Forensic Court Report - UGRD
This is the assignment page for your final written submission - the Forensic Court Report. This assignment will be worth 30% of your final grade and will test your knowledge of forensic studies in the context of the courtroom, including bias and ethical considerations. Your submission should be submitted through Canvas and must be 1200 words (+/- 10%). Read the below assignment briefing and instructions carefully before beginning your assignment. You will find readings for the assignment throughout Module 3 - The Courtroom, and you will need to read on the question further.
About the Assignment
• You are asked to produce a report for the legal team defending the accused, Mr. McGee. Ensure you read through The Incident Update below before starting your assignment.
• Your report should detail three specific stages of the '123 Fake Street' Investigation in which bias could have been introduced, and how these might affect the partiality of the prosecution's forensic team (including examiners at the scene, forensic and laboratory professionals).
• These -stages- of the investigation may include (not an exhaustive list) specific actions, procedures, instructions, lines of questioning (and so on) at any stage of the investigation from the time of first response to delivery of expert testimony in the courtroom.
• In your report, you should address your reasoning for choosing these specific stages of the investigation, how bias could have been introduced, and the way this could affect the partiality of the prosecution.
• In your report you should address the necessity of maintaining impartiality at each stage you have chosen of the investigation.
• Your report should include what you would expect to see from the prosecution to demonstrate how they have avoided being impartial in the specific areas/stages you have chosen.
• Your report must be supported by academic sources and relevant literature.
• Your report should be logically constructed with introduction, discussion and conclusion sections.
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• You must submit your assignment by 31st Jan 2019 at 23:59.
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Feedback and grades
Feedback on your assignment and your grade will be released via the Grades item on the left menu approximately 14 days after you submit it.
The Incident Update
• It is several weeks since the incident on the evening of 31st October at 123 Fake Street.
• Mr. McGee, the owner of 123 Fake Street, is being charged accused of the murder of E. Shermer, his former girlfriend.
• Your new role is as part of the forensic science team advising the legal team defending Mr. McGee.
• You have been consulted to advise them on possible avenues of error and incorrect procedure conducted by the prosecution's team. They want to know if the forensic team working for the prosecution have been bias in their investigation.
• The legal team you are working for have advised you that the following forensic evidence (at least) will be included in the prosecution's case:
o Fingerprint comparisons
o DNA evidence
o Bloodstain-pattern analysis
o Witness testimony from the neighbour, Mr. A. Lias.
• The defending legal team have asked you to identify three areas in which bias or partiality could have been demonstrated by the prosecution for them to build their case.
This is the link of the rubric to achieve a good mark as well as the criteria of the assignment.
https://rmit.instructure.com/courses/54225/files/6154881/download?wrap=1