Frequency of eyewitness identification in criminal cases: A survey of prosecutors

Abstract

One hundred fifty-seven prosecutors in 30 states were asked to estimate how often they process criminal cases in which eyewitness identification is of critical importance, the total number of felony cases processed each year by their staffs, and the size and composition (urban or rural) of the populations serviced by their departments. Approximately 36% (57) of the prosecutors responded. From their replies it was calculated that eyewitness cases constituted about 3% (median) of their felony cases. Thus, assuming approximately 2,570,000 arrests in the U.S. each year, about 77,000 individuals are suspects in cases in which the only critical evidence is eyewitness identification. © 1989, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.