the nature of evidence a guide to legal evidence & the courts
TRANSCRIPT
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The Nature of Evidence
A Guide to Legal Evidence & the Courts
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Evidence: Any statement or object from which conclusions
can be drawn
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Circumstantial Evidence
Information that seems to point to a perpetrator, including witnesses & documents
Documents could be credit card receipts, telephone records or correspondence (mail or email)
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Physical Evidence
Actual objects that are associated with the crime & can be linked to the perpetrator
Can include blood, hair, fibers, DNA, etc.
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Class Evidence
Evidence that can be linked to a GROUP of people
Example: hair, fiber, blood type
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Individual Evidence
Evidence that can be linked to ONE individual person
Example: fingerprint, DNA
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“Discovery”
Each attorney is required to submit information regarding facts and expert information BEFORE the
trial. This includes a list of witnesses.
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Science Admissibility Standards
Frye Standard
Federal Standard
Daubert Versus Merrell Dow
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Frye StandardThe court must decide if the questioned scientific procedure, technique, or principles are “generally accepted” by a meaningful section of the scientific communityGeneral acceptance is usually shown through expert testimony, books/documents/articles, as well as prior judicial decisions
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Federal StandardMore flexible than Frye Standard
Does not rely only on “general acceptance”
Describes expert testimonyWitness is considered an “expert” based on knowledge, skill, experience or training
May testify if testimony is based on facts or data, reliable methods were used, and the expert applied them to the facts of the case
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Daubert vs Merrell DowLandmark Supreme Court ruling (1993)Judges in federal court must assume the role of “gatekeeper” in the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence
Has the technique or the theory been testedHas it been subject to peer review and publicationPotential rate of errorStandards controlling the techniqueWidespread acceptance within the scientific community
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Expert WitnessesAn individual whom the court determines possesses knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average person
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Laws & CrimesLaw: codes of behavior with penalties for infractionsCivil Law: lawsuits for injuries, traffic violations, contracts, punishable by fines Criminal Law: punishable by fines, jail time, community service, possible death
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CrimeViolation of a local, state, or federal law
Must have a “victim”, a “perpetrator” and a “crime scene”
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MisdemeanorMinor crime
Punishable by fines & jail time of less than one year
Examples: theft, minor assault, license violations
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FelonyMajor crime
Punishable by larger fines & time in prison
Examples: murder, rape, armed robbery, drugs, fraud, auto theft
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Locard’s Exchange Principle
Whenever 2 objects come in contact with one another, there is
an exchange of trace materials between them.