Browsing by Subject "criminal justice"
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Item The Admission of Scientific Evidence in a Post-Crawford World(Minnesota Journal of Law, Science and Technology, 2013-07-01) Nielson, EricThe goal of this Note is to evaluate the requirements for admitting scientific evidence in criminal cases. Part I discusses Confrontation Clause case law since Ohio v. Roberts, ex-amines the standards for the admission of scientific evidence, and considers the weaknesses of cross-examination and eye-witness testimony. Part II discusses actions that can be taken to improve the quality of scientific information available to defense attorneys, prosecutors, the courts, and the public. This Note concludes that holding scientific evidence to the Daubert v. Merrel Dow Pharmacueticals, Inc. standard, coupled with public disclosure, facilitates the just and effective operation of our criminal justice system.Item American Indians and the Criminal Justice System in Minnesota.(Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota, 1979) Benjamin, Roger; Nam Kim, ChoongItem Assessment of Restorative Justice Outcomes.(1999) Dowling, MatthewItem Effectiveness of the Automated Probation Reporting System (APRS) Pilot Project. Final Report.(1995) Fleischman, William A; Hamlin, John E; Swenson, David XItem How America's Public Safety System Hurts Our Democracy(2013-04-30) Weaver, Vesla; Uggen, ChrisItem Jury Profiling Survey: Sexual Assault Cases.(1988) Ollenburger, Jane C; Erchul, Joseph AThe program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault recommended "that the St. Louis County Attorney utilize resources in the community to study community attitudes in order to develop profiles for the selection of jurors in court trials of sexual assault cases." It is the intent of this research to profile St. Louis County residents to collect data for use in the selection of jurors in court trials of sexual assault cases. Jury profiling is a well recognized and widely used practice in law involving the classification and analysis of demographic descriptors which, given various weightings, can predict individual predispositions towards certain types of cases. The reason jury profiling research is undertaken is to provide attorneys with concrete information which informs or reaffirms beliefs about the attitudes of potential jurors. This research was carried out in two parts. The first part of the research focused on individuals who had served on juries involving sexual assault cases. Sixteen cases were selected and all jurors were asked a series of profiling questions as well as a series of questions about the jury deliberation process. A total of 121 completed interviews were conducted with jurors. In the second part, a random selection of 256 St. Louis County residents were contacted and asked the same series of profiling questions. A total of 100 completed interviews were conducted with St. Louis County residents who had not been jurors in the selected cases. Therefore, a total of 221 interviews were completed.Item Neighborhood Livability in Minneapolis: Three Studies. The Criminal Justice System in Hennepin County: Analysis and Recommendations for Action; Livability in Minneapolis Neighborhoods: An Examination of Problem Rental Property; and Community-Oriented Policing and Crime Prevention(1995) Alger, Stuart T; Hagglund, Shelly M; Avidon, JacobItem Overview of Crime and Jail Use in Blue Earth County, 1995-2001.(2000) Berger, MatthewItem Primer for Developing a Community-Based Restorative Justice Model.(1997) Gerard, GenaItem Program Evaluation of the Intervention Program of the Women's Coalition, Duluth, MN.(1993) Mayer, TeresaItem Scientific and Legal Developments in Fire and Arson Investigation Expertise in Texas v. Willingham(Minnesota Journal of Law, Science and Technology, 2013-07-01) Dioso-Villa, RachelThe forensic sciences, as a form of professional knowledge, are changing with new advancements in technology and continuing research and development. With the National Academy of Science’s recent call for more research and testing of the forensic sciences, the criminal justice system is faced with the challenges of handling cases where convictions are based on outdated or discredited evidence. In light of technological advancements in the field, this article examines the evolution of fire- and arson-investigation knowledge over the course of a highly publicized capital murder case. The history of arson investigation is discussed, as is the legal admissibility of such expert testimony. Arson investigation expertise stems from non-scientific or experience-based origins, yet is conveyed in court as scientific fact. The article identifies the dangers of admitting such testimony into court without scrutiny. The lack of scientific validation of investigative methods, overreaching scientific claims based on case facts and witness statements, and fire investigators’ susceptibility to contextual bias are discussed. The article raises questions as to whether and how the legal system has propagated the misuse of arson investigation testimony and how outdated understandings of evidence may impact the identification of future miscarriages of justice.