

Keywords cross-racial identifications; own-race bias; eyewitness identifications; wrongful convictions; jury instructions; juror understanding; mistaken identity
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Summary

Research indicates that cross-racial identifications are less reliable. This phenomenon, known as the own-race bias, is often misunderstood by jurors. Mistaken eyewitness identifications are a significant factor in wrongful convictions. Therefore, juries should receive instructions regarding the decreased reliability of cross-racial identifications.

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Summary

Juries should receive instructions regarding the reduced reliability of cross-racial identifications. Research consistently demonstrates a significant own-race bias, which many jurors may not fully understand. Misinterpretations of this phenomenon frequently contribute to wrongful convictions stemming from mistaken eyewitness identifications.

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Summary

Juries should receive instructions that cross-racial identifications are less dependable. Research indicates a notable tendency for people to more accurately identify individuals of their own race. Jurors often do not fully grasp this concept, and errors in eyewitness identification are a significant factor in wrongful convictions.

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Summary

Juries should learn that it is harder to correctly identify people from a different race. Studies show that people are better at recognizing faces of their own race. Jurors often do not understand this. Wrongful convictions happen when eyewitnesses make mistakes.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

Brief of the American Psychological Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Defendant-Appellant, People v. Boone, APL-2016-00015 (N.Y. Mar. 16, 2017)

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