Improving Legal Testimony and Evidence in Court and investigations - HMB1033

Assessment 1: Quizzes / polls

Formative assessment in the form of short written response questions and online multiple-choice quizzes will be set by the module leader, detailed in writing in the module handbook, and on Brightspace.

Quizzes / polls

Assessment 1: Written Assignment

Written Assignment

In this module you will explore potential sources of error within the evidence at each stage of an investigation, from initial witness statements and comments from suspects, to how the evidence is presented in court. You will examine the challenges of investigative information and investigative decision making, explore the procedures that have been developed to improve the effectiveness of investigative interviews and consider factors that lead to false confessions and reasons for false allegations. You will also study how to improve eyewitness testimonies and the psycholinguistics of questioned documents. 
You will explore potential sources of error in the evidence at every stage of an investigation from initial witness statements, through comments from suspects, to how evidence is presented in court. How to increase the accuracy and detail of the information as well as its reliability and validity, reducing biases, distortions and errors by drawing on psychologically informed procedures, notably in relation to interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects will also be explored. The module will also examine the variety of procedures that have been developed to improve the effectiveness of investigative interviews. You will explore factors that lead to false confessions and reasons for false allegations of rape. In addition, students will be made aware of the regulatory constraints that relate to the interviewing process.

School of Human and Health Sciences

https://library.hud.ac.uk/readinglists/HMB1033

HMB1033 - Improving Legal Testimony and Evidence in Court and investigations

Improving Legal Testimony and Evidence in Court and investigations

Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the information that is available during police investigations and the main potential sources of error.

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of some of the factors that may lead to faulty or misleading information.

Demonstrate psychological applications to legal and investigative processes.

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the problems in relying on eyewitness testimony.

Outline and evaluate a range of interviewing strategies that may be employed to gain information within investigative contexts.

Be able to evaluate the psychological strengths and weaknesses of the information available within the investigative and legal process.

Evaluate forms of legal testimony and evidence and understand their relevance and importance throughout the legal process.