Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1 1 Forensics Day Two! What do you...

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 11

Forensics Day Two! What do you perceive?

What do you perceive?


Day Two Objectives

define observation and describe what changes occur in the brain between perception and observation.

describe examples of factors influencing eyewitness accounts of events

compare the reliability of eyewitness testimony with what actually happened

relate observation skills to their use in forensic science define forensic science practice and improve your observation skills


Your brain and perception…scene from Perception

The brain is elastic…changeable…based on experiences and maturation.

Cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla Cerebrum: right and left hemispheres, frontal

lobe


Forensic Friday Case Study…two eye-witnesses separated from a week apart…two different suspects for one crime?

awareness test 1.flv.mp4


Awareness test

Please record what you observe.


How to be a Good Observer How to be a Good Observer

Observe systematically— Start at one part of a crime scene and run

your eyes slowly over every space.

Slowly look at every part of a piece of evidence.

Do not assume that later on you will be able to remember everything.



Turn off filters—

Do not pay attention to only what you think is important.

On a crime scene you will not know what will turn out to be important.

Make a conscious effort to pay attention to all the details in your surroundings.



Leave the final interpretation of data until later—

Do look for patterns and make connections. But the more information obtained, the better

will be the interpretations. Remember that eyewitness accounts and

your own thinking can include prejudices.



Documentation, documentation, documentation—

It is important to write down and photograph as much information as possible.

Keep in mind that memory is faulty. Remember that our brains tend to auto-

matically fill in gaps in our perceptions.


CSI Scene

Let the evidence speak!


Case Study: Forensic Friday

Summary of case in your own words How it relates to chapter one Forensic flaws noted Questions you have Evidence found and used


Ray Crone Video


Case Study example: Ray Crone’s conviction

he was wrongfully convicted of the brutal murder of a cocktail waitress at a downtown Phoenix bar.

In 1995, he received a new trial, but then was reconvicted based almost completely on the word of a bite-mark expert who nine other forensic dentists said was wrong.

crime lab technician Scott Piette, who for some reason never tested hair, blood and fingerprints taken from the crime scene that were left by the man now believed to have committed the murder, Kenneth Phillips, who is already in prison for other violent sex crimes.

Even the judge, who gave Krone life imprisonment instead of the death penalty he had received at the conclusion of his first trial, was aware something was wrong:

"The court is left with a residual or lingering doubt about the clear identity of the killer," Superior Court Judge James McDougall wrote after sentencing.

It took six more years before a judge forced the police and prosecutors to turn over evidence in the case for retesting.


Observations in Forensics Observations in Forensics

Study situations. Find clues in ordinary details. Work backwards from the evidence to

what led up to the crime. Be patient. Practice.


Case Study

Calvin Willis…the Wronged man. Please read the article. Discuss with the case with the person next to you: Summary of case in your own words How it relates to chapter one Forensic flaws noted Questions you have Evidence found and used


Homework

Please read chapter one over the weekend. Take notes by expanding your learning in class and completing the objectives of chapter one.


The Innocence Project

Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, starting in 1992, use DNA to examine post-conviction cases.

The project has found that up to 87% of the wrongful convictions they discovered were due to faulty eyewitness identifications.

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1 1 Forensics Day Two! What do you...

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