New Hampshire Police Begin Training in Eyewitness ID Reform

Over 60 representatives from New Hampshire police departments throughout the state attended a training on eyewitness identification last week in Concord as part of an effort to implement best practices throughout the state, according to

ABC WMUR

. The training was the first of its kind to be held at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy in Concord.

Attendees learned about the prevalence of misidentification (it has contributed to 72 percent of wrongful convictions proven by DNA evidence, nationally) and were instructed in how to utilize the best practices that are contained in a

model policy that was published

in June by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. That model policy was crafted in collaboration with the Innocence Project and New Hampshire law enforcement. Bill Brooks, Chief of the Norwood, Mass., Police Department and a national eyewitness identification expert led the instruction.

The training was hosted by the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, who played an important role in crafting and supporting the Attorney General’s model policy. Last week’s training indicates that law enforcement throughout the state is committed to having in place best practices that will protect against misidentification.