Expert Evidence And Scientific Proof In Criminal Trials

Author : Paul Roberts
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 664 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2017-07-05
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781351567404

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Expert Evidence and Scientific Proof in Criminal Trials by Paul Roberts Pdf

Forensic science evidence and expert witness testimony play an increasingly prominent role in modern criminal proceedings. Science produces powerful evidence of criminal offending, but has also courted controversy and sometimes contributed towards miscarriages of justice. The twenty-six articles and essays reproduced in this volume explore the theoretical foundations of modern scientific proof and critically consider the practical issues to which expert evidence gives rise in contemporary criminal trials. The essays are prefaced by a substantial new introduction which provides an overview and incisive commentary contextualising the key debates. The volume begins by placingforensic science in interdisciplinary focus, with contributions from historical, sociological, Science and Technology Studies (STS), philosophical and jurisprudential perspectives. This is followed by closer examination of the role of forensic science and other expert evidence in criminal proceedings, exposing enduring tensions and addressing recent controversies in the relationship between science and criminal law. A third set of contributions considers the practical challenges of interpreting and communicating forensic science evidence. This perennial battle continues to be fought at the intersection between the logic of scientific inference and the psychology of the fact-finder‘scommon sense reasoning. Finally, the volume‘s fourth group of essays evaluates the (limited) success of existing procedural reforms aimed at improving the reception of expert testimony in criminal adjudication, and considers future prospects for institutional renewal - with a keen eye to comparative law models and experiences, success stories and cautionary tales.

Author : Oriola Sallavaci
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 220 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2014-02-05
Category : Law
ISBN : 9781317910916

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The Impact of Scientific Evidence on the Criminal Trial by Oriola Sallavaci Pdf

This book explores challenges posed by the use of DNA evidence to the traditional features, procedures and principles of the criminal trial. It examines the limitations of existing theories of criminal trial processes in the face of increasing use of scientific evidence in the court room. The research elucidates the interconnections at trial of three epistemologies, namely legal reasoning, as represented by counsel and trial judge, common sense manifested by the jury and scientific reasoning expounded by the expert witness. Sallavaci argues that while scientific reasoning is part of this hybrid of trial languages and practices, its extended use is producing specifically novel tensions which impact on the traditional criminal trial landscape. Through the lens of DNA evidence, the book investigates how far the use of scientific evidence in the fact finding process poses challenges for the adversarial character of the proceedings and rules of evidence; how it affects the role of the judge, jury and expert witness, as well as the principle of orality and continuity of the trial. In comparing the challenges faced in English common law trials to those of the USA, this book has international scope, and will be of great use and interest to students and researchers of Criminal Law and Practice, Policing, and the role of Forensics in Law.

Author : Paul Roberts,Michael Stockdale
Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
Page : 464 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2018-11-30
Category : LAW
ISBN : 9781788111034

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Forensic Science Evidence and Expert Witness Testimony by Paul Roberts,Michael Stockdale Pdf

Forensic science evidence plays a pivotal role in modern criminal proceedings. Yet such evidence poses intense practical and theoretical challenges. It can be unreliable or misleading and has been associated with miscarriages of justice. In this original and insightful book, a global team of prominent scholars and practitioners explore the contemporary challenges of forensic science evidence and expert witness testimony from a variety of theoretical, practical and jurisdictional perspectives. Chapters encompass the institutional organisation of forensic science, its procedural regulation, evaluation and reform, and brim with comparative insight.

Author : Great Britain: Law Commission
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2011-03-22
Category : Law
ISBN : 010297117X

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Expert evidence in criminal proceedings in England and Wales by Great Britain: Law Commission Pdf

This project addressed the admissibility of expert evidence in criminal proceedings in England and Wales. Currently, too much expert opinion evidence is admitted without adequate scrutiny because no clear test is being applied to determine whether the evidence is sufficiently reliable to be admitted. Juries may therefore be reaching conclusions on the basis of unreliable evidence, as confirmed by a number of miscarriages of justice in recent years. Following consultation on a discussion paper (LCCP 190, 2009, ISDBN 9780118404655) the Commission recommends that there should be a new reliability-based admissibility test for expert evidence in criminal proceedings. The test would not need to be applied routinely or unnecessarily, but it would be applied in appropriate cases and it would result in the exclusion of unreliable expert opinion evidence. Under the test, expert opinion evidence would not be admitted unless it was adjudged to be sufficiently reliable to go before a jury. The draft Criminal Evidence (Experts) Bill published with the report (as Appendix A) sets out the admissibility test and also provides the guidance judges would need when applying the test, setting out the key reasons why an expert's opinion evidence might be unreliable. The Bill also codifies (with slight modifications) the uncontroversial aspects of the present law, so that all the admissibility requirements for expert evidence would be set out in a single Act of Parliament and carry equal authority.

