Misidentification

Misidentification is the act of incorrectly identifying a person, object, event, or information as something else. It can occur in many settings, from everyday recognition to formal investigations and scientific analysis. Misidentification may be intentional or involuntary, and it can result from limitations in perception, memory, labeling, or documentation.

In eyewitness identification, misidentification is a major concern in criminal justice. Factors such as stress, poor lighting, brief exposure, memory decay, and racial bias can distort recognition. Procedures like non-blind lineups or simultaneous presentation can increase errors. In forensic science, misidentification can arise from misinterpreting evidence, contamination, or faulty instrumentation. Across domains, simple labeling errors and data-entry mistakes also contribute.

Consequences can include wrongful accusations or convictions, inappropriate medical treatment, or damaged reputations. Notable cases have drawn attention to misidentification's impact, such as wrongful convictions later overturned after DNA testing or reexamination of evidence, and the Central Park jogger case where misidentification and bias played a role in wrongful accusations against several teenagers.

Prevention focuses on rigorous verification and corroboration, standardized procedures, double-blind and sequential lineups, proper documentation, and the use of objective evidence when possible. In medicine, improved diagnostic processes and labeling accuracy help reduce misidentification. In legal contexts, reforms and post-conviction reviews aim to correct mistaken identifications and minimize future risk.

See also: wrongful conviction, eyewitness memory, cognitive bias.