Testimony

An issue in developmental psychology that is a common topic of research is the question of whether or not the testimony of young children can be trusted. Can they recognize perpetrators or even remember events accurately? The answers to these questions should inform how children are questioned as eyewitnesses in the courtroom, and since many people aren’t as educated in this topic, it important for a policy to be implemented to ensure that findings from recent research are being used to…

with a crime that you did not commit. Now imagine the primary evidence against you is the testimony of a person who was offered money or a lower sentence for testifying against you. In addition to that the jury that will decide your case is unaware that the person testifying was offered an incentive for his or her testimony. Imagine being convicted on this testimony alone. This is an example of informant testimony, where a person provides privileged information to law enforcement or in a…

process whose reliability is often questioned, especially in its importance in eyewitness testimonies. Eyewitness testimonies refers to an account given by people who have witnessed a specific event. Eyewitness testimonies are also one of the major areas of research for cognitive psychology and memory. Eyewitness testimonies are vital factors used, in legal systems, as evidence for criminal trials. These testimonies rely on the accuracy of human memory to decide whether a person is guilty for a…

Mr. Mills’ testimony revealed that their bank account was opened some 22 – 24 years ago; the bank has changed ownership several times. The present bank, Regions Bank, located in Troy, Alabama, have kept records, but the records do not go back to the beginning of their account, which is the problem. He stated that at the recommendation of the people at Regions Bank, they dug up all the records they could locate; the found records of their account dating back 22 – 24 years ago when the bank was…

Eyewitness identification is relied upon heavily throughout the investigation and prosecution procedures. The term “eyewitness testimony” refers to an account given by an individual of an event that they have witnessed. Although juries tend to pay close attention to eyewitness testimonies, finding it a reliable source of information, research has found that an eyewitness testimony can be affected by many psychological factors. Characteristics of the Witness, the Suspect and Event A variety of…

Expert witness testimonies must be scientific, technical, and specifically relevant that will acknowledge the trier of fact to define evidence and determine the fact of the issue. Evidence obtained by expert witness’s must be based off of sufficient facts produced by applicable, reliable, principles and methods. In response to Daubert v. Merrill Daw Pharmaceuticals ( 509 U.S. 579 (1993), and other cases applying the Daubert standard. Under the Daubert standard the expert’s theory must be…

The bible is from the original source and the word testament means testimony. Testimony means ‘proof or evidence that something exists or is true’ (merriam webster dictionary). The first stage of the four Gospels was based on the teachings and parables of Jesus during his lifetime when he travelled and preached about the ‘Reign of God’. During 30-33 AD, the idea of the Reign of God was at the centre of his instruction and way of life. Jesus preached the Reign of God to be the relationship of…

How reliable are testimonies of the Holocaust? 1. Coady, C.A.J, Testimony: A Philosophical Study, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992). I chose this secondary source as Coady provides a broad outlook on testimonies, attempting to provide a definition, or in this case multiple. Throughout the book Coady defends testimonies, arguing that they are a great source of knowledge and help aid our understanding of events. Thus, this source will be helpful in providing a clear definition, when discussing the…

“Eyewitness” was on 60 Minutes reporting on the flaws of eyewitness testimony. Eyewitness testimony is where the victim talks about who she thinks did the crime. A point of the finger can heavily influence the thoughts of the jury members. Jennifer Thompson was going to sleep one night, when a man broke into her house. The man held a knife to her neck before raping her. Unlike most people, Jennifer Thompson studied the individual as closely as she could. She wanted to make sure he was caught. By…

Eyewitness testimony and memory Many people believe that certain events are permanently burned into their memory, and in their minds they can recall what “exactly” happened. However, many psychologists have found out that memory doesn’t work the way people think it does. They have discovered that memories are reconstructed each time instead of played back exactly the way we think they occurred. According to Elizabeth F. Loftus, psychologist and memory researcher At University of California…