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ON BEING A GOOD EXPERT WITNESS IN A CRIMINAL CASE

NCJ Number
44891
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 190-200
Author(s)
J D KOGAN
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED TO ASSIST FORENSIC SCIENTISTS IN PREPARING AND DELIVERING EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CRIMINAL TRIALS.
Abstract
THE NEED FOR THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR HIS TESTIMONY AS SOON AS HE BEGINS WORK ON A CASE IS NOTED. THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING DETAILED NOTES ON TESTS, EXAMINATIONS, OBSERVATIONS, AND EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED IN CONNECTION WITH A CRIMINAL CASE IS POINTED OUT, AS IS THE ADVISABILITY OF KEEPING A RECORD OF THE NUMBER OF CASES OF EACH TYPE EXAMINED BY THE SCIENTIST. THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST'S RESPONSIBILITIES WITH REGARD TO THE INTEGRITY OF EVIDENCE, I.E., THE 'CHAIN OF CUSTODY,' ARE DISCUSSED. THE EXPERT WITNESS' RESPONSIBILITIES DURING PRETRIAL DISCOVERY AND PRETRIAL PREPARATION ARE NOTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ATTORNEYS. SUGGESTIONS WITH REGARD TO COURTROOM DEMEANOR ARE OFFERED, AND TRIAL PROCEDURES RELATIVE TO QUALIFYING THE EXPERT, DIRECT EXAMINATION, AND CROSS-EXAMINATION ARE DISCUSSED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE EXPERT'S RESPONSES DURING CROSS-EXAMINATION WHEN THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY CITES BOOKS AND ARTICLES AS AUTHORITIES OR POSES HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.

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