Author : Edward J. Imwinkelried
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 538 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : Evidence, Expert
ISBN : STANFORD:36105063901222

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The Methods of Attacking Scientific Evidence by Edward J. Imwinkelried Pdf

Author : Liz Heffernan
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 1071 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2021-02-10
Category : Law
ISBN : 9781526511485

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Evidence in Criminal Trials by Liz Heffernan Pdf

Shortlisted for DSBA Law Book of the Year Award 2020 Evidence in Criminal Trials is the first Irish textbook devoted exclusively to the subject of criminal evidence. This popular title provides comprehensive, detailed coverage of law and practice on the admissibility of evidence, the presentation of evidence in court and the pre-trial gathering and disclosure of evidence. The work combines analysis of traditional evidentiary doctrine with discussion of its application in practice and takes account of policy development and reform. The subject of evidence is discussed in the broader context of fundamental rights protection under the Constitution, the ECHR and EU law. This updated and extended second edition captures the many significant changes in the law of criminal evidence in recent years. The role of vulnerable witnesses in court proceedings is explored in new chapters on children and vulnerable adults, complainants in sexual offence trials, and victims of crime. The landmark Supreme Court decision in DPP v JC is analysed in an extended chapter on unlawfully obtained evidence and important case law developments relating to confessions and the right to silence are discussed in a detailed chapter on pre-trial interviews with suspects. Other chapters explore the case law of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on testimony, corroboration, technological evidence, privilege and disclosure. The Law Reform Commission's recommendations in its 2016 Report on Consolidation and Reform of Aspects of the Law of Evidence are considered in the book's discussion of hearsay and expert evidence. This book will appeal to individuals working and studying in the areas of criminal law and evidence. It will be essential reading for legal practitioners, academics and law students and it will be of interest to others engaged with criminal justice and the court system.

Author : Petra T. C. Kampen
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 446 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : Evidence, Criminal
ISBN : UOM:35112202541993

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Expert Evidence Compared by Petra T. C. Kampen Pdf

In modern criminal trials, expert evidence often plays an important role. The question as to the guilt of the defendant is often contingent upon the results of DNA analysis, polygraphs, hair comparisons, and other forensic science techniques. At the same time, through a wide variety of problems inherent to the collection and production of such evidence, the use of expert evidence in criminal litigation is often highly problematical. The vast range of problems that have been identified over the years, and the manifest presence of these problems in some of the more notorious 'miscarriages of justice' have made expert evidence one of the most debated topics in legal literature today. Many believe that in this particular field, criminal justice systems are in dire need of legal reform. This study attempts to contribute to this debate through an analysis and comparison of two legal systems that each employ a different method for expert involvement. The study seeks to identify the similarities and differences in how different legal systems deal with expert evidence. Additionally it seeks to establish what the experiences of one country can bring to another for the purpose of enhancing the cornerstone of criminal litigation: the concept of procedural fairness.

Author : Alan D. Gold
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 275 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Law
ISBN : 1552211703

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Expert Evidence in Criminal Law by Alan D. Gold Pdf

Contains all the principles and knowledge needed to expose bogus experts and junk science and to reduce inflated expert evidence to its proper valuation.

Author : Andre A. Moenssens,Fred Edward Inbau,James E. Starrs
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 876 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 1986
Category : Law
ISBN : UCAL:B4964989

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Scientific Evidence in Criminal Cases by Andre A. Moenssens,Fred Edward Inbau,James E. Starrs Pdf

Author : Carol A. G. Jones
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 1994
Category : Evidence, Expert
ISBN : STANFORD:36105005150672

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Expert Witnesses by Carol A. G. Jones Pdf

