Video Survey

Video-Photo Identification Evidence Survey

INSTRUCTIONS. This survey is designed to assess how often video or still photos of a culprit (for example, video of a bank robber) are used as identification evidence in the U.S. These questions do not refer to the use of video or photos for any other purpose.

* Indicates required field

Please enter the survey response code from the invitation you received. This code does not identify you; it simply verifies that you were invited to respond to the survey. *

Questions 1-4 gather demographic information

1. Please choose the response that corresponds most closely to your position or title -- or, if you are a non-lawyer, the position or title of the attorney on whose behalf you completed this survey. *

Other position or title: *

2. Estimate the population size of the area served by your office. *

3. How would you describe the area served by your office? *

Mostly rural Mostly urban Mixed urban and rural

4. In which region of the U.S. is your office located? *

Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)

Questions 5-7 assess case load.
If precise figures are unavailable, please provide your own subjective estimate.

5. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal cases (i.e., felony and misdemeanor) processed by your office over the past three years. *

6. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal trials conducted by your office over the past three years. Limit responses to trials brought to verdict; cases resolved by guilty plea after the commencement of trial should be included in the response to question 7 below. *

7. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal cases resolved by guilty plea by your office over the past three years (including guilty pleas entered after the commencement of trial). *

Questions 8-10 assess the frequency of video or photo evidence.
If precise figures are unavailable, please provide your own subjective estimate.

8. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal cases handled by your office over the past three years in which video or photographic evidence allegedly depicting the defendant was essential evidence. *

9. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal cases handled by your office over the past three years in which video or photographic evidence allegedly depicting the defendant played an important role in the identification of the defendant. *

10. Estimate the TOTAL NUMBER of criminal trials handled by your office over the past three years in which video or photographic evidence was introduced at trial for the purpose of identifying the defendant. *

Questions 11-15 assess your perceptions related to the use of video or photo evidence.
If precise figures are unavailable, please provide your own subjective estimate.

11. Regarding the cases referenced in question 9 above, estimate the percentage (0% to 100%) in which video or photo evidence allegedly depicting the defendant was challenged by motion in limine or objection at trial. *

12. Regarding the cases referenced in question 9 above, estimate the percentage (0% to 100%) in which video or photo evidence allegedly depicting the defendant was ruled inadmissible (i.e., excluded). *

13. In your opinion, how reliable, in general, is an identification of the defendant that is based on a video or photo of the culprit? *

almost never reliable sometimes reliable usually reliable almost always reliable

14. In your opinion, what could be done to improve the identification of criminals from video or photos? *

15. In your opinion, what problems or questions would you like to see academic researchers study in order to improve the identification of criminals from video or photos? *