system Variables Imagine the following scenario: Police receive word that a young, African-American man with a dark complexion committed a robbery. After arresting a suspect who fits the general description of the perpetrator, they place him in a lineup. There are six men in the lineup: one is Hispanic; two are African-American but are significantly older than the described perpetrator; two are African-American but have significantly lighter skin than the suspect; and one is the young arrestee. In this situation, which person is a witness most likely to choose from the lineup? While it is impossible to say for sure, it can reasonably be predicted that the young Black man arrested by the police will be chosen as the perpetrator, owing to nothing other than the composition of the lineup and how it was structured. How a lineup is structured is one of the many factors under the control of the criminal justice system that can influence an identification. Such factors are referred to as system variables