Eyewitness identification: Why do people get it wrong

On October 4, 2012, in Contextual Bias, Eyewitness Identification, In The Courtroom, by Justin J. McShane

I just watched a TED talk that I liked a lot. I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy, I did.

Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes — and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create “memories” they could not have seen. Why? Because the brain abhors a vacuum.

Scott Fraser is a forensic psychologist who thinks deeply about the fallibility of human memory and encourages a more scientific approach to trial evidence.

About the author

Justin J. McShane

Harrisburg DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency. Justin McShane is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc.

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Josh D. Lee is a Vinita, Oklahoma based criminal defense attorney. He is nationally recognized as a lawyer-scientist for his expertise on forensic science related topics. He has lectured well over 100 times in 18 diﬀerent states.

Mr. Lee has been invited to lecture at the American Chemical Society (ACS) as well as the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS). In 2011, Josh was elected Forensic Science Co-Chairman for the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS. He is also an “Assistant Chromatography Instructor” for the ACS.