Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What is the preferred characteristic of subjects in a sequential display?

1. They should be of different ages

2. They should be of various ethnicities

3. They should have similar physical characteristics

4. They should be well-known public figures

The correct answer is: They should have similar physical characteristics

The preferred characteristic of subjects in a sequential display is that they should have similar physical characteristics. This approach helps to minimize bias during identification processes, such as lineups or photographic arrays. When individuals presented to a witness exhibit similar features—such as height, build, hair color, and other relevant traits—it encourages the witness to focus on the specific details of the suspect rather than being influenced by contrasting appearances. This promotes a fairer and more reliable identification process, as it reduces the potential for misidentification due to standout differences among the subjects presented. Other considerations are less optimal for sequential displays. For instance, involving subjects of different ages or various ethnicities can introduce distractions for witnesses and lead to identification issues. Likewise, using well-known public figures would cause recognition based on fame rather than on the specific characteristics relevant to the crime in question, again complicating the identification process.