Expert Report Writing - Advanced Forensic Science

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the legal definitions, reporting requirements, and standardized terminology used by expert witnesses in forensic science as detailed in the course materials.

Expert Witness

A person who is required to give or prepare expert evidence for the purpose of criminal proceedings, as defined by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 Part 19.

Layman’s Terms

The essential art of scientific communication used to ensure reports are simple and easy to understand by everyone in court.

Statement of Truth

A declaration incorporated in a report where the author states they believe the content is true, understanding they are liable to prosecution for wilfully stating false information.

s9 Criminal Justice Act 1967

A provision under which expert evidence can be adduced in court by means of a document called a statement.

s30 Criminal Justice Act 1988

A provision for adducing expert evidence that does not prescribe any particular format or content requirements for an expert's report.

Disclosure: Expert’s evidence and unused material

A guidance booklet detailing the roles and responsibilities of an expert witness in relation to revelation.

Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996

The act that requires experts to comply with duties to record, retain, and reveal material, often managed through a Disclosure Index.

Technical Issues Section

The part of the report providing explanations of the tests used to produce results, which may be placed in an appendix if long or complicated.

Interpretation

The section where the scientist puts findings into words based on defined Prosecution and Defence views or propositions.

Conclusion Scale

A hierarchical scale used when evidence is not conclusive, ranging from: limited, moderate, moderately strong, strong, very strong, and extremely strong.

Consistent

A term criticized by the Courts because it sounds significant but means little; experts are advised to avoid its use.

SFR1 (Level 1 Streamlined Forensic Report)

A summary of an expert's evidence served to obtain agreement from the defence; it is not intended to be used as evidence in court.

SFR2 (Level 2 Streamlined Forensic Report)

A streamlined report intended to be used as evidence that must comply with Rule 19.4 CrimPR and Criminal Practice Directions.

Objective

One of the three components of the expert's duty to the court, alongside being unbiased and working within an area of expertise.

Limited (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of $1-10$.

Moderate (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of $10-100$.

Moderately strong (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of $100-1000$.

Strong (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of $1000-10,000$.

Very strong (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of $10,000-1,000,000$.

Extremely strong (Strength of Support)

A category on the likelihood ratio scale corresponding to numerical values of >1,000,000.