Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

When showing photos in a sequential display, what should not be mixed?

1. Color photographs with black-and-white photos

2. Ordinary photos with booking photos

3. Individual faces with group photos

4. Recent photos with old photos

The correct answer is: Ordinary photos with booking photos

In sequential displays, it is crucial to maintain consistency in the type of images presented to avoid confusion or bias in the identification process. Mixing ordinary photos with booking photos can lead to a higher chance of misidentification due to the differing contexts and how individuals might perceive these images. Booking photos are typically taken in a controlled, uniform manner, often under specific conditions that might influence how a person appears. In contrast, ordinary photos may show individuals in various environments, expressions, and clothing, which could affect recognition accuracy when mixed together. The other types of photos mentioned have different considerations but do not necessarily impact the identification process in the same critical way as mixing booking photos with ordinary photos. For example, color versus black-and-white photography may impact aesthetics, but it won't fundamentally alter the reliability of an identification task. Similarly, individual versus group photos provide different informational contexts but can still be managed appropriately in identification scenarios. Lastly, the recency of photos, while relevant, may not be as significant when the goal is to recognize a person based on features rather than the context or time frame of the image.