{"id":352366,"date":"2023-11-29T16:43:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T21:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/lineups-and-other-identification-situations.html"},"modified":"2023-11-29T16:43:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T21:43:17","slug":"lineups-and-other-identification-situations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/lineups-and-other-identification-situations.html","title":{"rendered":"Police Lineups and Other Identification Situations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Police Lineups and Other Identification Situations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Police lineups and other identification methods are critical in the criminal justice system. But, these techniques are not perfect and misdentification is possible. Understanding how these procedures work and potential legal implications helps ensure fair and accurate identification, protecting the rights of defendants.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

You’ve likely seen it in a crime drama: Police usher one or more criminal suspects and a few similar-looking people into a room at the police station. Behind a one-way mirror, law enforcement asks an eyewitness to identify the perpetrator. This is a police lineup, one of several methods law enforcement uses to identify a criminal suspect.<\/p>\n

Facing the stress and uncertainty of a police lineup or other identification situation can be overwhelming. An experienced attorney in your area<\/a> can help you understand your rights and feel less anxious about the outcome.<\/p>\n

Police lineups are a "critical stage<\/a>" in the criminal justice system. The Sixth Amendment<\/a> guarantees criminal defendants the right to counsel (United States v. Wade<\/i><\/a> and Gilbert v. California<\/i><\/a>, both in 1967).<\/p>\n

This article summarizes police lineups and alternate identification methods used by law enforcement. It also discusses the circumstances that trigger a defendant’s right to counsel.<\/p>\n

Police Lineups Explained<\/h2>\n

Law enforcement generally conducts police lineups using one of three methods<\/a>:<\/p>\n