In a lineup, what should be true to minimize bias?

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In a lineup, the main way to cut down on bias is to standardize how the lineup is presented so no non-relevant cues sway the witness. Having a consistent background for every photo removes environmental differences that could make one person stand out for reasons having nothing to do with facial features. When the background and setup are uniform, the witness can focus on the faces themselves rather than being influenced by where or how the photo was taken.

While making suspects resemble each other can be helpful in reducing cues, the most reliable single control among the options is keeping the background consistent. A lineup where the backgrounds differ can inadvertently bias the witness toward a particular choice. Conversely, including everyone from the workplace isn’t a valid way to reduce bias and would introduce unnecessary complications.