CRJU 481: Forensic Evidence.

Prerequisites: CRJU 241 or CRJU 341

Credit Hours: (3) Three hours lecture/lab

This course is designed to introduce the student to the major concepts of law and evidence. The topics for discussion will include, but are not limited to: kinds of evidence, burden of proof, admission and exclusion of evidence, relevancy, witnesses, documentary evidence, judicial notice, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, and the best evidence rule. Students will be assigned a mock trial project.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

(1) The Expert Witness in the Judicial Process

            (a) Lawyers vs. Scientists

            (b) Dilemmas of Experts - working with the legal codes

            (c) Facts vs. opinions - where to draw the line

(2) Analysis to fit the evidence

            (a) Drugs and alcohol

            (b) Trace analysis

            (c) Serology - DNA

            (d) Pattern Evidence

(3) Modern instrumentation in the courtroom

            (a) Mass spectrometry

            (b) Infrared spectroscopy

            (c) Elemental analysis

            (d) Computers and lasers

(4) Comparison Evidence - What makes an expert?

            (a) Personal identification

            (b) Document analysis

            (c) Impressions and fingerprints

(5) New and Controversial Techniques

            (a) Polygraph

            (b) Voice analysis

            (c) Hypnosis and psychological evaluations

            (d) "Current" issue topics

(6) Admissibility of Evidence

            (a) Scientists (expert) view

            (b) Legal view

            (c) Is Frye still an acceptable criteria?

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course will be taught by lecture, lab, and discussion. The lab work will involve experiments designed to introduce the student to the discussed methods of analysis and instrumentation.

This will also provide an introduction to the reliability, "court useability," and limitations   of the analysis or method. The student will have outside assigned readings from technical journals, forensic journals, and legal works. Each student will be required to write a paper on a current scientific-legal issue. The student must focus on the evaluation of the issue and take and support a position based on class information and research. The student will present his results to the class.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Having successfully completed this course, the student will:

(1) have hands-on experience with laboratory methods and techniques similar to those used in a forensic lab.

(2) have a better understanding of the complexities of mixing the scientific community with the legal community.

(3) have the necessary background to evaluate issues confronting both the legal and scientific communities when forensic evidence is used.

(4) have a broad use of legal and technical literature.

(5) be a more productive participant in the current justice system so that they better deal with a world of rapidly changing technology.

(6) have a better understanding of the position of the expert witness.

Assessment Measures

(1) Examinations: The student will take three tests and one comprehensive final exam.

(2) Paper: Each student will write a paper in which they take a position on a current topic or issue in Forensic Science. A portion of the paper grade will be how well they support their opinion.

(3) Presentation: This will be a more extensive presentation of the student's position on his chosen topic. The student will have a "taste" of how an expert must defend his results and conclusions.

Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval

September 2001, Reviewed by Dr. Isaac Van Patten, Department Chair