MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

True or False. A suspect can legally refuse to participate in a lineup.

1. True

2. False

3. Only if they have a valid reason

4. Only if they are a minor

The correct answer is: True

The statement that a suspect can legally refuse to participate in a lineup is true. In general, a person who is not in custody or not compelled to participate in a lineup has the right to refuse. This reflects the legal principle that individuals have the autonomy to decide whether to engage in a procedure that could potentially incriminate them or lead to their identification by witnesses. In many jurisdictions, while law enforcement can compel a suspect to present certain physical characteristics (such as fingerprints or photographs), they cannot force a suspect to participate in a live lineup if it infringes upon their rights. A suspect should be aware that refusing to participate may carry legal consequences, such as implications regarding the investigation or the perceptions of law enforcement, but the fundamental right to refuse participation is upheld. In contrast, the other options present conditions that are not standard legal principles, affirming that any person, regardless of age or circumstance, can assert their right to refuse participation in a lineup unless they are under specific legal obligation.