SLS 18RS-176 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 38
BY SENATORS BISHOP, BARROW AND CARTER
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. Provides relative to eyewitness identifications. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Title V-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to be comprised of Articles 251
3 through 253, relative to eyewitness identifications; to provide procedures relative to
4 law enforcement investigative procedures relating to eyewitness identifications of
5 criminal suspects; to provide definitions; to provide relative to legislative intent; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Title V-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, comprised of Articles 251
9 through 253, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 TITLE V-A. EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES
11 Art. 251. Legislative intent
12 A. The legislature finds that police investigations are strengthened by the
13 use of best practices for investigative procedures, which increase the ability of
14 law enforcement to keep communities safe and apprehend those suspected of
15 criminal activity, reduce erroneous eyewitness identifications, and enhance the
16 reliability and objectivity of eyewitness identification.
17 B. The legislature further finds that policies and procedures to improve
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1 the accuracy of eyewitness identifications, such as those recommended by the
2 Louisiana Sheriff's Executive Management Institute (LSEMI) and the Federal
3 Bureau of Investigations, would help to ensure that the integrity of Louisiana
4 criminal justice investigations is strengthened and enhanced so as to convict the
5 guilty and protect the innocent.
6 Art. 252. Definitions
7 For purposes of this Title:
8 (1) "Administrator" means the person conducting the photo or live
9 lineup.
10 (2) "Blind" means the administrator does not know the identity of the
11 suspect.
12 (3) "Blinded" means the administrator may know who the suspect is, but
13 does not know which lineup member is being viewed by the eyewitness.
14 (4) "Criminal justice entity" means any government agency or subunit
15 thereof, or private agency that, through statutory authorization or a legal
16 formal agreement with a governmental unit or agency, has the power of
17 investigation, arrest, detention, prosecution, adjudication, treatment,
18 supervision, rehabilitation, or release of persons suspected, charged, or
19 convicted of a crime.
20 (5) "Eyewitness" means a person who observes another person at or near
21 the scene of an offense.
22 (6) "Filler" means either a person, or a photograph of a person, who is
23 not suspected of an offense but is included in an identification procedure.
24 (7) "Folder shuffle method" means a blinded procedure in which the
25 suspect photos and nonsuspect or filler photos are each placed in separate
26 folders for a total of six photographs and shuffled together along with four
27 blank folders and handed to the eyewitness one at a time so that the
28 administrator cannot see which photograph the eyewitness is viewing.
29 (8) "Live lineup" means an identification procedure in which a group of
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1 persons, including the suspected perpetrator of an offense and other persons not
2 suspected of the offense, is displayed to an eyewitness for the purpose of
3 determining whether the eyewitness identifies the suspect as the perpetrator.
4 (9) "Photo lineup" means an identification procedure in which an array
5 of photographs, including a photograph of the suspected perpetrator of an
6 offense and additional photographs of other persons not suspected of the
7 offense, is displayed to an eyewitness either in hard copy form or via computer
8 or similar device for the purpose of determining whether the eyewitness
9 identifies the suspect as the perpetrator.
10 (10) "Suspect" means a person believed by law enforcement to be the
11 possible perpetrator of an offense.
12 Art. 253. Eyewitness identification procedures
13 A.(1) No later than January 30, 2019, any criminal justice entity
14 conducting eyewitness identifications either shall adopt the LSEMI model policy
15 or draft its own policy that minimally comports to key best practices as outlined
16 in this Section.
17 (2) Each criminal justice entity that administers eyewitness identification
18 procedures shall provide a copy of its written policies to the Louisiana
19 Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice no
20 later than March 1, 2019.
21 B. For any criminal justice entity that elects to draft its own policy on
22 eyewitness identification procedures, these policies shall:
23 (1) Be based on all of the following:
24 (a) Credible field, academic, or laboratory research on eyewitness
25 memory.
26 (b) Relevant policies, guidelines, and best practices designed to reduce
27 erroneous eyewitness identifications and to enhance the reliability and
28 objectivity of eyewitness identifications.
29 (c) Other relevant information as appropriate.
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1 (2) Include the following information regarding evidence-based
2 practices:
3 (a) Procedures for selecting photograph and live lineup filler
4 photographs or participants to ensure that the photographs or participant:
5 (i) Are consistent in appearance with the description of the alleged
6 perpetrator.
7 (ii) Do not make the suspect noticeably stand out.
8 (b) Instructions given to a witness before conducting a photograph or live
9 lineup identification procedure shall include a statement that the person who
10 committed the offense may or may not be present in the procedure.
