Delve into the complexities and uncertainties of the American criminal justice system in this thought-provoking 70-minute panel discussion from the World Science Festival. Join journalist Jim Dwyer, Innocence Project founder Peter Neufeld, forensic scientist Mechthild Prinz, psychologist Saul Kassin, and law professor Ekow Yankah as they explore critical issues such as eyewitness reliability, false confessions, cognitive bias, and forensic science. Witness a live staged robbery and learn about real-life cases, including the Central Park jogger case, to understand the challenges in determining innocence and guilt. Gain insights into police questioning techniques, factors influencing confessions, and efforts to strengthen forensic science in the United States. Challenge your assumptions about the justice system and discover the role of science in improving its accuracy and fairness.
Overview
Syllabus
Jami Floyd's introduction.
Participant Introductions.
How reliable are eyewitnesses?
What happens in police questioning that may affect the case?
What are the different ways that police ask people to make identifications?
When did the experts start to doubt eyewitnesses?
A LIVE robbery on stage!
The case of Jennifer Thompson.
What is cognitive bias?
Why do people give false confessions?
What are the techniques that police use to get confessions?
Who is more likely to confess?
The Central Park jogger case.
Mechthild Prinz joins the stage
Strengthening forensic science in the U.S.
Who did the audience convict in the stage robbery?
Taught by
World Science Festival