This book is the first socio-legal analysis of the role of experts in the legal process, focusing on the role played by expert witnesses in the pre-trial construction of legal cases. It examines the history of forensic science in terms of its cooptation by the law as an aid to advocacy. Given recent concerns about the reliability of forensic evidence in criminal cases, the book is especially topical. Its argument is that, far from being 'abnormal' or 'deviant' science, forensic science in these cases of 'miscarriages of justice' represents a normal practice of science and a typical practice of science in the harness of the law. In some respects, our recent disillusionment with forensic science stems from a wider loss of faith in the promise of modernity - science no longer may be relied upon to provide us with the certainties we seek in order to construct our everyday lives. In one sense, therefore, our loss of confidence in forensic science and the criminal justice system is part of a more profound malaise. This book examines the various options available to us and analyses the ways in which the legal system has, in the past as in the present, sought to redeem its role as a primary means of truth-finding and deliverer of certainty. The book contains new material on the history of science and law as well as drawing upon empirical data and observational study to demonstrate the 'behind the scenes' links between, and pre-trial practices of, lawyers and scientists. It argues that recent attempts to resolve our crisis of confidence in forensic science by moving towards an 'independent' forensic science service are misguided and will eventually lead to 'state closure' of forensic services.As an alternative to this scenario, the author proposes a mixed economy of forensic services, comprising a strong freelance/university sector to off-set the present virtual monopoly by the State. Its analysis and proposals should be of interest to anyone interested in the findings of the Royal Commission on the Criminal Justice System.

Author : C. Michael Bowers
Publisher : Academic Press
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2013-09-07
Category : Law
ISBN : 9780123972606

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Forensic Testimony by C. Michael Bowers Pdf

Forensic Testimony: Science, Law and Expert Evidence—favored with an Honorable Mention in Law & Legal Studies at the Association of American Publishers' 2015 PROSE Awards—provides a clear and intuitive discussion of the legal presentation of expert testimony. The book delves into the effects, processes, and battles that occur in the presentation of opinion and scientific evidence by court-accepted forensic experts. It provides a timely review of the United States Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) regarding expert testimony, and includes a multi-disciplinary look at the strengths and weaknesses in forensic science courtroom testimony. The statutes and the effects of judicial uses (or non-use) of the FRE, Daubert, Kumho, and the 2009 NAS Report on Forensic Science are also included. The presentation expands to study case law, legal opinions, and studies on the reliability and pitfalls of forensic expertise in the US court system. This book is an essential reference for anyone preparing to give expert testimony of forensic evidence. Honorable Mention in the 2015 PROSE Awards in Law & Legal Studies from the Association of American Publishers A multi-disciplinary forensic reference examining the strengths and weaknesses of forensic science in courtroom testimony Focuses on forensic testimony and judicial decisions in light of the Federal Rules of Evidence, case interpretations, and the NAS report findings Case studies, some from the Innocence Project, assist the reader in distinguishing good testimony from bad

Author : National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Commission on Life Sciences,Committee on DNA Forensic Science: An Update
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 271 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 1997-01-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309121941

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The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence by National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Commission on Life Sciences,Committee on DNA Forensic Science: An Update Pdf

In 1992 the National Research Council issued DNA Technology in Forensic Science, a book that documented the state of the art in this emerging field. Recently, this volume was brought to worldwide attention in the murder trial of celebrity O. J. Simpson. The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence reports on developments in population genetics and statistics since the original volume was published. The committee comments on statements in the original book that proved controversial or that have been misapplied in the courts. This volume offers recommendations for handling DNA samples, performing calculations, and other aspects of using DNA as a forensic toolâ€"modifying some recommendations presented in the 1992 volume. The update addresses two major areas: Determination of DNA profiles. The committee considers how laboratory errors (particularly false matches) can arise, how errors might be reduced, and how to take into account the fact that the error rate can never be reduced to zero. Interpretation of a finding that the DNA profile of a suspect or victim matches the evidence DNA. The committee addresses controversies in population genetics, exploring the problems that arise from the mixture of groups and subgroups in the American population and how this substructure can be accounted for in calculating frequencies. This volume examines statistical issues in interpreting frequencies as probabilities, including adjustments when a suspect is found through a database search. The committee includes a detailed discussion of what its recommendations would mean in the courtroom, with numerous case citations. By resolving several remaining issues in the evaluation of this increasingly important area of forensic evidence, this technical update will be important to forensic scientists and population geneticistsâ€"and helpful to attorneys, judges, and others who need to understand DNA and the law. Anyone working in laboratories and in the courts or anyone studying this issue should own this book.

Author : Mike Redmayne
Publisher : Oxford University Press on Demand
Page : 223 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Law
ISBN : 0198267800

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Expert Evidence and Criminal Justice by Mike Redmayne Pdf

As an increasing range of expert evidence becomes available to it, the criminal justice system must answer a series of challenging questions: should experts be permitted to give evidence on the credibility of witnesses? How should statistical evidence be presented to juries? What relevancedoes syndrome evidence have to questions of criminal responsibility? In `Expert Evidence and Criminal Justice', Mike Redmayne explores these issues. His exposition utilizes work in a number of disciplines, and draws comparisons with the law and procedure in several different jurisdictions. Whiledeveloping a general overview of the use of scientific evidence in the criminal process, Redmayne makes use of detailed examinations of particular issues, such as battered women syndrome, fingerprinting, and eyewitness expertise. Through an analysis of expert evidence, he also invites reflection ona series of wider issues, among them the function of exclusionary rules and the nature of case construction.

