What is an immediate identification?

Immediate identification, commonly referred to as "eyewitness identification" or "show-up identification," refers to a procedure where a witness or victim of a crime is presented with an immediate opportunity to identify the perpetrator shortly after the incident occurs.

During an immediate identification, law enforcement officers or investigators present a suspect, usually within minutes or hours of a crime, for the witness to observe. The witness is asked if they can identify the person as the offender.

The goal of immediate identification is to obtain timely and potentially accurate identification of the perpetrator while the memory of the witness is still fresh and vivid. It is believed that identification made shortly after an event may reduce the likelihood of mistaken identification and enhance the reliability of eyewitness accounts.

However, immediate identifications can also be problematic and susceptible to errors due to factors such as stress, anxiety, limited opportunities for observation, or the influence of suggestive cues by law enforcement. To ensure the reliability and fairness of immediate identifications, strict guidelines and procedures are followed by law enforcement agencies. These guidelines aim to minimize the risk of misidentification and safeguard the rights of the accused.