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Eyewitness Identification in Law Enforcement: Bridging the Gap Between Science, Policy, and Practice

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March 18, 2026 Karen L. Amendola Chief Behavioral Scientist Karen L. Amendola Chief Behavioral Scientist Eyewitness identification remains one of the most powerful—and most scrutinized—forms of evidence in the criminal justice system. From photo arrays to live showups, identification procedures play a pivotal role in investigations, prosecutions, and court outcomes. Yet despite decades of scientif...
The article presents a carefully calibrated assessment of the state of eyewitness identification practices, revealing a persistent and troubling misalignment with scientific understanding. The core narrative is one of bureaucratic inertia – a highly competent research body (the Eyewitness Identification Research Project) generating demonstrably correct recommendations, yet experiencing minimal uptake by the operational agencies it’s meant to serve. This isn’t a simple case of ignorance; the doc...