Showups

Showups are a type of identification procedure used in criminal investigations in which a witness is shown a single suspect and asked to determine whether that person is the offender. They differ from lineups or photo arrays, which present multiple individuals or images for comparison. Showups can be conducted with the suspect present in person (a live showup) or by presenting a single photograph or a small set of photographs (a photographic showup).

Typically conducted shortly after an alleged crime, a live showup may take place at a police facility or another location where the suspect is brought to the witness. A photographic showup involves presenting one or a few photos of the suspect. The witness is asked to indicate recognition and to say whether the person shown is the offender. The procedure is usually performed quickly and with minimal delay between the incident and the identification.

Showups have raised concerns about reliability due to their suggestive nature. Because the witness is confronted with a single individual, biases from police presence, surrounding circumstances, or prior information can influence the identification. Eyewitness memory is fallible, and showups can lead to false positives more readily than certain other procedures, such as properly administered lineups or photo arrays.

Legal and policy considerations vary by jurisdiction but commonly include safeguards to minimize bias, such as avoiding explicit cues, documenting the witness’s confidence at the time of identification, and ensuring that administrating officers do not influence the outcome. Many guidelines favor alternative methods—such as sequential, double-blind lineups—whenever feasible, reserving showups for cases where time or safety concerns necessitate rapid identification.