Forensic Psychology Court Cases

The first expert eye witness in 1896 to provide testimony in court on the effect of pretrial publicity.
serious of 3 sexual murders
"retroactive memory falsification"- witnesses confuse actual events with the events described in the media

1911 called to be an expert eye witness in case involving the murder of a young girl Cecile
Testified on research relating to inaccurate recall in children
easily mislead by suggestive questioning

First court case in US, in 1921, where expert testimony was used. court rejected testimony
(case involved the attempted rape of a young girl

The case challenged the segregation of public schools. psychologists submitted a court brief outlining the detrimental effects of segregation. US supreme court referenced this brief in thier decision
It was the first time psych research was referenced in US supreme court

NJenkins v. United States (1962): ¨ Case dealt with whether psychologists should be allowed to provide expert testimony on issues of mental illness ¨ U.S. Supreme Court decided that some psychologists are qualified to provide such testimony

Limitations can be imposed on the press in terms of what they can report before the start of trial

The manitoba court of appeal overturns the murder conviction due to errors in law specifically eyewitness testimony collected by police
1. detective notes were not verbatim
2.did not inform him he could call a lawyer
3. strip searched for drugs even though there was no reason to suspect
4.suggestive lineup
5. had an alabi
6.his photo stood out

SCC sets guidlines for when and how expert eyewitness can and should be used in cases involving battered womens syndrome. since this ruling e.e. in cases who kill has increased.

The alberta court rules that mental health professionals have a duty to warn a third party if they have reasonable grounds to believe that their client intends to seriously harm that individual

The SCC makes a ruling that results in changes to the insanity ,defence standard in Canada, including the name of the defence, when the defense, when the defense can be raised and for how long insanity acquittees can be detained

The SCC rules that children are allowed to testify in court behind screens that prevent them from seeing the accused.

1994. the SCC establishes formal critera for determining when expert testimony should be admitted into court.

The SCC formally acknowledges that jurors can be biased by numerious sources ranging from community sentiment on a particular issue to direct involvement with the case ex being related to the acused

The SCC rules that prison sentences are being relied on too often by judges as a way of dealing with criminal behavious esp for aboriginal offenders and that other sentencing options should be considered.

the SC rules that police interrogation techniques which consists of various forms of psychological coersion , are acceptable and that confessions extracted through their use can be admissible in court