Week 1: Overview Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the innocence project and the general stats

A

People volunteer their time to investigate cases of suspected wrongful convictions.

367 cases of proven innocence highlighting the worth of this investigation - in approx 50% of these cases, the real perpetrator was caught. 70% were black/Hispanic. 21 people released from death row.

These people averaged 14 years in prison - each wrongful conviction deprived an innocent person of a significant proportion of their lives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why isn’t DNA a safeguard against miscarriages of justice?

A

DNA is simply not available for most cases. Only certain types of crimes will provide genetic evidence (crimes that involve relatively close interpersonal contact - which lots don’t meaning chances of DNA is slim)

When we do get DNA, often it is not sufficient enough to allow for testing as you need large samples.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the most persuasive form of evidence?

A

Eyewitness identification

Can result in wrongful convictions and is the leading cause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why do people confess to crimes they did not commit?

A
  • interviewing techniques
  • psychological factors
    Both prompt an innocent person to confess
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Explain white coat syndrome?

A

Most people are aware that they aren’t experts- so they refer to an authority figure (scientist) who aren’t always great at presenting information.
This is a problem for communicating and interpreting evidence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly