applications

• 3. peace framework

  Prep + planning

  Engage + explain

  Account

  Closure

  Evaluation
• usefulness- peace framework

  • suitable for any witness, suspect or victim
  • provides ethical way to collect evidence
  • provides info that can lead to persecution.
  • increase public confidence
• effectiveness- peace framework

  • based on the idea that a person who is lying will lead to false accusations
  • without accounts of these people, other sources will have little value in bringing justice like CCTV
• prcticalities- peace franework

  • police investigators agree that special training is essential for peace framework to be effective
  • interviews should visit the scene to increase effectiveness
• 2. ACE-V


  structured approach to fingerprint identification which can help minimise bias.

  1. analysis phase
  2. comparison phase
  3. evaluation phase
  4. verification phase
• usefulness- ACE-V 


  provides a structured approach for them to follow

  allows experts to conduct an initial identification and then for it to be cross checked to determine accuracy
• effectiveness- ACE-V


  adopts a scientific approach, testing a hypothesis by comparing different features in the known to an unknown print

  data collection occurs during analysis, this is a testing phase during comparison and conclusions are drawn during the evaluation phase
• practicalities- ACE-V


  there must be consistency in the way that experts approach the use if each phase. each phase requires time, caution and effort but this is justified given the importance of reducing cognitive bias.
• Linear sequential unmasking


  1. Forensic examiners should work in a linear rather than a circular line of reasoning

  2. Reasoning works from the evidence to the suspect

  3. Prevents confirmation bias

  4. Experts must examine the document and trace evidence from the crime scene before being exposed to the known reference material

  5. Other case information is presented as late as possible in the examination process and only when it is necessary

  6. Information is gradually unmasked in sequence of importance
• linear sequential unmasking


  Dror et al.->it is importance to impose limits of when examiners are permitted to revisit and alter their initial analysis of trace evidence. this approach allows examiners to add to their initial analysis but prevents them from removing or deleting from it. Experts can also specify their confidence levels about fingerprint identification that may help in understanding the degree to which judgements about trace evidence were changed following exposure to reference materials
• useful- LSU


  trace evidence can be interpreted in the same way regardless of any suspect who is considered as a possible source of the trace evidence. it is also useful as it offers reasonable restrictions that reduce bias while providing examiners flexibility in forensic work.
• Dror


  Used cost-benefit analysis
• Decision to provide case information to the examiner


  1. Based on the relative contribution it would make to the examiner's work

  2. Relative to the potential bias
• Case information


  • Some info may be critical for the forensic examiner
  • Other info may be less significant
  • Some info may have very high potentially biasing impact
  • Other info has much less impact
• Informed decision as to whether to expose our mask


  1. Factors to consider:

  2. Difficulty of the case

  3. More difficult forensic decisions are more receptible to contextual effects