CRJU 4100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Exculpatory Evidence, Police Perjury
Document Summary
O(cid:448)er(cid:449)hel(cid:373)i(cid:374)g (cid:272)ase load (cid:373)a(cid:374)s so(cid:373)e prose(cid:272)utors do(cid:374)(cid:859)t look at the (cid:272)ase file u(cid:374)til a couple days before trial. Witness credibility- the prose(cid:272)utio(cid:374)(cid:859)s (cid:449)it(cid:374)esses should (cid:271)e relia(cid:271)le a(cid:374)d (cid:272)redi(cid:271)le (police officers). Their statements should be confirmed by other evidence. Jail house informants- inmates lie; co-defendant vs witnesses; Corpus delecti- the body of the crime; body of facts and evidence that support the statements that a crime has been committed. Brady rule: the prosecution must share exculpatory evidence with the defense. Brady list: a list of unreliable officers and other cj professionals (based on ia files, evidence of (cid:858)testil(cid:455)i(cid:374)g(cid:859), etc. Problems with forensic personnel- wearing a white lab coat does not necessarily mean they are ethical. Pre-trial ethical issues: ways for the prosecutors to manipulate the cases. Prosecutors are the most powerful people in the court room because they decide whether or not to prosecute a case. Note that a lot of these unethical issues occur in conjunction with law.
