Eyewitness misidentifications are the leading cause of wrongful convictions in this country. In Louisiana alone, studies reveal that 14 out of 15 exonerated cases involved eyewitness misidentification.
These statistics along with the stories of many who have been wrongfully imprisoned led me to introduce legislation requiring police agencies in Louisiana to adopt identification procedures based on nationwide best practices, including: double-blind administration of lineups, neutral instructions, witness statement recordation and fair lineup composition.
The goal of the legislation is to provide a more accurate system that ensures justice and fairness so that the right person is identified and convicted.
– Louisiana State Senator Wesley T. Bishop