Warrants and Legal Docs
This legal document issued by a judge allows law enforcement to search or arrest
Warrant
The first step in selecting who will decide a case
The first step in selecting who will decide a case is called jury selection, where attorneys question potential jurors to ensure a fair and impartial jury.
This evidence type includes security footage and emails
Digital or electronic evidence
What does the 4th Amendment outline?
The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
Why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable
Memory distortions, stress, lighting, and suggestive police procedures can all lead to false identifications.
The 4th Amendment protects citizens against this type of search
Unreasonable Search
This examination challenges a witness's credibility
Cross- examination
This is a statement from someone who directly observed an event
Eyewitness testimony
Explain probable cause
A reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed, required before obtaining a search or arrest warrant.
Steps in obtaining a search warrant
A law enforcement officer must write an affidavit explaining the probable cause, which a judge reviews before issuing a warrant.
A sworn written statement used in legal proceedings
Affidavit
The jury’s primary role is to listen to the evidence, deliberate, and reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty based on the facts and law.
What is physical evidence? Give an example of one
Tangible objects such as weapons, fingerprints, or clothing found at a crime scene
What is the plain view doctrine? Be as detailed as possible
If an officer is lawfully present and sees evidence in plain sight, it can be seized without a warrant.
Potential issues leading to wrongful convictions
Mistaken identity, flawed forensic science, false confessions, and prosecutorial misconduct.
Chain of Custody explains....
Explains the tracking of evidence from collection to court presentation
What is an opening statement? What order do they present in?
The prosecution presents their opening statement first, followed by the defense. These statements provide an overview of what each side intends to prove.
Challenges with using eyewitness accounts
Eyewitnesses can misremember details, be influenced by stress, or be swayed by suggestion, leading to inaccurate testimony.
Courts and lawmakers must weigh law enforcement's need to investigate crimes against an individual's constitutional rights.
How forensic evidence impacts criminal cases
It can provide strong, objective proof of guilt or innocence but can also be misinterpreted or mishandled, affecting verdicts
Describes emergency circumstances allowing warrantless searches
Exigent circumstances refer to emergency situations where law enforcement can conduct a search or seizure without a warrant, such as preventing the destruction of evidence or imminent harm
What are the rules of witness exams during court?
Lawyers may ask direct, open-ended questions during direct examination and leading questions during cross-examination. They cannot ask speculative or harassing questions, and objections may be raised to enforce courtroom decorum.
What is forensic evidence?
Scientific methods such as DNA analysis, toxicology, or fingerprint analysis that are used to link suspects to crime scenes with high accuracy.
How can bias come up in investigations- be as detailed as possible and connect it to cases discussed in class.
This includes how race, socioeconomic status, and other factors may unfairly influence how individuals are investigated, charged, or prosecuted, often leading to calls for reform.
Comprehensive examination of justice system complexities? Be as detailed as possible
Includes legal loopholes, overworked public defenders, jury bias, procedural errors, and disparities in how laws are applied—each of which can influence case outcomes and fairness.