Author : Ian R. Freckelton,Jane Goodman-Delahunty,Jacqueline Horan,Blake McKimmie
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2016
Category : Law
ISBN : 0198746342

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Expert Evidence and Criminal Jury Trials by Ian R. Freckelton,Jane Goodman-Delahunty,Jacqueline Horan,Blake McKimmie Pdf

With expert evidence used more and more often in criminal jury cases, evaluation of its admissibility and presentation is being increasingly thrust into the spotlight. However, jury room secrecy has long prevented a rigorous analysis of its complexities. Expert Evidence and Criminal Jury Trials draws on an unprecedented study carried out in Commonwealth jurisdictions which have recently granted access to jurors, offering a unique exploration of the presentation and comprehension of expert evidence in criminal jury trials and a critical perspective on parallel UK processes. The authors combine empirical research conducted in the courtroom with expert academic analysis, examining, analysing, and comparing the views of not only real jurors, but also courtroom lawyers, judges, and experts across over 50 trials to gauge how complex and sometimes conflicting expert evidence is perceived and understood by all parties. Examples of modern technologies used in expert evidence, including DNA analysis and facial and body-mapping, are considered, and discussion of the challenges they pose covers not only issues of procedure and approach, but also perceptual issues and those of cognitive evaluation. This innovative study aims to facilitate a broader understanding of the use of expert evidence, what problems exist with it, and how such problems influence the communication of information to jurors. While the survey that informs the book relates to criminal trials in three Australian jurisdictions, the legal and psychological issues explored transcend national boundaries, allowing this book to fill a gap in the market for a practical discussion of expert evidence and its use that will be relevant to practitioners in any jurisdiction which utilises an adversarial trial system or juries in criminal trials.

Author : John M. Conley,Jane Campbell Moriarty
Publisher : Aspen Publishing
Page : 614 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2022-10-27
Category : Law
ISBN : 9781543819625

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Scientific and Expert Evidence by John M. Conley,Jane Campbell Moriarty Pdf

The purchase of this ebook edition does not entitle you to receive access to the Connected eBook on CasebookConnect. You will need to purchase a new print book to get access to the full experience including: lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities, plus an outline tool and other helpful resources. Using representative cases, comprehensible scientific readings, and the authors’ insightful introductions and explanatory notes, Scientific and Expert Evidence provides a comprehensive treatment of the law and science relating to scientific and expert evidence. The Third Edition provides more explanation of scientific concepts and full coverage of recent scientific and legal developments, but in a shorter book that focuses more intensively on core legal issues. New to the Third Edition: An entirely redesigned chapter covering developments in Opinion Evidence, including new cases exploring the complexity and boundaries of expert evidence that are suitable for student projects A fully redesigned chapter on Social Science, Behavioral Science, and Neuroscience, with new cases and commentary Inclusion of cutting-edge cases that highlight courts’ growing recognition of the importance of scientific accuracy in the areas of eyewitness identification, false confession, and child sexual abuse evidence A reorganized and more tightly focused treatment of forensic science, with excerpts from national science organizations focusing on accuracy and reliability of pattern matching evidence and the problems that still remain Full coverage of evolving DNA science, including the “database mining” approach to cold cases, continuing developments in the statistical analysis of matches, and the vanishing notion of “junk” DNA Elucidation of the sometimes-conflicting legal and scientific ideas of causation and proof, including updated cases involving toxic exposures and medical devices Additional cases involving economic analysis in evidence, coupled with expanded explanatory notes Updated exposition of the current state of the law of scientific evidence An expanded explanation of basic statistical concepts, with additional examples and illustrations Professors and students will benefit from: Complex issues presented clearly and concisely A consistent and logical internal chapter organization and pedagogy Accessible but not simplistic discussion of statistics and DNA chapters The exploration of the differences and synergies of legal and scientific methods and goals A new case in Chapter 2 that permits students to pull together multiple concepts in FRE 702 and the Daubert trilogy, perfect for a written assignment or classroom discussion The easiest Rubik's Cube solution is available in many languages. Learn it quickly memorizing only a few algorithms.