What is the purpose of a lineup or show-up procedure in investigations?

• A. To identify a suspect quickly for a court appearance.
• B. To determine if a suspect has an alibi.
• C. To identify a suspect while ensuring fairness and minimizing suggestive influence.
• D. To arrest a suspect on the spot.

Answer: (C)

The purpose of a lineup or show-up is to identify a suspect while keeping the process fair and minimizing bias or suggestive influence. A lineup uses several similar-looking people to prevent a witness from being guided to choose someone who stands out, and neutral instructions, proper administration, and, when possible, blind administration (where the administrator doesn’t know who the suspect is) help ensure the identification reflects memory rather than cues. Show-ups, done one-on-one, are sometimes necessary for urgent safety reasons, but they carry a higher risk of bias, so they’re used with strict safeguards or avoided if a proper lineup can be arranged. These procedures are about identifying the correct person in a way that supports reliable, admissible testimony, not about speeding court appearances, testing alibis, or making an arrest on the spot.