What is the purpose of a blind administrator in lineup procedures?

• A. They do not know the suspect's identity
• B. They select the suspect
• C. They record the witness's identification
• D. They control the lineup pace

Answer: (A)

The purpose of a blind administrator is to prevent bias from influencing the witness’s identification. When the person conducting the lineup does not know which person is the suspect, they cannot unintentionally cue the witness through timing, presentation, or reactions. This neutrality helps the witness make a more accurate identification and strengthens the reliability of the lineup.

The other roles involved in the process—like who selects the lineup participants or who records the witness’s choice—are separate tasks, but they don’t define why a blind administrator is used. The key idea is that ignorance of the suspect’s identity by the administrator reduces potential cues and safeguards the integrity of the identification.