Q&A: How eyewitness memory can serve justice

Eyewitness misidentifications have long been a source of wrongful convictions, casting doubt on the reliability of memory in the courtroom. But UC San Diego psychologist John Wixted says the story doesn't end there. His research shows that if memory is tested the right way—early, carefully, and only once—it can be a powerful tool not just for identifying the guilty but for protecting the innocent.