The Fallibility of Eyewitness Memory in the case of Jennifer Thompson

<Tab/>Eyewitness testimony has always been a crucial component in criminal trials. Attorneys depend a great deal on this type of testimony, especially because it seems to be the most persuasive means in convincing the jury of a defendant's guilt. In the case of the rape of Jennifer Thompson, however, a very important question is raised. How can someone be mistakenly convicted of a crime? Because Jennifer appeared so confident in …showed first 75 words of 1282 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1282 total…ISU) Retrieved October 20, 2004 http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/gwells/homepage.htm Loftus, E. (2003, March). Nature Reviews: Perspectives Neuroscience, 4, 231-234 Wells, G. L., Olson, E. A., & Charman, S. D. (2002). The Confidence of Eyewitnesses in Their Identifications from Lineups. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11, 151-154. Electronic reference formats recommended by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) (1997, February) Retrieved October 20, 2004 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dna/ Myers, D. (2004). Psychology. Holland, MI: Worth Publishers.