WE MUST STUDY FORENSIC EYEWITNESSES TO KNOW ABOUT THEM

Although the quality and quantity of research on eyewitness identifica tion is impressive, it has one basic flaw: Almost none of the research has been conducted with forensic eyewitnesses, that is, with witnesse s of actual crime enmeshed in the criminal justice system. Most psycho logists assume this flaw is of little consequence, and they readily ap ply the results of eyewitness research to forensic contexts. This arti cle challenges that assumption as inappropriate for an empirically bas ed discipline. To determine our knowledge base concerning forensic eye witnesses, these witnesses must be an integral part of our research ef forts.