Category: Fall 2020

I chose to create a knowledge translation artifact about the effects of older age on eyewitness memory. The intended audience is those involved in criminal investigations like police officers, lineup administrators, and lawyers. It is an important topic to educate this population on as eyewitness memory plays a significant role in the outcome of criminal investigations and is responsible for most wrongful convictions. Eyewitness evidence is very compelling at trial and crucial in criminal cases. The effects of older age on eyewitness memory are important as older adults are considered to be one of the less reliable groups of eyewitnesses. The other less reliable group is children, but they have been widely studied, so I thought it would be beneficial to provide more information on a less researched area. I intend to provide those directly involved in criminal investigations with evidence-based research on the reliability of older eyewitnesses who are helping determine the culprits in various cases. The goal of this artifact is to educate a population that has such an important role in the delivery of justice and protecting society. If this population is better educated about the effects of older age on eyewitness memory and more aware of the practices that mitigate these effects, older adults’ reliability as eyewitnesses can increase. With the increased reliability of older adults’ eyewitness memory, wrongful convictions will decrease, contributing to a more just society for all.