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Chapter 1 Observation Skills By the end of this chapter you will be able to: define observation and describe what changes occur in the brain describe examples of factors influencing eyewitness accounts of events compare the reliability of eyewitness testimony with what actually happened relate observation skills to their use in forensic science define forensic science practice and improve your observation skills Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

Introduction The forensic examiner must be able to find—identify the evidence. The forensic examiner must be able to document—record the evidence. The forensic examiner must be able to interpret—accurately determine the significance of the evidence. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

What Is Observation? Our brains can filter out information. Point out some of the details in this photo. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

The Picture…Details….Eye Witness……Observations….. The picture appears to be of several ladies out at a function. It is in black and white so no true colors can be derived. The time of the picture is in the early twenties. These ladies may have been at a golf outing, it was a time when few ladies wore slacks. There are 5 females, one is holding a pair of gloves, all have ties on, all have something on their heads two have on light colored wool caps, two with dark colored wool caps, and one with a head band, two have long ties, one with a cross neck tie. All have short sleeve shirts, Three you can see their belts, one the belt blends with the tweed material of the slacks and can not be seen. The last young woman has on a corset that covers her middle. One has on riding boots, the other four have on socks (knee). All socks have a pattern, the woman on the left has the most pattern of the four. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

The Picture…Details….Eye Witness……Observations….. Two have dark lace up shoes, two have on saddle shoes, (one looks black, the other brown). The five ladies are standing on a gravel area, all in a line from left to right. The lady with the riding boots has the lightest of slacks. All of the slacks appear to be riding shorts and come only to their knees. Bloused at the hip and tight at the knee or just below the knee. Behind the ladies there is a building with a large open area to the right (carport or covered porch). The building appears to be concrete with no siding, there is a small door with four square windows for viewing who is at the door. There appears to be a walk way or road that goes toward the building and around where there are cars parked. There are four old model “T” cars in the background. Three are backed into the parking area (grassy) One is pulled into the space and the lights appear to be on. There is a large tree over the parking area. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

What Is Observation? Our brains fill in gaps in our perception. In order to make sense of what we perceive, our brains often enrich with detail what we see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. After an event, we can believe things were part of the background even though they were not. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

What Is Observation? Our brains apply previous knowledge to new situations. What assumptions can you make about this scene? How might those assumptions be wrong? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

Observations by Witnesses are affected by: their emotional states. whether they were alone, part of a group, or whether others were in the area. what type of and how much activity was going on around them. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

Eyewitness Accounts Reports from individuals about crime-scene events often vary. Observations depend on the level of interest, stress, concentration, and the amount and kind of distractions present. Prejudices, personal beliefs, motives, and any lapse in time since the occurrence can also have an affect. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

The Innocence Project Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, starting in 1992, use DNA to examine post-conviction cases. The project has found that up to 87% of the wrongful convictions they discovered were due to faulty eyewitness identifications. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

How to be a Good Observer Observe systematically— Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space. Slowly look at every part of a piece of evidence. Do not assume that later on you will be able to remember everything. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

How to be a Good Observer Turn off filters— Do not pay attention to only what you think is important. On a crime scene you will not know what will turn out to be important. Make a conscious effort to pay attention to all the details in your surroundings. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

How to be a Good Observer Leave the final interpretation of data until later— Do look for patterns and make connections. But the more information obtained, the better will be the interpretations. Remember that eyewitness accounts and your own thinking can include prejudices. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

How to be a Good Observer Documentation, documentation, documentation— It is important to write down and photograph as much information as possible. Keep in mind that memory is faulty. Remember that our brains tend to auto-matically fill in gaps in our perceptions. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

Observations in Forensics Study situations. Find clues in ordinary details. Work backwards from the evidence to what led up to the crime. Be patient. Practice. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary The environment and our natural sensory filters affect our ability to observe. Eyewitness reports can be faulty. Gaining good observation skills is possible. Forensic scientists find, document, and accurately interpret the evidence. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1