Eyewitness Memory Research and Legal Practices: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

The reliability of eyewitness memory is of great importance for justice system. Memory errors in eyewitness testimonials may lead to serious consequences such as the inability to find the real perpetrators as well as wrongful convictions due to eyewitness misidentification. Therefore, it is crucial for legal practices to get benefit from the emprical evidences in eyewitness memory research. From a historical perspective, this article focuses on the critical findings in eyewitness memory research over a century, and its links to legal practices.

Keywords

• Eyewitness Testimony
• Eyewitness Memory
• False Memories
• Memory Errors