September 2010 Archives

Would you confess to a crime you did not commit?  You may say you would never falsely confess to a crime under any circumstance (especially those with great penalties), but the truth is, false confessions happen more often than you realize. 

For instance, take the case of Eddie Lowery.  Although Eddie Lowery deep now knew he was innocent of rape, he inevitably confessed and consequently spent 10 years of his life in prison until DNA evidence and the help of the Innocence Project exonerated him.

False confessions can occur for numerous reasons and some people may be more susceptible to falsely confess.  For example, the mentally ill and children are highly influenced by police during interrogation and subsequently confess more often than individuals who are not mentally ill or are adults.  Other circumstances, such as being deprived of food, water, and the restroom, being interrogated for hours on end (which happened in Lowery's case - he was interrogated for more than 7  hours), and in some instances being beaten,  also lead to more false confessions.   

Interrogations can also plant false memories in the suspect's head to the extent to which they become real (much like the lost in the  mall study described in class).  According to Professor Garrett who studies cases such as Lowery's, facts about the case can be intentionally or accidentally brought up in interrogation which plants a seed in the suspect's memory.  With constant contamination to the suspect's memory, these "seeds" can grow into evidence that one would think only the person responsible for the crime would know. 

Much like you and me, Garrett was shocked by the amount of contamination that had occurred in the cases he studied.  Interestingly, more than half of the cases he studied, the suspect was "mentally ill, under the age of 18, or both."  Along with that, most of the interrogations were lengthy and held in a pressuring environment.  Even more interesting, none of the cases Garrett studied had a lawyer present during interrogation. 

Although in some cases evidence that is leaked during interrogations in accidentally, Eddie Lowery felt that the police intentionally contaminated his memories.  According to Lowery, after he confessed, the police insisted he recall the process of the crime and corrected him when he got key facts incorrect.  For example, Lowery recalled this from his interrogation: "How did he get in (police asking Lowery how the rapist got into the house)" "I kicked in the front door" - Lowery, "But the rapist had used the back door" - Police.  Consequently, Lowery changed his story and admitted to going through the back door.

Why are false confessions so important? -- because juries are highly influenced by them when deciding on a verdict.  Despite being cleared by DNA evidence prior to going on trial, 8 of the individuals in Garrett's study were still found guilty and sent to jail.  Because juries are mostly interested in the details of the case and because false memories have been implanted in the suspect's brain, jury members tend to ignore other facts in the case and focus on the highly detailed confession.

If false confession are so common, what can be done to prevent them?  Some police departments have started videotaping interrogations, especially ones that could result in severe punishments (death penalty).  Ten states require videotaping and many supreme courts are encouraging tapings of interrogations. 

Keeping the case of Eddie Lowery and many others in mind, how do you feel about videotaping interrogations?  Do you feel it is necessary for all interrogations (even those where the consequence if found convicted is not severe) or just crimes that could possibly cause someone to serve the rest of their life in prison or even be put to death?  Are there better ways to reduce the occurrence of false confessions?  What do you feel can and/or needs to be done to free the dozens of innocent people currently serving time behind bars?

 

Here is a link to the article and more about Eddie's case.

(Thank you Alyssa for sharing!)

Assignment Due 9/21 @ 10pm

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What I would like you to do for this assignment is to choose a topic related to psychology and law that YOU are really interested in. This could be something you've always wondered about or been interested in, or something you've discovered in this class that has spurred your interest. I want you to find out what you can about this topic. Once you have completed your search and explorations (which may include a fair amount of browsing time, and reading websites, links, news pieces, or articles), I would like you to say what your topic is, why you are interested in it, and what you learned about that topic from 3 of the sources you viewed/read on the internet (please at the end of your comment include the 3 URLs).

Makeup Assignment

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By Tuesday 9/21 at 3:30pm (note time change from other assignments).

Given that I had to cancel class on 9/16, you have 2 options. Complete this assignment here. OR, come to the makeup class on 9/21, same class time and location as normal. If you are planning on coming to class, leave a comment here saying so. Attendance will be taken. If you change your mind one way or another, that is fine, just make sure you do the assignment by Tuesday at 3:30pm, or come to class that day.

The assignment is to choose one of the following cases:

Nevada v. Mohamed Kamaludeen (Judy Calder murder case in Reno, NV)

North Carolina v. Michael Peterson (staircase accident/murder)

Search for all the information you can find on the case. You will want to also target newspaper articles (which you can search through google) and legal sources (via the library's law databases WestLaw and Lexis Nexis) to find out as much as you can. Describe the crime and case for us. What elements of psychology are present? Be specific in your answer, and sound like someone in a university level psychology and law course

Assignment Due 9/14 10pm

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Please read chapters 3 and 4 that were emailed to you. (Crime, and Crime Scene)

What I would like you to do is to find a topic from one of those 2 chapters that interests you and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point.

Once you have completed your search and explorations (which may include a fair amount of browsing time, and reading websites, links, news pieces, or articles), I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the chapter, why you are interested in it, and what you learned about that topic from 3 of the sources you viewed/read on the internet (please at the end of your comment include the 3 URLs). Choose quality sources. You may want to review people's posts from last week's assignment to see examples of posts different from your own.

Your comment should be clearly written and demonstrate the time and effort you spent on this assignment.

There are many ways you can prepare for your role in the project. Our textbook and lectures are a good start. But there are also many resources and experiences that are available to you. You are in charge of preparing yourself for your role, learning about the skills and requirements for your role. You should blog regularly on your project page to show your progress.

If you are this role for the project, you may want to do this activity and you should blog on your own project page.

