The Cotton Case Analysis
Analysis of the System and Estimator Variables in the Cotton Case
FPSY-2001-1
Walden University
5/06/2014
There are two variables associated with the misidentification of one by an eyewitness, estimator variables or “factors that relate to the circumstances under which witnessing takes place”, and system variables in which the variables “include overt or subtle suggestive techniques cops use to influence a witness to pick a particular suspect” ("Mistaken Identification in California Criminal Cases", n.d., p. xx). In the Ronald Cotton case estimator variables, such as, the witness being frightened or possibly fixated on the fact a knife was being wielded against her during the assault could have helped play a …show more content…
This poses a problem because composite sketches can be open to biases. For example, repeatedly discussing and thinking about an event may lead ‘false memories’ which are compelling making it very difficult for a witness to distinguish their real memories of events from the false ones. ("Depleted Cranium » Blog Archive » How Useful are Composite Sketches?” 2009). The witness was then shown an array of six photos in which she initially picked two photos one of which was a mug shot of Cotton 's. She had examined those photos for approximately five minutes before declaring, "Yeah. This is the one," and added, "I think this is the guy." A detective then asked, “You 'think ' that 's the guy?" and she replied, "It 's him." The lead investigator then followed with, "You 're sure," to which the witness replied, “Positive” (Garret, …show more content…
One of which is, it clearly showed us how post–identification suggestions can have a huge impact on eyewitnesses and their ability to be accurate in their identifications. This in turn shows us the need for the use of double-blind testing (a lineup that neither the eyewitness nor administrator knows which the suspect is), thus preventing the administrator from providing inadvertent or non-intentional verbal/nonverbal cues that may influence an eyewitness. Additionally, it has been proven that using a sequential presentation lineup (presenting the suspects one-by-one, instead of all at once) significantly increases the overall accuracy of a witness. ("The Innocence Project - Eyewitness Identification Reform",
FPSY-2001-1
Walden University
5/06/2014
There are two variables associated with the misidentification of one by an eyewitness, estimator variables or “factors that relate to the circumstances under which witnessing takes place”, and system variables in which the variables “include overt or subtle suggestive techniques cops use to influence a witness to pick a particular suspect” ("Mistaken Identification in California Criminal Cases", n.d., p. xx). In the Ronald Cotton case estimator variables, such as, the witness being frightened or possibly fixated on the fact a knife was being wielded against her during the assault could have helped play a …show more content…
This poses a problem because composite sketches can be open to biases. For example, repeatedly discussing and thinking about an event may lead ‘false memories’ which are compelling making it very difficult for a witness to distinguish their real memories of events from the false ones. ("Depleted Cranium » Blog Archive » How Useful are Composite Sketches?” 2009). The witness was then shown an array of six photos in which she initially picked two photos one of which was a mug shot of Cotton 's. She had examined those photos for approximately five minutes before declaring, "Yeah. This is the one," and added, "I think this is the guy." A detective then asked, “You 'think ' that 's the guy?" and she replied, "It 's him." The lead investigator then followed with, "You 're sure," to which the witness replied, “Positive” (Garret, …show more content…
One of which is, it clearly showed us how post–identification suggestions can have a huge impact on eyewitnesses and their ability to be accurate in their identifications. This in turn shows us the need for the use of double-blind testing (a lineup that neither the eyewitness nor administrator knows which the suspect is), thus preventing the administrator from providing inadvertent or non-intentional verbal/nonverbal cues that may influence an eyewitness. Additionally, it has been proven that using a sequential presentation lineup (presenting the suspects one-by-one, instead of all at once) significantly increases the overall accuracy of a witness. ("The Innocence Project - Eyewitness Identification Reform",