The Psychology and Sociology of Wrongful Convictions
Forensic Science Reform
- 1st Edition - June 28, 2018
- Latest edition
- Editors: Wendy J Koen, C. Michael Bowers
- Language: English
Wrongful convictions are the result of faulty or false scientific evidence in 50% of the cases. Defense counsel is often at a great disadvantage in defending against evidence ba… Read more
Wrongful convictions are the result of faulty or false scientific evidence in 50% of the cases. Defense counsel is often at a great disadvantage in defending against evidence based on science. Illusory Evidence: The Psychology and Sociology of Wrongful Convictions is written for the non-scientist, to make complicated scientific information clear and concise enough for attorneys and judges to master. This is obtained by providing case studies to simplify issues in forensic psychology for the legal professional.
- Increases the courts’ knowledge about areas of psychology that have been debunked, have advanced, or have been refined by the scientific community
- Covers issues in psychological forensics, namely: Profiling, Psychological Defenses, Mitigation, Eyewitness Testimony/Identification, Child Testimony, Repressed Memories, False Confessions and Moral Panic
- Trains prosecuting attorneys about the present state of the forensic psychology, to avoid relying only on legal precedent and will not present flawed science to the court
- Provides defense attorneys the knowledge necessary to competently defend where forensic psychology plays a part in a prosecution
- Arms innocence projects and appellate attorneys with the latest information to challenge convictions
- Uses case studies to simplify issues in forensic psychology for the legal professional
Criminal court judges and attorneys, legal professionals, as well as forensic psychology and law students world-wide. Innocence projects, appellate attorneys, criminal justice college courses
1. Profiling
2. Psychological Defenses / Mitigation
3. Eyewitness Testimony / Identification
4. Child Testimony
5. Repressed Memories
6. False Confessions
7. Moral Panic
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: June 28, 2018
- Language: English
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Wendy J Koen
Wendy J. Koen is currently in private practice in Southern California. Formerly with the California Innocence Project, Ms. Koen has been part of litigation teams that successfully represented many clients in wrongful conviction cases, including the successful exoneration of Timothy Atkins, Daniel Larsen, and William Richards. In addition, Attorney Koen’s work was instrumental in changes to California’s law concerning false expert evidence, and the inception of California Penal Code Section 1473 (e)(1), giving those convicted by faulty science a clear avenue for relief.
Affiliations and expertise
Habeas Attorney, San Diego, CA, USACB
C. Michael Bowers
C. Michael Bowers is an Associate Clinical Professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. He is also the Deputy Medical Examiner in Ventura, California. Dr. Bowers is a practicing forensic dentist and consultant who has testified and worked on hundreds of cases where dental evidence has been involved. He is a former Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology, a Senior Crime Scene Analyst for the International Association for Identification (IAI) and has written other articles, chapters and books on forensic dentistry. He owns and operates his own dental practice in Ventura, CA.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Clinical Professor, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Deputy Medical Examiner, Ventura, CA, USARead The Psychology and Sociology of Wrongful Convictions on ScienceDirect