Study: Most Va. Police Using Outdated ID Policies

A new study says most law enforcement agencies in Virginia continue to use outdated eyewitness identification procedures.

University of Virginia law professor Brandon Garrett reviewed the policies of 144 police departments and sheriff's offices. He found that only 6 percent have implemented a model policy proposed by the state two years ago. The vast majority are relying on outdated policies from 2005 and 1993. One-fifth have no written policy at all, which violates a 2005 law.

Garrett says one of the most troubling findings is that most agencies still don't use so-called blind lineups in which the officer in charge doesn't know which person in the lineup is the actual suspect.

Thirteen of the 16 people exonerated by DNA evidence in Virginia originally were misidentified by eyewitnesses.