BIOL7731 Evidence Evaluation

This topic will expose students to key areas of evidence evaluation. The topic will include:

1. What is subjectivity and objectivity
2. Databases and numerical values compared to degrees of belief
3. Probabilities and odds
4. The difference between frequencies, likelihoods and Bayes
5. Fallacies and problems in using methods of evaluation
6. Interaction with the legal system
7. Presentation to the court
8. Introduction of new evidence - Frye, Daubert and precedence
9. Facts and opinions in the criminal justice system

This topic will build upon students' prior knowledge of Bayes' Theorem and will allow the students to consider integrated data, when comparing an allegation compared to a proposition put forward by the defence. The way in which these data are reported will be part of this topic.

This topic aims to:

• Introduce students to methods of evaluation of diverse pieces of forensic evidence
• Show how competing hypotheses can be considered using a likelihood ratio
• Introduce the concept of prior odds to up-date uncertainty resulting in posterior odds

1. Integrate evidence from a range of analyses
2. Formulate hypotheses based on an allegation and an alternative proposition
3. Test a number of hypotheses using reconstruction in the laboratory
4. Present opinion evidence in both written and oral forms
5. Integrate scientific evidence in a legal framework
6. Explain the integration of evidence and the formulation and testing of hypotheses by the scientists in their role as expert witnesses
7. Challenge the integration of evidence and the formulation and testing of hypotheses by the scientists in their role as expert witnesses
8. Present opinion evidence in both written and oral forms
9. Demonstrate skills associated with examining and cross-examining an expert witness