Midterm Exam Chapters 1-4 Flashcards
Definition of Investigation
a search for the truth
What do investigators bring to the table?
- Reason, experience, dedication
- Biases, preconceptions, cognitive limitations, personal motivations
- context : pressure to “figure it all out”
What is Goudge Inquiry (2008)
- State of forensic pathology in Ontario
- Avoiding errors that produced wrongful convictions
- Chief tenet: think truth (vs. think dirty)
- Importance of evidence based approach and collecting all evidence
What is the difference between an informant and witness?
Witness: someone who was present at a place where they personally observed/experienced something relevant to the commission of a crime and who volunteers info
Informant: someone who gives information to the police for something in return, for example immunity/money
Definition of witness
Witness: someone who was present at a place where they personally observed/experienced something relevant to the commission of a crime and who volunteers info
Definition of informant
Informant: someone who gives information to the police for something in return, for example immunity/money
What are the 2 factors of the Canada evidence act?
- Competence
2. Compellability
What is competence?
It means being legally permitted to testify
Excludes: certain medical conditions
What is compellability?
It is the ability of the state to require a person to testify in court proceeding
Excludes:
Legally married spouses
Any conflict with the right against self incrimination (Charter, s. 11)
Definition of confidential informant (CI)
an informant who has been given an assurance of confidentiality
Definition of agent
someone who, directed by police, meets with people thought to be involved in the crime and reports back
What’s the first thing you should do when arriving at a call?
make sure its safe
What does the Canada Evidence Act do?
Canada Evidence Act determines whether an individual will be permitted or compelled to testify
Morris v The Queen
nothing should be admitted into evidence unless it is relevant to the charge
What is admissible?
Facts within witnesses own knowledge, observation, and experience
What is inadmissible?
- Hearsay evidence
- Opinion evidence (some expectations)
- Expert witnesses and evidence- exception to opinion ban
- No opinions regarding mindset or intention of accused
What is the primary objective of an investigation?
elicit information
What is active listening?
- Eye contact
- Nodding your head, smiling, agreeing
- Leaning forward
- Not interrupting
- Restating what was said
Definition of Statement
permanent record of a witness’s observations
Definition of Disclosure
process in which the Crown is required to reveal its evidence to the defence
What did R v Stinchombe do?
Crown obligated to provide defence with relevant evidence
Since a witness statement is not evidence and cannot be read in court, what would you need the witness to do instead?
Witness would need to take the stand
Where may you be more likely to get a confession?
Outside of the interview room
What should you make sure you do with the recording device in order to ensure it isn’t used against you in court?
Make sure recording device is shown
Definition of Hypnosis
technique that puts subject into a trancelike state in which the subjects actions and responses are under the hypnotists control
What is encoding specificity?
how much we remember is based on the similarity of conditions between the event and memory retrieval
What is misleading post event information?
memories are distorted by information acquired after the original memory formed
What are the 4 typical flaws in modern interview techniques?
1) Too many closed or leading questions
2) Not giving witnesses time to answer questions
3) Frequent interruption of witness
4) Not encouraging witnesses to recall information