Chapter 6 Eyewitness Chapter 9 plea bargaining & juries

Eyewitness Misidentification

Leading cause of wrongful convictions in the US.

DNA Exoneration

Over 600 cases of wrongful convictions overturned.

Kirk Bloodsworth Case

First American on death row exonerated by DNA.

Memory Reconstruction

Memories are not recorded but reconstructed.

Trace Evidence

Memory is akin to trace evidence in investigations.

Holistic Face Processing

Faces are perceived as whole, not individual features.

Composite Sketches

Difficult to create due to holistic processing.

Eyewitness Evidence Value

Depends on strength and collection of memory.

Post-Event Information

Can contaminate and alter eyewitness memories.

Eyewitness Role Steps

Perceive, store, retrieve, and communicate information.

Expectations Influence Perception

Life experiences affect environmental interpretation.

Multiple Eyewitnesses

36% of cases had more than one eyewitness.

Jennifer Thompson Case

Famous wrongful conviction due to eyewitness error.

Contamination of Memory

Memories degrade and change over time.

Eyewitness Identification Errors

Errors can occur frequently and are preventable.

Innocence Project

Organization focused on DNA exoneration cases.

Eyewitness Testimony

Critical in legal settings but often unreliable.

Memory Collection

Proper collection is essential for reliable evidence.

Environmental Perception

Influenced by personal expectations and experiences.

Eyewitness Identification Frequency

High frequency of errors in identification processes.

Estimator Variables

Uncontrollable factors affecting eyewitness accuracy.

System Variables

Controllable factors influencing eyewitness identification.

Short Exposure

Limited time seeing the perpetrator reduces accuracy.

Poor Lighting

Insufficient light conditions impair eyewitness recall.

Presence of Weapon

Weapons can distract and distort eyewitness memory.

High Arousal

Increased stress levels negatively impact memory accuracy.

Cross-Race Bias

Difficulty identifying individuals of different races.

Long Delay

Time gap between event and recall decreases accuracy.

Witness Intoxication

Substance influence can impair memory reliability.

Distance

Physical separation from the event affects recall.

Lack of Attention

Inattentiveness during the event leads to errors.

Lineup Purpose

Memory test to gather more investigative information.

Recognition Task

Lineup assesses recognition, not reasoning skills.

Lineup Best Practices

Guidelines to improve accuracy in identification procedures.

Filler Selection

Fillers must match suspect's description for fairness.

Clothing Bias

Suspect's clothing should differ from witness description.

Manson v. Braithwaite

Landmark case assessing identification procedure reliability.

Reliability Factors

Confidence, viewing opportunity, and attention level assessed.

Witness Confidence

High confidence correlates with accurate identifications.

Post-Identification Feedback

Feedback can alter witness confidence post-identification.

Decision Speed

Quick decisions from fair lineups indicate reliability.

Contamination Awareness

Recognize factors that can taint eyewitness evidence.

Identification Errors

No procedure guarantees elimination of innocent selections.

Plea Bargaining

Process where defendants plead guilty for benefits.

6th Amendment

Guarantees rights in criminal trials, including jury.

7th Amendment

Ensures right to jury in civil cases.

Guilty Pleas

97% of federal cases resolved by guilty pleas.

Innocence Problem

Issue of innocent defendants pleading guilty.

National Registry of Exonerations

Tracks exonerated individuals, including guilty pleas.

Waivers of Rights

Must be voluntary and informed to be valid.

Brady v. United States

Case establishing standards for waiving rights.

Plea Discount

Benefits like dropped charges for pleading guilty.

Defendant Guilt

Guilty defendants more likely to plead guilty.

Attorney Advice

Defendants often follow attorneys' recommendations.

Social Factors

Influences like authority and pressure affect pleas.

Defendant Factors

Developmental level and impulsivity impact plea decisions.

Jury

Citizens rendering impartial verdicts in court cases.

Jury Pool Eligibility

Requirements include citizenship and age over 18.

Trial Process

Includes arrest, filings, grand jury, and sentencing.

Pre-Trial

Phase before trial involving motions and hearings.

Grand Jury

Group reviewing evidence to decide on charges.

Sentencing

Consequences imposed after a guilty verdict.

Reduced Stress

One benefit of plea bargaining for defendants.

Faster Resolution

Plea bargaining leads to quicker case outcomes.

Grand Jury

Decides if prosecution is warranted, issues indictments.

Indictment

Formal charge issued by a grand jury.

Fifth Amendment

Requires grand jury for federal felony cases.

Civil Jury

Decides liability and damages in civil cases.

Criminal Jury

Determines guilt in criminal trials.

Bifurcated Jury

Separate jury phases for guilt and penalty.

Mitigating Evidence

Factors that may lessen a defendant's sentence.

Aggravating Evidence

Factors that may increase a defendant's sentence.

Venire

Group of potential jurors summoned for selection.

Voir Dire

Process of questioning jurors to assess biases.

Challenges for Cause

Excusal of jurors based on specific biases.

Peremptory Challenges

Excusal of jurors without stated reasons.

Limited Voir Dire

Brief questioning of jurors, few yes/no questions.

Expansive Voir Dire

In-depth questioning of jurors, includes open-ended questions.

Batson v. Kentucky

Prohibits racial discrimination in jury selection.

Powers v. Ohio

Prohibits systematic exclusion of Black jurors.

Edmonson v. Leesville

Extends Batson to civil jury selection.

Georgia v. McCollum

Extends Batson to defense jury selection.

J.E.B. v. Alabama

Extends Batson to gender discrimination.

First Amendment

Protects freedom of speech and press.

Change of Venue

Moving trial to another location for impartiality.

Continuance

Postponement of trial proceedings.