Exam 3 Flashcards
Types of Evidence
Testimonial Evidence.
Physical Evidence.
Testimonial Evidence: Definition
Admissions, confessions, and statements by parties involved in the investigation.
Physical Evidence: Definition
Items and the condition of tangible objects that are collected and or documented.
Importance of Evidence
Both forms are important and neither can be excluded.
Physical evidence can never lie, which makes it more credible.
Testimonial Evidence: Problems
Comes from people and subject to change.
Can lie to investigators and court.
Misperceive events and report erroneously.
Unknowingly fill in blanks.
Becomes more credible when corroborated with physical evidence.
Documenting Evidence
“If it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen”.
May not testify for years after event.
Write EVERYTHING down so it is available later.
Testifying: Refresh Memory
Review notes and records.
Be prepared!
Meet with prosecutor ahead of time to discuss testimony,
Picture case, scene, objects, and events.
Testifying: Accuracy
If answer is an estimate, say it’s an estimate.
Beware attorneys suggesting times/distances when you do not recall actual ones.
Do not agree unless you independently arrive at same estimate.
Testifying: Speak as Yourself
Be yourself.
Use everyday terms jury will understand.
Don’t memorize, just speak.
Testifying: Tips
Refresh your memory. Be accurate. Speak in your own words. Dress professionally. Speak clearly and loudly. Be professional and responsible. Tell the truth. Careful outside court room.
Testifying: Being Sworn In
When taking the oath, stand up straight, pay attention to the clerk, and say “I do” clearly.
Testifying: Oath
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Testifying: Affirmation
I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Testifying: Oath vs. Affirmation
Oath is made under nonhuman penalty or sanction (God).
Germanic peoples swore by their weapons.
Testifying: Appearance
Neat and proper dress are important.
You represent the government - look like it!
Testifying: Speaking
Speak clearly, slowly, and loudly enough.
Avoid distracting mannerisms (gum, nervous leg).
Make eye contact with Jury.
Be convincing and confident.
Be polite.
Testifying: Professionalism
Be on time. Know courtroom procedure (where to go, how to be sworn in). Look like you've been there before. Be serious and avoid laughing. Do not lose your temper.
Testifying: Telling the Truth
Tell the truth.
Think before you speak.
Don’t volunteer information. Answer the questions and wait for the next.
Do not exaggerate.
If you don’t know/remember say so.
If you make a mistake, admit it and correct it.
Speak positively, avoid “I think” and “I believe”.
Testifying: Outside Courtroom
Jurors and others can be in same public areas as you.
Must not discuss case with anyone outside courtroom.
Jurors can observe how you act outside courtroom.
Federal Rules of Evidence: Rule 401
Test for relevant evidence.
To be relevant, it must be reliable.
Evidence is relevant if:
a) it has tendency to make a fact more/less probable than without evidence.
b) the fact is of consequence in determining action.
Federal Rules of Evidence: Rule 402
General admissibility of relevant evidence.
Relevant evidence admissible unless the US constitution, federal statute, these rules, or other rules prescribed by the Supreme Court provides otherwise.
Irrelevant evidence not admissible.
Fry v. United States (1923)
Fry charged with murder.
At trial, defense tried to call expert witness to testify that Fry had passed polygraph test.
Expert testimony held inadmissible because test had not gained general acceptance in field.
Types of Witnesses
Lay witness.
Expert witness.
Law Witness
Any witness who is not an expert.
Victim, eyewitness, police officer, etc.
Expert Witness
A witness who has knowledge not normally possessed by the average person.
Fingerprint examiner, lab analyst, ballistics expert, medical examiner, etc.
Federal Rule of Evidence: Rule 701
Opinion testimony of lay witness.
If witness is not an expert, testimony in form of opinion is limited to one that is:
a) rationally based on the witness’s perception.
b) helpful to clearly understanding the witness’s testimony or determining a fact in issue.
c) not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge.
Permissible Lay Witness Opinions
What speed was car traveling?
How old did suspect appear to be?
In your opinion, was suspect drunk?
Did you recognize voice in the next room?
Federal Rule of Evidence: Rule 702
Testimony by expert witness.
Witness qualified by expert knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in opinion if:
a) expert’s scientific, technical, or otherwise specialized knowledge with help jury understand evidence or determine a fact in issue.
b) testimony based of sufficient facts or data.
c) testimony product of reliable principles/methods.
d) expert has reliably applied principles/methods to facts in case.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. (1993)
Set forth non-exclusive checklist for trial courts to use in assessing reliability of scientific expert testimony.
Specific factors considered by judges are:
1) has expert testimony been tested, if it can be challenged objectively, or is it simply subjective or conclusory and cannot be assessed for reliability.
2) technique or theory subject to peer review/publication.
3) the known or potential rate of error of technique/theory when applied.
4) existence and maintenance of standars/controls.
5) technique/theory generally accepted in scientific community.
Expert Testimony: Admissibility
Not all specific Daubert factors can apply to every type of expert testimony.
Judges are the “gatekeepers” to exclude unreliable expert testimony.
Judge must decide on case-by-case basis.
Rejection of expert testimony exception rather than rule.
Daubert Standard Questions
What is basic theory being tested?
Standards controlling technique?
Theory/technique subjected to peer review/publication?
Known or potential error rate?
General acceptance of theory?
Expert accounted for alternative explanations?
Expert unjustifiably extrapolated from accepted premise to unfounded conclusion?
Use of Daubert Standard
Many states use the Daubert standard, but there are still some that rely on Fry.
Qualifying as an Expert Witness
Must be competent in subject matter.
May be qualified through knowledge, skill, practical experience, training, education, or a combination of these factors.
Minimally must know underlying methodology/procedures employed/relied upon as basis of opinion.
Background knowledge includes state of the art technology, literature review, experience creating opinion based on reasonable scientific certainty.
Voir Dire: Definition
Courtroom process where each side asks expert witness to qualify him/her in the eyes of the court.
Notice must be given to court and opposing counsel before trial that expert witness will be called.
Upon completion, judge will rule whether witness qualifies as an expert.
Voir Dire: Questions
Name, occupation, place of employment, title, position, specialty, degrees where/when/what, licenses time, length, length of practice, certifications time/length, positions held time/length, duties.
Tests, examination details, number of times testified, publications, acknowledgements, awards, etc.
Ethics: Definition
The study of what constitutes good and bad behavior as they relate to a profession (police, lawyers, doctors, teachers).
Ethical standards are based on morals.
Morals: Definition
A set of rules defining what is considered to be right and wrong and accepted without questions by a society, group, or individual.
Common Statements Made About Forensic Community
Forensic scientists ethical by nature.
Not possible to teach ethics, either you are or not.
Topic of ethics boring and too philosophical.
Training will not make unethical person ethical.
Just explain right/wrong for given situation so dilemmas are not an issue.
Categories for Unethical Behavior
Corruption.
Misconduct.
Immoral Behavior.
Corruption: Definition
When officers accept money, goods, or services for actions they are sworn to do anyway (favoritism) or to not enforce the law (looking the other way).
Slippery Slope: Concept
Once one begins to deviate, they start small, but they begin to slide down a slope that leads to greater and more pronounce types of deviance.
Slippery Slope: Compromise Point
The of exposure means no going back.
Slippery Slope: Slope Progression Example
Free meals
Slippery Slope: Pyramid Progression Example
Gratuities
Noble Cause Corruption
Police cynicism may lead to feelings that certain illegal actions are acceptable achieve greater good.
Planting evidence, false testimony, falsifying reports.
Dirty Harry Syndrome.
Role of Internal Affairs
Investigate.
Adjudicate.
Discipline.