AC1.3: Explain how evidence is processed
Starter:
What is the innocence project?
The innocence project is a national litigation and public policy organisation that is dedicated
to releasing those who have been wrongfully convicted through DNA testing and other
scientific advancements and reforming the CJS to prevent injustice in the future.
Recall 2 key case studies from last lesson
Offender profiling:
- Yorkshire Ripper - Peter Sutcliffe
- Colin Stagg, wrongfully convicted for the murder of Rachel Nickell, Robert Napper
then rightfully convicted for her murder
Write a paragraph assessing the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal
investigations including the strengths, limitations and cases studies
Types of evidence
- Can be divided into categories of evidence;
Physical evidence, which is also referred to as real evidence consists of tangible
article like hair, fibres, fingerprints and biological materials and testimonial evidence
is the statements of spoken word from the defendant, victim or witness
Physical evidence
● Concept known as Locard’s exchange principle states that every time someone
enters an environment, something is added to and removed from it
It is sometimes stated that ‘every contact leaves a trace’
● Scenes of crime officers (SOCO’S) work on the principle that physical evidence is left
behind at every scene
● Outdoor crime scenes are most vulnerable to loss or contamination of evidence.
Those with access to a crime scene can potentially alter, destroy or contaminate the
evidence at the scene
● The greatest risk is when officers fail to properly secure the scene
● Another factor that can destroy or ruin evidence is weather conditions
Testimonial evidence
● Evidence that is the spoken word of the witness, could include either the witness or
defendant. Must be admissible, meaning it complies with the rules of evidence
● Statements of the witness will be taken by each side and disclosed prior to the court
case, this evidence takes place in the witness box with opportunity to cross-examine
or to question the witness
Starter:
What is the innocence project?
The innocence project is a national litigation and public policy organisation that is dedicated
to releasing those who have been wrongfully convicted through DNA testing and other
scientific advancements and reforming the CJS to prevent injustice in the future.
Recall 2 key case studies from last lesson
Offender profiling:
- Yorkshire Ripper - Peter Sutcliffe
- Colin Stagg, wrongfully convicted for the murder of Rachel Nickell, Robert Napper
then rightfully convicted for her murder
Write a paragraph assessing the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal
investigations including the strengths, limitations and cases studies
Types of evidence
- Can be divided into categories of evidence;
Physical evidence, which is also referred to as real evidence consists of tangible
article like hair, fibres, fingerprints and biological materials and testimonial evidence
is the statements of spoken word from the defendant, victim or witness
Physical evidence
● Concept known as Locard’s exchange principle states that every time someone
enters an environment, something is added to and removed from it
It is sometimes stated that ‘every contact leaves a trace’
● Scenes of crime officers (SOCO’S) work on the principle that physical evidence is left
behind at every scene
● Outdoor crime scenes are most vulnerable to loss or contamination of evidence.
Those with access to a crime scene can potentially alter, destroy or contaminate the
evidence at the scene
● The greatest risk is when officers fail to properly secure the scene
● Another factor that can destroy or ruin evidence is weather conditions
Testimonial evidence
● Evidence that is the spoken word of the witness, could include either the witness or
defendant. Must be admissible, meaning it complies with the rules of evidence
● Statements of the witness will be taken by each side and disclosed prior to the court
case, this evidence takes place in the witness box with opportunity to cross-examine
or to question the witness
