Eyewitness Memory and Deception in Violent Crimes: How do psychological approaches help in reducing wrongful convictions?
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
By Olivia Taylor,
Leeds Beckett University.
This research analysed how psychological interventions and evidence can reduce wrongful convictions in violent crime cases, while focusing on eyewitness memory and methods of detecting deception. Wrongful convictions are a consistent problem throughout the criminal justice system, which often comes from unreliable eyewitness testimonies and investigative biases. Violent crimes often rely on witness accounts of events when physical evidence is limited, so investigators must understand how psychological factors influence these processes to reduce miscarriages of justice.
This study used the methodology of a literature review to combine psychological research on eyewitness memory, detecting deception, and wrongful convictions, which enabled the identification of patterns and links. Academic sources were obtained through Leeds Beckett library and Google Scholar, using specific search terms that were relevant to the topics throughout the project, which ensured they were reliable and relevant.
The findings highlighted that eyewitness memory is reconstructive and can be distorted from stress, weapon focus effects, and post-event influences and discussions. Detecting deception traditionally relied on behavioural cues and indicators of dishonesty, yet this was not always accurate. However, evidence-based approaches that applied psychological theory, such as cognitive interviews, content analysis, and expert testimonies, each improved the accuracy of eyewitness evidence and reduced investigative biases. This project also demonstrated that systemic issues, like interviewer bias and poor application and understanding of psychological evidence in court, contribute to wrongful convictions.
Overall, this research highlighted that psychological approaches could reduce wrongful convictions when they are accurately applied throughout criminal justice procedures. These findings demonstrated new links made between psychology and legal practices, emphasising the need for more standardised implementations of evidence-based psychological interventions in violent crime investigations, to reduce wrongful convictions..
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21396145