Salk Institute great example of using laboratory science to bring about criminal justice reform .”
The scientists used a technique called the method of paired Method of Paired Comparisons comparisons , which works similar to an eye exam : just like an optometrist presents a patient with pairs of lenses and asks which lens is better , number 1 or number 2 , the eyewitness is shown two photographs of individuals at a time and is asked to choose which one looks more similar to the person they remember from the crime scene . The procedure , which is repeated using many different combinations of paired photos , yields an estimate of the strength of a person ’ s memory for each face . Statistical analysis of these memory strengths then reveals the chances that the eyewitness is correctly identifying the culprit .
The new method yields greater information about the identity of the culprit than previous methods . What is more , it offers an unprecedented quantitative index of certainty for individual eyewitnesses , which is what the judge and jury really need to know . The paired comparison lineup holds much promise as a research tool as well as a practical tool for investigation and prosecution of crimes . The authors hope that the new technique will soon be applied in real police casework , leading to more correct identifications and fewer wrongful convictions .
“ Convictions should be based on science , not precedent ,” says Albright .
To learn more about this field of research and listen to an interview with Albright , check out the upcoming season of Where Cures Begin podcast on www . salk . edu / podcast , iTunes or other podcast platforms . For more information about the Salk Institute , please visit : www . salk . edu .
OCTOBER 2020 | GBSAN . COM 19