How many pictures are needed for a lineup?

• A. 3
• B. 5
• C. 7
• D. 9

Answer: (B)

In lineups, the number of pictures matters because you want to balance avoiding guesses with keeping the witness’s task manageable. A lineup that’s too small makes it easier for a witness to pick something by chance, increasing false identifications. A lineup that's too large can overwhelm the witness and make it harder to focus on distinguishing facial features, which can also hurt accuracy.

Five pictures is a common, practical standard. It provides enough options so the witness isn’t just guessing, while not overloading them. With five photos, the chance of selecting the correct person by random guessing is relatively low, yet the task remains manageable for careful comparison of facial features. This size also allows decent matching of fillers to the suspect in appearance, helping reduce bias or similarity cues that could lead a witness astray.

So, five pictures is the best balance for a lineup.