Question

You are working with Cristina to review some cases for your criminal justice class. The case you are working on now has one defendant: Mona Day. She is a student accused of involvement in terrorist activities. You do not have all the details, but you know that law enforcement has been surveilling Mona for months. They now have a clear understanding of where she goes, what she does there, and who she sees. For each piece of evidence, you and Cristina need to add some details. Use a table similar to the one below to organize your thoughts. In your notes, use bullet points to complete the table. The first two columns are already completed; the last two are yours to fill out.

Answer 1

Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable due to factors such as stress, misleading information, and external influences. Attorneys should inform jurors about these limitations and present alternative evidence to strengthen the defense case.

Step-by-step explanation:

Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable due to several factors. It is important to inform the jurors about the limitations of eyewitness testimony and the potential for errors. Some of the factors that can affect the reliability of eyewitness testimony include:

1. Stress and Anxiety: High levels of stress or anxiety during a crime can impair a person's ability to accurately recall details.
2. Misleading Information: The presence of misleading information can lead to false memories or identification. For example, if witnesses are shown a lineup with only one suspect, they may be more likely to identify that person, even if they are not the actual culprit.
3. External Influences: Witnesses can be influenced by external factors such as media coverage, discussions with other witnesses, or suggestive questioning by law enforcement.

Attorneys should emphasize the fallibility of eyewitness testimony and present alternative evidence, such as surveillance footage or forensic evidence, to build a strong defense case.