Final answer:
A police lineup occurs when a suspect is placed alongside lookalike individuals for potential witness identification. The accuracy of these lineups is crucial but can be compromised by suggestibility and improper procedures. Modifications such as blind lineups and judicial advisements aim to enhance reliability.
Step-by-step explanation:
A police lineup occurs when the suspect is placed alongside several other people who resemble the suspect. This process is critical in law enforcement and legal proceedings as it helps to determine if a witness can reliably identify a suspect. However, there are factors such as suggestibility and the misuse of procedures that can lead to the misidentification of innocent people, as shown in the case of Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton. To mitigate such risks, proper interviewing techniques and blind photo lineups are recommended, where the administrator does not know who the suspect is, to avoid leading cues. It's also suggested that jurors be informed about the potential unreliability of eyewitness testimony and that judges have the authority to suppress such testimony if deemed unreliable.