Which statement best describes a fair lineup protection?

• A. All of the above protections—blind administration, proper lineup composition, instructions, and documentation.
• B. Blind administration.
• C. Instructions.
• D. Documentation.

Answer: (A)

The best answer reflects that fair lineup protection comes from applying multiple safeguards, each reducing a different source of bias or error. Blind administration stops the person conducting the lineup from influencing the witness, since they don’t know which person is the suspect. Proper lineup composition ensures the fillers resemble the witness’s description so the suspect isn’t singled out by distinctive features. Clear instructions tell the witness how to proceed and that they should rely on memory, which reduces pressure to choose. Documentation creates a record of how the lineup was conducted and the witness’s responses, allowing review and accountability. Taken together, these protections cover the main ways lineups can be biased or unreliable, so implementing all of them provides the strongest fair lineup protection.