American justice system Over the past twenty years, psychologists have conducted a great deal of research on the phenomenon of eyewitness identification. many laypersons believe that human memory works like a videocassette recorder brigham and bothwell, 1983, p. 18. in essence, we remember what we see and can reproduce those recollections when needed. psychological studies indicate, however, that memory is really a complex process consisting of three stages: 1 acquisition, 2 retention, and 3 retrieval. in each of these stages, various factors can alter a witnesss perception of an event and render it unreliable brigham and bothwell, 1983, p. 20....

Therefore, the accuracy of an eyewitness identification depends on how the event was acquired, retained, and recalled. accordingly, a jury should consider several factors in judging the accuracy of an eyewitness identification. social science data suggests, however, that jurors are unaware of several scientific principles affecting eyewitness identifications. moreover, even when they are aware of such principles, jurors are unable to apply them when making a decision. indeed, most jurors simply assume that eyewitness identifications are infallible. therefore, jurors should use expert testimony about eyewitness identification as well as appreciate and apply the appropriate scientific principles in specific cases.