Transcript Observation - Little Miami Schools

Awareness Tests
• http://www.youtube.com/user/dothetest#p/a
/u/1/ubNF9QNEQLA
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ec6tTwkqg&safety_mode=true&persist_safet
y_mode=1
• http://www.youtube.com/user/dothetest#p/a
/f/1/nDQYdU5p0KY
Observation
Skills
Observation
• A basic and important tool of a
forensic investigator is the ability to
observe, analyze, and report
observations.
Observations
• What a person perceives using
his or her senses is an
observation.
• Interpreting information
received from the senses is a
perception.
Observation Tests
1. Study the photograph for 20
seconds.
2. You may NOT TAKE NOTES
during that time.
3. When directed, answer as many of
the questions as you can in 2
minutes.
Photograph #1
Photograph #1 Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
At what location was the photograph taken?
How many cars are pictured?
What color are the cars?
What types of offices are located in the
building?
5. How many small trees are in the picture?
6. The photograph was taken New York State
during which season?
7. How many people are in the photograph?
Photograph #1 Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Glenville Municipal Center
2
Tan & Gray
Town, Police, and Court Offices
2
Spring or Summer
None
Our Senses
• We are constantly collecting information
through observations using our senses.
1. Sight
2. Hearing
3. Smell
4. Taste
5. Touch
Brain Filtering
• Filtering is an subconscious process
that helps the brain deal with all the
stimuli and information that
bombards it. (Sensory overload)
• Our brains detect and code only small
bits of what we experience.
Perception
• Interpreting information received
from the senses
• It is limited and faulty
• It is not always accurate
• Does not always reflect reality
Why is our Perception Faulty?
Our brains fill in gaps in our perception.
Why is our Perception Faulty?
• 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.
Perception
• What one perceives is a result of past
experiences, including one’s culture, and
the interpretation of the event.
• Without our awareness, our brains apply
previous knowledge to new situations.
Memory
All memories are flawed. No matter how vivid
a memory is, or how sure we are, we must
remember that we do not sense everything,
our perceptions is contaminated by past
experiences, and not everything becomes a
long-term memory.
Observations by Witnesses
The accuracy of a person’s observations are affected by:
• their emotional state
• whether they were alone, part of a group, or whether
others were in the area.
• the number of people and/or animals in the area
• what type of and how much activity was going on
around them.
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 effect.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitness accounts can be a useful tool in
helping investigators with analyzing a crime
scene, but are not viewed to be highly reliable.
In addition, eyewitness identifications (right or
wrong) can have a big influence on the
outcome of an investigation or trial.
Witness Factors
• Age may play a role in the accuracy of an
eyewitness’ statement or identification of a
suspect. Studies have shown that when a
lineup contains the actual culprit, both young
children and elderly perform well, but when
the lineup does not contain the culprit there
is a higher rate of mistaken identifications.
Witness Factors
• The race of the witness may also play a role. The
Cross Race Effect (CRE) is a phenomenon in
which people are better at recognizing faces of
their own race rather than those of other races.
• The use of drugs can alter a person’s ability to
recall the events of a crime even after they are no
longer under the influence.
Witness Factors
A person’s memory of an event can be influenced
by other witnesses, investigators, and/or the
media. Investigators use open-ended questioning
and follow procedures for conducting line-ups to
limit their influence on a witness’ memory of an
event or identification of a suspect.
Crime Scene & Suspect Factors
• A crime that is extremely traumatic for an eyewitness
may affect his/her recall of the event. For example, a
witness confronted with a weapon tends to focus on
the weapon rather than the perpetrator’s face.
• Someone who is able to focus on a perpetrator's face
for a minute or longer will tend to have a more
accurate memory than someone who saw the person
for only a few seconds.
Crime Scene & Suspect Factors
• Studies have shown that faces that are highly
attractive, highly unattractive, or distinctive are
more likely to be accurately recognized.
• Simple disguises, such as hats or sunglasses, can
interfere with accurate eyewitness identification.
• However, body piercings and tattoos increase the
likelihood of an accurate identification.
Crime Scene & Suspect Factors
• The time of day in which the crime occurred as
well as a person’s view of the scene may affect
what he/she is able to see.
• In addition, a person who is familiar with the
area in which the crime took place, may have a
better recall of the positions of the victims or
suspects.
The Innocence Project
The project has found that 87% of their wrongful
conviction cases resulted from flawed eyewitness
testimony. **
Microexpresssions
• A microexpression is a brief, involuntary facial
expression that last only a fraction of a
second but reveal a person’s true feelings.
• They usually occur in high-stakes situations,
where people have something to lose or gain.
Unlike regular facial expressions, it is difficult
to fake microexpressions.
Microexpresssions
• Microexpressions express the seven
universal emotions: disgust, anger,
contempt, fear, sadness, surprise, &
happiness
Microexpresssions
• However in the 1990’s Paul Ekman expanded
his list of basic emotions, including a range of
positive and negative emotions not all of
which are encoded in facial muscles.
• These emotions are amusement, contempt,
embarrassment, excitement, guilt, pride,
relief, satisfaction, pleasure, and shame.
• They are very brief in duration, lasting only
1/25 to 1/15 of a second.
Microexpresssions
• Through Ekman’s studies, he found
that facial expressions were
universally understood and that our
expressions are biologically
programmed.
Crime Scene Challenge
• Now that your eyes and brain are warmed up, let’s test
your observation skills a bit more.
• You will have 2 minutes to study the photograph of a
crime scene on the next slide.
• Try to pay attention to details as you will be asked 10
questions about the crime scene!
• You are not allowed to write anything down until after
the time is up.
• Ready?
Answer Each Question Below
1. What color coffee mug was in the picture?
2. When was the deadline?
Yesterday
Blue
Red
Today
3. What time was on the clock on the wall?
Yellow
Tomorrow
10:40
11:05
4. How many sticky notes were on the whiteboard?
Four
1:55
Six
Eight
5. Which of the following was NOT in the picture? Stapler Trash Can Printer
6. What was the name on the plaque on the desk?
7. What color was the victim's shirt?
Black
8. How many plants were in the picture?
None
Bill
Blue
Carl
Red
One
9. What was the color of the marker in the desk drawer?
10. Where was the book in the picture?
On a box In the trash can
Brian
Two
Red
Blue Green
Under the body