Lineup

Definition of Lineup

Note: See a more comprehensive approach to the Lineup legal concept in the American Law Encyclopedia

A process by which a suspect in a crime is presented with others to a witness. The purpose of a lineup is to obtain identification of a suspect. A lineup requires the lining up of a number of people generally resembling one another for ofservation of Witness. If a lineup is properly conducted, a witness who identifies a suspect may testify to that effect at trial. A lineup differs from a showup, which is a one-to-one confrontation between suspect and witness. A showup is used as an alternative to a lineup when a situation makes the lineup impossible. A showup is, however, subject to the same due process standards as the lineup.

Resources

Lineup Related Resources

• Lineup in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
• Criminal Judicial Process Keywords in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
• Criminal Process Keywords in the International Legal Dictionary

Notes

• “Lineup”, The American Law Dictionary, 1991, California

Lineup (Criminal Judicial Process)