Eyewitness Identification Policies in Texas (and the Lack Thereof)
Late last year The Justice Project released an extensive survey of existing police polices for conducting lineups in Texas. The study documented an alarmingly high percentage of departments with no written guidelines at all, much less implementation of best practices recommended by the United States Department of Justice and other organizations.
Since the publication of our report, two major jurisdictions have moved forward with implementation of eyewitness policies that include key best practices for reducing misidentification. In April, the Dallas Police Department implemented a new, more accurate protocol for conducting photo lineups which includes double-blind administration and sequential presentation. Also, the Austin Police Department announced that they will be adopting a new policy that will include double-blind administration, among other safeguards. While these developments represent important progress, Texas needs to pass legislation ensuring that all police implement best practices for reducing misidentification.
