Improving Eyewitness Identification: The Dallas Experience

With Dallas County, Texas, leading the nation in DNA exonerations, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) has become a pioneer in its establishment of new eyewitness identification policies and procedures that address the problem of misidentification of suspects.  In this workshop the presenters will review the events that led the DPD to change its practices and they will also discuss the research that was used in developing their policies and procedures for line-ups.  This presentation will take you through the challenges and obstacles that were encountered as they dramatically changed the way the department conducts one-person show-up identifications and administers photographic lineups.  Investigators and prosecutors will greatly benefit from this workshop. 

Presented by 

David Pughes

Lieutenant David Pughes is a 20-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau.  He previously served as both a detective and a supervisor in the Youth and Family Crimes Division.  David is a member of the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and is the liaison officer with the Dallas County District Attorney.  He was responsible for managing the eyewitness identification reform for the Dallas Police Department and for designing the new policies and procedures that are used for conducting both photographic and live lineups.  He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology and a Master of Science Degree in Human Relations and Business.

Sergeant Chuck Young is 30-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department currently assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division.  Chuck has served in many assignments prior to being promoted to Sergeant in 2007.  During his career he has worked in Patrol, Communications, Internal Affairs, Robbery Unit, Homicide Unit, Violent Crime Task Force, and the Fusion Center.