Police Sergeant Practice Exam

The immediate identification of a suspect by a victim is known as what?

1. Lineup

2. Show up

3. Photo array

4. Identification parade

The correct answer is: Show up

The immediate identification of a suspect by a victim is referred to as a "show up." This process typically occurs shortly after the crime has taken place, allowing for the victim or witness to quickly identify a suspect who is presented to them in a one-on-one scenario. This method is advantageous because it capitalizes on the freshness of the victim's memory, which can lead to more accurate identifications. In a show up, law enforcement officers bring the suspect to the location of the victim or a reasonable proximity rather than setting up a larger lineup or an array of photographs. This immediacy can be crucial in investigations, as it helps confirm or rule out suspects promptly. Other methods such as lineups, photo arrays, and identification parades involve presenting multiple individuals or images, which can introduce a different set of challenges and variables in the identification process. Overall, the key aspect of a show up is its streamlined nature, focusing on quick and direct identification to aid in officially apprehending suspects.