11 (c) Procedures for documenting and preserving the results of a
12 photograph or live lineup identification procedure, including the documentation
13 of witness statements, regardless of the outcome of the procedure.
14 (d) Procedures for administering a photograph or live lineup
15 identification procedure to an illiterate person or a person with limited English
16 language proficiency.
17 (e) For a live lineup identification procedure, if practicable, procedures
18 for assigning an administrator who is unaware of which member of the live
19 lineup is the suspect in the case or alternative procedures designed to prevent
20 opportunities to influence the witness.
21 (f) For a photograph identification procedure, procedures for assigning
22 an administrator who is capable of administering a photograph array in a blind
23 manner or in a blinded manner consistent with other proven or supported best
24 practices designed to prevent opportunities to influence the witness.
25 (g) Any other procedures or best practices supported by credible
26 research or commonly accepted as a means to reduce erroneous eyewitness
27 identifications and to enhance the objectivity and reliability of eyewitness
28 identifications.
29 (3) Provide that a witness who makes an identification based on a
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1 photograph or live lineup identification procedure be asked immediately after
2 the procedure to state, in the witness's own words, how confident the witness is
3 in making the identification. A law enforcement agency shall document in
4 accordance with Subsubparagraph (B)(2)(c) of this Article any statement made
5 under this Subparagraph.
6 C. Not later than December thirty-one of each odd-numbered year, the
7 institute shall review the model policy and training materials adopted under this
8 article and shall modify the policy and materials as appropriate while
9 maintaining the requirements outlined in Paragraph B of this Article.
10 D. Not later than December thirty-one of each even-numbered year, each
11 law enforcement agency shall review its policy adopted under this Article and
12 shall modify that policy as appropriate while maintaining the requirements
13 outlined in Paragraph B of this Article.
14 E. Failure to conduct a photograph or live lineup identification
15 procedure in substantial compliance with the model policy or any other policy
16 adopted under this Article shall not bar the admission of eyewitness
17 identification testimony.
18 F. A video record of identification procedures shall be made or, if a video
19 record is not practicable, an audio record shall be made. If neither a video nor
20 audio record are practicable, the reasons shall be documented in writing, and
21 the lineup administrator shall make a full and complete written record of the
22 lineup in accordance with Subsubparagraph (B)(2)(c) of this Article.
23 G. The written eyewitness identification procedures of a criminal justice
24 entity shall be made available, in writing, to the public upon request.
25 H. Evidence of failure to comply with any of the provisions of this
26 Article:
27 (1) May be considered by the district court in adjudicating motions to
28 suppress an eyewitness identification.
29 (2) May be admissible in support of any claim of eyewitness
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1 misidentification, as long as such evidence is otherwise admissible.
2 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
3 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
4 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
5 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
6 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 38 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Bishop
Proposed law provides relative to eyewitness identification procedures.
Proposed law provides relative to legislative intent.
Proposed law provides the following definitions:
(1) "Administrator" means the person conducting the live or photo lineup.
(2) "Blind" means the administrator does not know the identity of the suspect.
(3) "Blinded" means the administrator may know who the suspect is, but does not know
which lineup member is being viewed by the eyewitness.
(4) "Criminal justice entity" means any government agency or subunit thereof, or private
agency that, through statutory authorization or a legal formal agreement with a
governmental unit or agency, has the power of investigation, arrest, detention,
prosecution, adjudication, treatment, supervision, rehabilitation, or release of persons
suspected, charged, or convicted of a crime.
(5) "Eyewitness" means a person who observes another person at or near the scene of
an offense.
(6) "Filler" means either a person, or a photograph of a person, who is not suspected of
an offense but is included in an identification procedure.
(7) "Folder shuffle method" means a procedure in which the suspect photos and
nonsuspect or filler photos are each placed in separate folders for a total of six
photographs, and shuffled together along with four blank folders and handed to the
eyewitness one at a time so that the administrator cannot see which photograph the
eyewitness is viewing.
(8) "Live lineup" means an identification procedure in which a group of persons,
including the suspected perpetrator of an offense and other persons not suspected of
the offense, is displayed to an eyewitness for the purpose of determining whether the
eyewitness identifies the suspect as the perpetrator.
(9) "Photo lineup" means an identification procedure in which an array of photographs,
including a photograph of the suspected perpetrator of an offense and additional
photographs of other persons not suspected of the offense, is displayed to an
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eyewitness either in hard copy form or via computer or similar device for the purpose
of determining whether the eyewitness identifies the suspect as the perpetrator.
