Provisions of Expert Testimony/Professions

Who determines expert witnesses

Trial Courts

Expert witnesses

must convince judge they possess a skill, knowledge, to aid court to determine truth (court question determine competency)

Expert witnesses cannot

be absolutely, certain, high end opinion must defend

Functions of Forensic Scientists

Created evidence technicians to collect evidence
On call 24 hours
Assigned to lab for re-training

Forensic Pathology

Sudden, unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths
Medical examiner, coroner
who, what injuries, when, why, how injuries produced, cause of death)
Autopsy (natural, homicide, suicide, accident, undetermined)

Autopsy

Determines cause of death by looking and evaluating the stage of decomposition muscles tighten without shortening

Rigor mortis

Within 24 hrs, leaves after 36 hrs

Linor mortis

Blood pools closest to ground, skin turns dark blue or purple, immediate to 12 hrs

Algor mortis

Body temp continues to cool after death, 1-1.5 every hr till room temp, Potassium levels in ocular fluid

Forensic Anthropology

Responsible for examination and identification of skeletal remains

What does forensic anthropology used for

Slow to break down, determines origin, sex, age, race, skeletal injuries, used for facial reconstruction

Forensic Entomology

Study and identify insects related to criminal investigation, find time of death (consume organs, sensitive to environmental conditions)

Forensic Psychiatry

Determine if a person is competent to stand trial, state of mind prior to decision making

Forensic Odontology

Determine identification by dental records
Teeth are hardest substance, enamel

Forensic engineering

Failure analysis, accident reconstruction, causes, origins of fires