Chicago Police Department (CPD) Practice

The procedure during a showup is best described as a structured identification process. This method is used shortly after a crime has occurred to allow witnesses to identify a suspect under circumstances that are more controlled compared to other types of identification procedures, such as lineups.

In a showup, the witness views a single suspect, typically at or near the scene of the crime, to determine if they can identify that person as the perpetrator. The structure of this procedure is key; it is conducted with specific attention to minimizing suggestiveness to ensure that the identification is reliable. Officers administering a showup often provide instructions to the witnesses to reduce the risk of bias and ensure that the process adheres to legal standards that uphold the reliability and integrity of the identification. This structured approach helps safeguard the rights of the suspect and the accuracy of the witnesses’ observations.