Chicago Police Department (CPD) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPD Practice Questions and Study Guide

Conducting a show up carries the potential risk of false identifications leading to wrongful arrests. A show up is a police procedure where a suspect is presented to a witness for identification shortly after the crime has occurred. While this method can be valuable for immediate identification, it may also result in pressure on the witness to confirm the suspect's identity, especially if the suspect is presented in a suggestive context. This pressure can lead to misidentification, where an innocent person might be mistakenly identified as the perpetrator. This risk can have serious consequences, including wrongful detention and prosecution of individuals who did not commit the crime.

Witnesses may feel influenced by the immediate circumstances of the show up or by the police's expectations, which can compromise the accuracy of their identification. This highlights the importance of carefully considering the methods and context used in identification procedures to minimize the likelihood of erroneous conclusions by witnesses.