What is the purpose of a "show up" in law enforcement?

The purpose of a "show up" in law enforcement is primarily to allow the victim or witness to identify a suspect immediately after a crime occurs. This process involves presenting the suspect to the victim or witness in a timely manner, which can be crucial for ensuring accurate identification. This immediate identification can strengthen a case by linking the suspect to the crime scene right after the incident, thus helping in the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

While gathering information about potential witnesses and summarizing evidence are important aspects of police work, they do not encapsulate the primary goal of a "show up." Presenting multiple suspects for a lineup, on the other hand, is a different procedure known as a lineup, where several individuals are displayed to a witness to find the perpetrator among them. In contrast, a "show up" focuses on a singular suspect in the immediate aftermath of a crime.