Functional Size
Definition
The number of lineup members who are plausible perpetrators given the witness's prior description. A lineup with nominal size six but functional size one is effectively a showup, regardless of physical population.
Related terms
- BNSS 2023 § 54
- The Indian statutory provision governing identification parades, replacing CrPC § 9. Requires the parade to be held before a magistrate with persons...
- Double-Blind Administration
- Lineup administration by an officer who does not know which member is the suspect. Removes the possibility of administrator cue effects. The...
- Must-Be-There Bias
- The tendency of witnesses to make a lineup identification even when uncertain, if they believe the perpetrator is present. Substantially reduced by...
- Relative Judgement
- The cognitive strategy of comparing lineup members to each other and selecting the best match to memory. Encouraged by the simultaneous format...
- Sequential Lineup
- A lineup in which members are presented one at a time, with the witness making a yes/no decision on each before seeing...
- Simultaneous Lineup
- A lineup in which the witness views all persons or photographs at the same time and selects one. Encourages relative judgement (who...
- VIPER System
- Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording, the default identification procedure in England and Wales since 2003. Uses standardised database clips administered by an...
Explained in
- Lineup Procedures: Sequential vs Simultaneous and Double-BlindThe number of lineup members who are plausible perpetrators given the witness's prior description. A lineup with nominal size six but functional size one is ef...