Larry S. Miller

Procedural bias in forensic science examinations of human hair

Several forms of expert forensic science evaluations exist that rely at least in part on the subjective opinion of the examiner. Human hair identification is one such examination. This paper considers possible sources of influence or bias that may be responsible for examiner errors. Data are reported of an experiment that compares the conventional examination procedure (known versus questioned samples) against an alternative procedure (a lineup of samples) designed to limit the influence of factors that contribute to error. The altenative procedure produced fewer incorrect conclusions (3.8%) than the conventional procedure (30.4%).

Bias among forensic document examiners: Still a need for procedural changes

In 1984, Miller published the paper: ‘Bias among forensic document examiners: A need for procedural changes’, with the intent to elicit some concern about the amount of cognitive bias among forensic document examiners. There is a need for the development of procedures regarding how a document examiner can minimize the amount of cognitive bias that may lead to erroneous conclusions by the examiner. Such procedures would serve to demonstrate that a conscientious effort was made by the examiner and the submitting agency to control extraneous variables that could bias the results of the examination. Some 28 years after Miller1 the forensic sciences are confronted with serious criticism with respect to cognitive bias (e.g. Risinger et al.2, and the NAS report3). It appears that not much of Miller’s suggestions have been applied in practice. No good general procedures have been implemented for minimizing the risk of cognitive bias in most institutes. In this paper we address the main issues raised in the 1984 paper, and describe the current state of affairs with respect to minimizing cognitive bias in the forensic sciences. There is still a need for procedural changes in the forensic sciences.

The seriousness of inmate induced prison violence: An analysis of correctional personnel perceptions

Few studies exist indicating how correctional personnel perceive the seriousness of prison violence. This study surveyed sixty-six correctional employees regarding their perceptions of the seriousness of prison violence, the need for outside police intervention, and the role of news reporting of prison violence incidents. The results supported the hypothesis that correctional employees perceived inmate-induced violence in which inmates were victims as less serious than violence directed against correctional staff.

Teaching criminal justice research: An experiential model

Teaching research methods to undergraduate criminal justice students typically has been viewed as problematic. Students often experience considerable anxiety concerning required research courses and frequently lack the motivation to learn and appreciate the usefulness of research. Experiential case studies have been successfully utilized to teach criminal justice students the application of theory in practical situations. An evaluation of the experiential model was made in a post-test only control group research design with two groups of criminal justice research students. The results of the comparison supported the experiential approach and showed greater success utilizing this method over a traditional teaching method.

Case Studies in Criminal Justice Education: An Experiential Model

Case studies have long been used to enhance the learning process for students in a variety of education and training disciplines. There are two basic types: The first type entails “actual” case studies that facilitate objective analyses and discussions of the implications for relevancy in a given situation (analytical). The second type examines hypothetical or actual cases that focus on the experiences of the learner (problem-solving). Such experience-oriented case studies may be approached in two ways: one in which a preferred or most correct problem solution is required; or a second, where there are no precise, clear-cut problem solutions for a given situation (experiential). Criminal justice, as an evolving behavioral science, typically relies on interdisciplinary case study approaches (e.g., psychology, social work, legal research, etc.). But these approaches have not shown adequate success for the criminal justice student/practitioner because they do not apply course material and theory to practical ...

Teaching police ethics: An experiential model

Attempts have been made in recent years to decrease police misconduct and improve police performance in areas of ethical decision-making. One attempt has been to provide ethics instruction to police officers at training academies and in-service training sessions. Experiential case studies have been used to help students apply theoretical concepts to practical situations. An evaluation of the experiential teaching model for police ethics was made in a quasiexperimental research design with two groups of police officers. The results supported the experiential approach for teaching police ethics. Police officers were found to better differentiate between ethical and unethical conduct in both an idealistic and realistic manner.

Bodily Fluid Evidence

The collection of bodily fluids can lead to a DNA profile that links multiple crimes to an individual. This is one of the latest yet most effective scientific advancements in the realm of scientific analysis being linked to criminal investigations. This chapter describes how the discovery of bodily fluids can be used to identify individuals at the scene of the crime.

Forensic Anthropology, Odontology, and Entomology

Bones, teeth, and other skeletal remains are the framework of the human body. World-famous forensic anthropologist Dr. William Bass has taught thousands of police officers and anthropologists how to locate and excavate buried human remains. This chapter presents the highlights of those lessons, providing decades of real-world experience with academic training focused on crime scene investigation.

Documenting the Crime Scene: Photography, Videography, and Sketching

Accurate documentation is critical to preserving the condition of the crime scene. Photographs, sketching, videography, and the CSI’s notes are essential tools for the prosecutor who is preparing a case for trial. Chapter 3 uses various types of sketches to demonstrate how physical evidence is graphically depicted, incorporating accurate measurements and digital photography with existing documents for case investigation purposes.

Identification of human figure drawings through questioned document examination techniques

Abstract Two cases were submitted for questioned document examination involving human figure drawings. As there was little information on ‘artist’ identification in the questioned document examination literature, a sample of 107 individuals was selected to participate in a study. The respondents were requested to draw two cartoons, one naturally and one disguised, in order to determine if standard questioned document examination methods could be employed to identify the ‘artists’. The findings indicated that ‘artists’ of human figure drawings could be identified using standard handwriting identification techniques.