Bill > SB368

This bill establishes comprehensive guidelines for eyewitness identification procedures in Pennsylvania, aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of criminal investigations. The legislation creates new standards for how law enforcement agencies conduct lineups (both live and photo-based) and show-ups, including requiring blind administration of lineups, detailed pre-lineup instructions to witnesses, and specific lineup composition rules. Key provisions mandate that administrators must inform witnesses that the perpetrator may not be present, they are not obligated to make an identification, and the investigation will continue regardless of the outcome. The bill also requires administrators to immediately obtain a confidence statement from witnesses who make an identification and create an audiovisual recording of the entire identification process. Additionally, the legislation requires the Pennsylvania State Police and Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission to develop a comprehensive training program on eyewitness identification procedures in conjunction with various legal associations, and mandates that all law enforcement officers complete this training. If an identification procedure fails to comply with these guidelines, the bill allows trial courts to instruct juries to view such evidence with caution, ultimately seeking to reduce wrongful convictions and improve the reliability of eyewitness testimony in criminal proceedings.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=368