(10) "Suspect" means the person believed by law enforcement to be the possible
perpetrator of the crime.
Proposed law provides that no later than 1/30/19, any criminal justice entity conducting
eyewitness identifications must adopt the La. Sheriff's Executive Management Institute
("LSEMI") model policy on eyewitness identification procedures, or draft its own policy that
minimally comports to key best practices as outlined in proposed law. Proposed law further
provides that each criminal justice entity that administers eyewitness identification
procedures must provide a copy of its written policies to the La. Commission on Law
Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice no later than 3/1/19.
Proposed law provides that for any criminal justice entity that elects to draft its own policy
on eyewitness identification procedures, these policies must:
(1) Be based on all of the following:
(a) Credible field, academic, or laboratory research on eyewitness memory.
(b) Relevant policies, guidelines, and best practices designed to reduce erroneous
eyewitness identifications and to enhance the reliability and objectivity of
eyewitness identifications.
(c) Other relevant information as appropriate.
(2) Include the following information regarding evidence-based practices:
(a) Procedures for selecting photograph and live lineup filler photographs or
participants to ensure that the photographs or participant are consistent in
appearance with the description of the alleged perpetrator and do not make
the suspect noticeably stand out.
(b)Instructions given to a witness before conducting a photograph or live lineup
identification procedure must include a statement that the person who
committed the offense may or may not be present in the procedure.
(c) Procedures for documenting and preserving the results of a photograph or
live lineup identification procedure, including the documentation of witness
statements, regardless of the outcome of the procedure.
(d) Procedures for administering a photograph or live lineup identification
procedure to an illiterate person or a person with limited English language
proficiency.
(e) For a live lineup identification procedure, if practicable, procedures for
assigning an administrator who is unaware of which member of the live
lineup is the suspect in the case or alternative procedures designed to prevent
opportunities to influence the witness.
(f) For a photograph identification procedure, procedures for assigning an
administrator who is capable of administering a photograph array in a blind
manner or in a blinded manner consistent with other proven or supported best
practices designed to prevent opportunities to influence the witness.
(g) Any other procedures or best practices supported by credible research or
commonly accepted as a means to reduce erroneous eyewitness
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identifications and to enhance the objectivity and reliability of eyewitness
identifications.
(3) Provide that a witness who makes an identification based on a photograph or live
lineup identification procedure be asked immediately after the procedure to state, in
the witness's own words, how confident the witness is in making the identification.
A law enforcement agency is to document any statement made in accordance with
proposed law.
Proposed law provides that by December 31 of each odd-numbered year, the institute is to
review the model policy and training materials adopted under proposed law and modify the
policy and materials as appropriate while maintaining the requirements outlined in proposed
law.
Proposed law provides that by September 1 of each even-numbered year, each law
enforcement agency is to review its policy adopted under proposed law and modify that
policy as appropriate while maintaining the requirements outlined in proposed law.
Proposed law provides that failure to conduct a photograph or live lineup identification
procedure in substantial compliance with the model policy or any other policy adopted under
proposed law does not bar the admission of eyewitness identification testimony.
Proposed law provides that a video record of identification procedures is to be made or, if
a video record is not practicable, an audio record is to be made. Proposed law further
provides that if neither a video nor audio record are practicable, the reasons must be
documented in writing, and the lineup administrator is to make a full and complete written
record of the lineup.
Proposed law provides that the written eyewitness identification procedures of a criminal
justice entity must be made available, in writing, to the public upon request.
Proposed law provides that evidence of failure to comply with any of the provisions of
proposed law:
(1) May be considered by the district court in adjudicating motions to suppress an
eyewitness identification.
(2) May be admissible in support of any claim of eyewitness misidentification, as long
as such evidence is otherwise admissible.
Proposed law provides relative to legislative intent.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds C.Cr.P. Art. 251-253)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to the
original bill
1. Changes certain dates for adopting and reporting relative to eyewitness
identification procedures.
2. Changes eyewitness identification model policy references from those of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police to those of the La. Sheriff's
Executive Management Institute model policy on eyewitness identification
procedures.
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3. Requires certain eyewitness identification procedures be provided to the La.
Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice
instead of the attorney general and the Dept. of Public Safety and
Corrections.
4. Changes requirements for eyewitness identification procedures for certain
criminal justice entities.
5. Changes admissibility of certain evidence from mandatory to discretionary.
6. Deletes certain provisions of proposed law relative to admissibility of
compliance or noncompliance with proposed law.
7. Deletes select provisions of proposed law relative to legislative intent.
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