If you are choosing this because you are just interested and curious, or as a browse assignment, you can post your comments here.

Project Preparation: Courthouse Visit

Go to a courthouse and view a court proceeding or portion of jury selection or jury trial. For your comment tell us about where you went and what you saw, your experience, etc.

Project Preparation: All Roles

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There are many ways you can prepare for your role in the project. Our textbook and lectures are a good start. But there are also many resources and experiences that are available to you. You are in charge of preparing yourself for your role, learning about the skills and requirements for your role. You should blog regularly on your project page to show your progress.

If you interview a someone who is really your role in real life, you should blog on your own project page.

If you are choosing this because you are just interested and curious, or as a browse assignment, you can post your comments here.

Interview a Professional

Choose a relevant profession or role in the legal system, law enforcement, or Psychology/Law related profession. Find a person who is willing to talk to you about their job. This person can be local, from your hometown or anywhere that your internet connection takes you. Please do not just rely on email; it is preferable that you speak to them over the phone or in person. This should be a conversation, not a Q&A. Document your conversation as a comment to this post if you are learning about someone who is not your role in the project, or on your project page if it is your role.

Project Preparation: Juror

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There are many ways you can prepare for your role in the project. Our textbook and lectures are a good start. But there are also many resources and experiences that are available to you. You are in charge of preparing yourself for your role, learning about the skills and requirements for your role. You should blog regularly on your project page to show your progress.

If you are this role for the project, you may want to do this activity and you should blog on your own project page.

If you are choosing this because you are just interested and curious, or as a browse assignment, you can post your comments here.

Project Preparation: Juror

How much would you award in this case? And why?

http://www.legalvote.com/worth/worth11139.phtml

Project Preparation: Autopsy

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There are many ways you can prepare for your role in the project. Our textbook and lectures are a good start. But there are also many resources and experiences that are available to you. You are in charge of preparing yourself for your role, learning about the skills and requirements for your role. You should blog regularly on your project page to show your progress.

Project Preparation: Autopsy

Non-squeamish, simplistic: http://www.deathonline.net/movies/mm/autopsy.cfm

text and still images: http://www.deathreference.com/A-Bi/Autopsy.html

Here is a link to a real autopsy (not for the squeamish): http://www.toxicjunction.com/age-verification.asp?goingtoURL=get.asp?i=V3997

If you are a member of the police department in our project, you may want to view one or more of these links. As it is preparation for your role (and interpreting coronor's documents) you should blog on your own project page.

If you are reviewing these because you are just interested and curious, or as a browse assignment, you can post your comments here.

 

I'm organizing a crime scene workshop for members of the community. http://www.uni.edu/llu/forensic-science-psychological-perspectives

Participants will come in and rotate through their choice of stations where they will learn a particular technique, and then rotate through an area which will be a mock crime scene. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) will be to become familiar with the materials I provide you, add to them, and staff one of the stations. I have equipment and materials to help you out. Up to 2 students could develop and work each station.

You can choose from the following stations: forensic memory collection (interviewing and composites), forensic photography, forensic entomology, forensic science (blood, fiber, fingerprint), and the crime scene itself.

For this project, given it's specific date and time and need for advance planning, I'll need to know ahead of time if you are interested. So post as a comment here if you want to do this and which station you are interested in.

All About Forensic Psychology

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Here is a fun, yet informative little website that I ran across that has some good information about of variety of topics.  Some of these topics may help you with your project (depending on your role) and others are just full of useful information!

Juror - John

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Psychology Today

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Keep up with what is happening in Psychology Today with this website. This website is the online version of the magazine Psychology Today where you can look at anything from addiction to work, but the most fascinating and relative to Psychology and Law would be the Law and Crime section.  Also, to those of you who are going to have a career in psychology or thinking about it, there is a link on this website that allows you to look at psych careers.

Post anything that you find interesting on this website and make a connection with what is happening in the world today with what we are talking about in class.



Blog This!

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Find something on the internet that you think belongs on our blog? Leave a comment with a description and URL and how it relates to the class and we will periodically add these as full posts on the blog.

Thanks!

Media - Rachael

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Assignment Due 9/7 @ 10pm

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Please read chapters 1 and 2 that were emailed to you. These are the introductory chapters on the disciplines of psychology and law, separately, and Psychology & Law as a single discipline.

What I would like you to do is to find a topic from one of those 2 chapters that interests you and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point.

Once you have completed your search and explorations (which may include a fair amount of browsing time, and reading websites, links, news pieces, or articles), I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the chapter, why you are interested in it, and what you learned about that topic from 3 of the sources you viewed/read on the internet (please at the end of your comment include the 3 URLs).

Your comment should be clearly written and demonstrate the time and effort you spent on this assignment.

 

Media - TC

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Media - Dara

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Eyewitness - Claire

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Eyewitness - Jessica

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Eyewitness - Aubrey

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Expert Witness - Alyssa

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Expert Witness - Tasha

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Prosecuting Attorney - Alyssa

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Prosecuting Attorney - Hilary

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Defense Attorney - Beth

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Defense Attorney - Evelyn

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Juror - Paige Mc.

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Juror - Angela

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Juror - Laura

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Juror - Jackie

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Juror - Chris

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Juror - Paige Mu.

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Juror - Jake

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Judge - Nate

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Profiler - Chelsea

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Sketch Artist - Cody

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Crime Scene Investigator - Abby

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Crime Scene Investigator - Ashley

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Detective - Kayla

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Detective - Katie

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Detective - Andy

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Police Officer - Collin

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Please document your experience and progress with the Mock Crime/Mock Trial Project by posting comments!

Police Officer - Tiffany

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