What is the difference between a show-up and a lineup?

What is the difference between a show-up and a lineup?

• A. A show-up is a single-person identification at the scene; a lineup presents multiple individuals for comparison.
• B. A show-up uses multiple people; a lineup is single person.
• C. A lineup occurs only in court.
• D. A show-up and lineup are the same process.

Answer: (A)

Show-ups and lineups are two methods used to identify a suspect, but they differ in structure and context. A show-up is a quick, one-on-one identification where the witness is shown a single person—typically at or near the scene—and asked to decide if that person is the offender. A lineup is a formal procedure in which the witness compares several individuals—usually including the suspect and fillers who resemble the description—and identifies who, if any, is the offender. The main difference is that a show-up involves a single person to identify, while a lineup provides multiple people for comparison. This makes show-ups faster but more prone to bias, whereas lineups offer a more controlled, comparative identification. In other words, a show-up is a single-person identification at the scene; a lineup presents multiple individuals for comparison.

Show-ups and lineups are two methods used to identify a suspect, but they differ in structure and context. A show-up is a quick, one-on-one identification where the witness is shown a single person—typically at or near the scene—and asked to decide if that person is the offender. A lineup is a formal procedure in which the witness compares several individuals—usually including the suspect and fillers who resemble the description—and identifies who, if any, is the offender. The main difference is that a show-up involves a single person to identify, while a lineup provides multiple people for comparison. This makes show-ups faster but more prone to bias, whereas lineups offer a more controlled, comparative identification. In other words, a show-up is a single-person identification at the scene; a lineup presents multiple individuals for comparison.