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The Open University

Do you trust forensic science in the criminal justice system?

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

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Do you trust the science behind the verdict? Do you trust the science used in police investigations?This free course offers a deep dive into the modern justice system by following a fictional case from the initial crime scene to the final courtroom presentation. You will explore the technical realities of how police and investigators collect and analyse DNA and mobile phone data, while gaining a critical understanding of how forensic science evidence is used, and sometimes questioned, in practice. Beyond the lab, this course explores social justice and forensic reliability, focusing on the rights of victims and defendants and the specific ways marginalised community members experience the legal system. By following a fictional case through every stage of the investigation, you will learn to evaluate the integrity of forensic evidence and the role of the expert witness with a professional eye. Enrol on this course to learn about the science of investigation and discover what really happens behind the yellow tape.

Syllabus

  • Week 1 Trusting forensic science
  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 What is forensic science?
  • 2 Using forensic science at the crime scene
  • 3 Forensic science evidence processes
  • 4 What is trust?
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Glossary
  • Week 2 The forensic analysis process
  • 1 Crime scene to court
  • 1.1 Eyewitness account
  • 1.2 Forensic Biologist account
  • 2 DNA: Forensic Scientist
  • 2.1 The DNA profile
  • 3 Digital Forensic Scientist
  • 3.1 Trust generation
  • Week 3 Forensic science in the courtroom
  • 1 Crown Court at Leicester Castle Business School
  • 2 Some typical questions for DNA evidence
  • 3 Likelihood ratio calculations
  • 4 What if there’s doubt?
  • Week 4: Public trust and forensic science
  • 1 What do you think?
  • 2 Understanding trust in forensic science
  • 3 Research findings
  • 4 Why do these perceptions matter?
  • 5 What other factors affect distrust?
  • 6 Recommendations from the research

Reviews

4.6 rating at OpenLearn based on 5 ratings

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