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Eyewitnesses in staged test only 8% accurate

In a test performed by a Lubbock TV station, only 8% of Texas Tech students could correctly identify the perpetrator from a photo array in a staged purse snatching:The students entered the lecture hall one by one, unaware they were about to become eyewitnesses to a crime. We told them we were there covering a story about what it's like to be law students. We decided it was best not to hire a real bad guy, so we got our news director, Benji Snead, to do the dirty work.We wanted to make this test as bona fide as possible, so we went to visit the professionals. We sat down with investigators with the Lubbock County Sheriff's office to see how they build a suspect lineup and created one for our investigation.Next it was time for the crime. Our suspect walks into the classroom, steals the purse and flees the room...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on March 10, 2009 (boomark / email).