Unanimous Colorado vote for new witness ID practices

A new statewide standard for eyewitness identifications has won unanimous support in the Colorado Senate.

The Senate voted 35-0 Friday to require a new statewide standard for gathering evidence from eyewitnesses. The measure now heads to the House.

Colorado would become the 12th state to overhaul procedures for eyewitness identifications in criminal prosecutions. Eyewitness identifications are under scrutiny because scientists say eyewitnesses can be unreliable.

Colorado’s bill would create a statewide standard already followed by many police agencies. For example, witnesses would have to be told when reviewing a lineup that the perpetrator might not be in the lineup.

Victims would have to be told that a criminal investigation would continue even if they don’t choose a perpetrator in lineup.