Forensics UNIT 1

1. The CSI effect is a phenomenon that is related to forensics media and jurors. It's a phenomenon where the inaccurate portrayal of forensic science and courtrooms in media such as shows like CSI, Law and Order etc. give jurors a skewed view of the courtrooms. In forensic science specifically it gives jurors a flawed perception of how much physical evidence is actually used in court and may make the jurors more likely to convict an individual of being guilty due to a “lack” of physical evidence when there was no need for physical evidence in the first place

2. The CSI effect has impacted courtrooms and forensics laboratories because it causes the jurors to want more physical evidence which could affect perfectly fine cases in court rooms and impact forensic laboratories.

3.  

4. Forensic Science is the application of science to matters of the law both civil and criminal law. 

5. Criminal Law: Public law, law concerning the punishment of criminals and crimes. Gov. v Private defendant, Beyond a reasonable doubt is burden of proof, results in fine, incarceration, restraining order etcs.

 Civil Law: Private law, Usually involves two companies/private parties. Is typically dealing with things like suing, marriages, divorce etc, usually part 1 v. party 2, usually resolved with money like financial compensation or in some cases a restraining order 

6. Reasons why there has been a growth in crime labs over the last 35-40 years: 

   1. Court rulings the 1960s required for more physical evidence in courtroom

   2. All drugs are required to be sent to labs for testing 

   3. More crimes are being committed in recent years

   4. DNA profiling has advanced

   5. Confessions do not hold as much significance

   6. Criminals are advised of their constitutional rights

7.  

8. Three major roles of a forensic scientists:

   1. Analyze physical evidence in a lab from crimes scenes, other scenes etc and present it in court

   2. Testify in court as an expert witness 

   3. Train others in the field

9. CSI/ Evidence technician roles: 

   1. Collect evidence from the crime scene and safely package it

   2. Provide expert testimony in court 

   3. Document the scene 

10. Frye standard: General acceptance rule for evidence court, evidence of scientific procedure to use the evidence has to be generally accepted by its respective scientific community in order to admitted in court

Daubert vs. Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals: Judge is the gatekeeper of the court and looks over the scientific evidence and takes a few things into consideration before admitting it:

1. Can technique or theory be tested

2. Has this technique or theory been peer reviewed 

3. Rate of error

4. Existence and maintenance of standards

5. Widespread acceptance within relevant scientific community 

Both helped solidify which evidence is to be admission in court

11.  His case is important because it tested the frye standard in court and how in works in cases with novel procedures being used such as the one in that case→ on appeal defense cited frye standard 

12. An expert witness is someone who has some sort of qualification to speak on a topic and gives their opinion in order to make a point about something in the case or help explain complex topics to the court. A lay witness is simply someone who was there when the crime was committed, they are typically brought in to provide testimony regarding just what they saw, they aren’t allowed to give any opinions and must stick to what they saw, heard etc. 

13. There are many factors that can interfere with a  witnesses memory, this may be their mental state, for example if they are scared they are most likely not going to remember that much or remember it in extreme accuracy because they were scared and not focusing on their surroundings, another could be if they discuss the event with another witness, this could cause their memory to get blended with the other witness or omit certain things because it was not validated by the other witnesse’s testimony, lineup issues can also affect a witness's memory as if the officer knows who the suspect is they may unintentionally signal the witness to choose tagt one or lighting in the pictures may cause a certain individual to stand out causing the witness to choose them, , if it has been a long time since the witness has recalled the event it may also affect their ability to remember everything.