Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

Does a blind administrator eliminate inadvertent suggestiveness in a lineup?

1. True

2. False

3. Only under certain conditions

4. It depends on the lineup format

The correct answer is: True

A blind administrator plays a crucial role in reducing the potential for inadvertent suggestiveness in a lineup. By being "blind," the administrator does not know the identity of the suspect or how they relate to the fillers in the lineup. This setup minimizes the risk of the administrator inadvertently providing cues or feedback that might influence the witness’s identification. When the administrator is unaware of the suspect’s identity, it ensures they cannot unconsciously guide the witness toward a specific individual through facial expressions, tone of voice, or any other form of nonverbal communication. Consequently, the integrity of the identification process is upheld, leading to fairer outcomes during eyewitness identification. While the format of the lineup—whether live, photographic, or otherwise—can have implications for suggestiveness, the key factor in this context is the blinding of the administrator, which is intended to prevent bias. Therefore, the correct response affirms that a blind administrator indeed helps eliminate inadvertent suggestiveness in a lineup.