PSYC 2400 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Troy Davis, Eyewitness Identification

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2400
• Professor: Julie Dempsey

Document Summary

Overview & learning objectives: why is eyewitness research important, difference between recall and recognition memory. Eyewitness misidentification 77% (173 cases: unvalidated forensics 52% (116 cases) The eyewitness identification problem: mistaken eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful conviction. In dna exoneration cases (in the u. s. ), in over 75% of the time, the primary evidence was eyewitness identification. Eyewitness identification problems also are found in several canadian cases. Troy davis case: convicted in 1991 of killing an off-duty police officer, 7 witnesses came forward testified against him, convicted based on misidentification, appeal in 2009, witnesses took back their testimonies. Still don"t know if he actually committed the crime. Ronald cotton case: wrongfully convicted for rape and burglary in north carolina in 1985, only evidence they had was the victim"s testimony, prosecution relied heavily on positive identification made by the victim. In canada, eyewitness identification difficulties were pushed to the forefront with the sophonow inquiry (2001)