Media Advisory 11-010
Eyewitness Identification Reform: Psychological Science and Public Policy

On April 18, NSF's Distinguished Lecture series presents human learning and memory expert Steven Clark, who discusses improving eyewitness testimony

Steven Clark: New eyewitness identification procedures inconsistent with research data. Credit and Larger Version

April 14, 2011

Eyewitnesses sometimes make mistakes that result in falsely convicting innocent people. As a result and as a matter of law, several states and local jurisdictions are implementing new procedures for conducting eyewitness identifications.

But Steven Clark, a professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, whose research is directed at issues of human learning and memory, says these new procedures may be based in part on a false premise. He argues that proponents, who contend the new procedures reduce the risk of false identifications and have little or no negative effect on correct identifications, may themselves be making a mistake.

Clark comes to the National Science Foundation on Monday, April 18 at 10 a.m. EDT to present a distinguished lecture titled "Eyewitness Identification Reform: Psychological Science and Public Policy." The lecture is sponsored by NSF's Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences.

Clark will use the lecture to argue that seeing the new procedures as being without cost is inconsistent with decision theories, and, more importantly, with research data. Ultimately, he will argue that to make sound public policy, the justice system needs to apply better theories about how people remember and make decisions. At the same time, he will assert that new policy frameworks must be developed that better connect eyewitness research to public policy.

Note: Visitors must RSVP to Lisa-Joy Zgorski or Bobbie Mixon in the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs to register for a visitor pass for access to the Stafford II building. Contact Lisa-Joy or Bobbie by email or phone (703) 292-8311 or (703) 292-8485.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Bobbie Mixon, NSF (703) 292-8485 bmixon@nsf.gov
Lisa-Joy Zgorski, NSF (703) 292-8311 lzgorski@nsf.gov

Program Contacts
Jennifer L. Thornhill, NSF (703) 292-7273 jthornhi@nsf.gov

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

 Get News Updates by Email 

Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/