Eyewitness confidence : the relation between accuracy and confidence in episodic memory

Many decisions in the legal system are based on eyewitness evidence. It seems to be a matter of common sense that the level of confidence expressed by a witness can be used as a diagnostic tool to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate memories. Contrary to this general belief, the bulk of empirical evidence collected in laboratory and field experiments over the past 25 years indicates that the relationship between confidence and accuracy is far from perfect. The central focus of this dissertation is on the accuracy of eyewitness memory, and especially on the relationship between accuracy and confidence (i.e., the subjective judgment of accuracy). To enhance the ecological validity of the laboratory studies, we used a method that allowed us to determine accuracy and confidence scores for the recall of details of complex naturalistic events. The first three chapters are experiments from the laboratory testing the effect of repeated retrieval, retention interval and repeated misleading questioning. The fourth chapter is a case study in which real live witnesses of a robbery on a supermarket were interviewed. Our findings show a clear and consistent relationship between confidence judgements and the actual accuracy of memories. With some caution, confidence may be used as a partial indicator of accuracy, especially during the early stages of an investigation. Unfortunately, however, there always remain incorrect items that are given the maximum confidence score. That is the reason why no single witness statement can be accepted as certainly correct, based on confidence alone.LEI Universiteit LeidenFSW - Action Control - Ou

Eyewitness confidence : the relation between accuracy and confidence in episodic memory

Many decisions in the legal system are based on eyewitness evidence. It seems to be a matter of common sense that the level of confidence expressed by a witness can be used as a diagnostic tool to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate memories. Contrary to this general belief, the bulk of empirical evidence collected in laboratory and field experiments over the past 25 years indicates that the relationship between confidence and accuracy is far from perfect. The central focus of this dissertation is on the accuracy of eyewitness memory, and especially on the relationship between accuracy and confidence (i.e., the subjective judgment of accuracy). To enhance the ecological validity of the laboratory studies, we used a method that allowed us to determine accuracy and confidence scores for the recall of details of complex naturalistic events. The first three chapters are experiments from the laboratory testing the effect of repeated retrieval, retention interval and repeated misleading questioning. The fourth chapter is a case study in which real live witnesses of a robbery on a supermarket were interviewed. Our findings show a clear and consistent relationship between confidence judgements and the actual accuracy of memories. With some caution, confidence may be used as a partial indicator of accuracy, especially during the early stages of an investigation. Unfortunately, however, there always remain incorrect items that are given the maximum confidence score. That is the reason why no single witness statement can be accepted as certainly correct, based on confidence alone.</p

Eyewitness memory of a supermarket robbery: A case study of accuracy and confidence after 3 months

In this case study, 14 witnesses of an armed robbery were interviewed after 3 months. Security camera recordings were used to assess memory accuracy. Of all information that could be remembered about 84% was correct. Although accurately recalled information had a higher confidence level on average than inaccurately recalled information, the mean accuracy-confidence correlation was rather modest (0.38). These findings indicate that confidence is not a reliable predictor of accuracy. A higher level of self-reported, post-event thinking about the incident was associated with higher confidence levels, while a higher level of self-reported emotional impact was associated with greater accuracy. A potential source of (mis)information, a reconstruction of the robbery broadcasted on TV, did not alter the original memories of the witnesses

Organised Cybercrime in the Netherlands: Empirical findings and implications for law enforcement

This study seeks to explore the characteristics of cyber-organised crime (OC), and focuses on the criminal activities of cyber-OC groups, their modus operandi, the organisational structures, the ‘profiles’ of the involved offenders, and the characteristics of criminal investigation into these cases. For this purpose we will focus on the following research questions: 1.Is organised crime involved in cybercrime? What kind of cybercrime do organised crime groups commit? 2.How do organised crime groups use the Internet to commit ‘traditional crimes’? 3.Does the Internet provide windows of opportunity for the development of new business ideas and for the identification and approaching of new targets? 4.Does the Internet lead to structural changes in organised crime? 5.Is cybercrime organised? How, why and when? 6.How does the criminal investigation of (organised) cybercrime work in practice and which best practices and challenges can be identified

Organised Cybercrime in the Netherlands

This study seeks to explore the characteristics of cyber-organised crime (OC), and focuses on the criminal activities of cyber-OC groups, their modus operandi, the organisational structures, the ‘profiles’ of the involved offenders, and the characteristics of criminal investigation into these cases. For this purpose we will focus on the following research questions: Is organised crime involved in cybercrime? What kind of cybercrime do organised crime groups commit? How do organised crime groups use the Internet to commit ‘traditional crimes’? Does the Internet provide windows of opportunity for the development of new business ideas and for the identification and approaching of new targets? Does the Internet lead to structural changes in organised crime? Is cybercrime organised? How, why and when?How does the criminal investigation of (organised) cybercrime work in practice and which best practices and challenges can be identified? INHOUD: 1. Introduction and methods 2. Organisation of investigation and prosecution in the Netherlands 3. Characteristics of cyber-OC 4. Criminal investigation of cyber-OC 5. Conclusion and discussio

Tappen en infiltreren

ARTIKELEN: 1. G. Odinot en D. de Jong - Wie belt er nou nog? De veranderende opbrengst van de telefoontap 2. J.J. Oerlemans - Mogelijkheden en beperkingen van de internettap 3. J.B.J. van der Leij - Opsporingsbevoegdheden en privacy; een internationale vergelijking 4. E.W. Kruisbergen en D. de Jong - Undercoveroperaties: een noodzakelijk kwaad? Heden, verleden en toekomst van een omstreden opsporingsmiddel 5. C. Fijnaut - De exfiltratie van verdachte en veroordeelde criminelen; over de onmisbaarheid van een effectieve regeling voor coöperatieve criminele getuigen 6. Internetsites. SAMENVATTING: De telefoontap is een veelvuldig ingezet opsporingsmiddel. Nu de inzet van telefoontap steeds minder effectief blijkt en de internettap nog in de kinderschoenen staat, lijkt het voor de hand te liggen dat er in de opsporing meer aandacht zal komen voor andere bijzondere opsporingsmethoden, zoals observatie (stelselmatig volgen), infiltratie, pseudokoop en -dienstverlening, undercover stelselmatig informatie inwinnen, inkijken, direct afluisteren en bijstand en opsporing door burgers (informanten en infiltranten). In dit themanummer wordt daarnaast aandacht besteed aan het fenomeen exfiltratie, ofwel meewerkende criminele getuige