Chapter 2 Evidence

Draw (or list) as many details as you can about the suspect I just showed you.

Testimonial Evidence “In a 1977 study of more than 2,000 lineups, of the 45% of potential offenders who were “recognized” 82% were convicted. In 347 cases, where eye witness testimony was the only evidence, 74% were convicted. Another report in 1983, showed that jurors relied more on eyewitness testimony than on fingerprint evidence.”

Testimonial Evidence New information can influence memory –Viewing mug shots –Being asked leading questions Important points to consider when checking the reliability of eyewitness testimony include –The type of crime and how the witness saw it Witnesses are accurate in remembering sex and hair color, but, age, height, and specific race should be questioned. Ant type of stress tends to narrow the focus, closing out secondary information Victims of serious crimes tend to relive the crimes over and over and tend to be more accurate over long periods of time

Testimonial Evidence –Some witness are better at remembering than others. Adults are better than are children Older adults with poor eyesight or hearing problems are less accurate than middle-aged or younger adults. Learning disabilities, mental disorders, alcohol or drugs, and head injury are all factors that can weaken both memory and the ability to recall the information –How information is being retrieved or the interviewing techniques can influence the accuracy of the witness. Witnesses are better at answering questions about what happened than giving an accurate description Open-ended questions get better answers. –What was the offender wearing rather than what color the shirt was.

Testimonial Evidence Other factors to consider –What was the relationship between the witness and the offender and did the witness all ready know the offender –How much time passed between the offense and the identification –Did the witness already identify or did he fail to identify the defendant –Did the witness identify someone else

Classification of Physical Evidence More reliable than testimonial evidence Indirect evidence: does not prove a fact Trace evidence Circumstantial evidence: implies a fact or event without proving it

Processing physical evidence discovering, recognizing and examining it; collecting, recording and identifying it; packaging, conveying and storing it; exhibiting it in court; disposing of it when the case is closed.

Probability and Class Evidence Activity on page 59.

Crime-Scene Reconstruction Forensic scientist participate in a team effort to reconstruct events that have taken place prior, during, and subsequent to the commission of a crime. The physical evidence left at a crime scene plays a crucial role in reconstructing the events that took place.

Crime-Scene Reconstruction Reconstruction supports a likely sequence of events by the observation and evaluation of physical evidence, as well as statements made by witnesses and those involved with the incident.