WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Diploma Criminology
These notes cover the entirety of AC3.1 for Unit 3. For use in the Crime Scene to Court Room Controlled Assessment (WJEC Applied Diploma in Criminology). Include sufficient detail and relevant case examples. Achieved top grades using these notes.
- Evidence
- Trial transcripts
- Media reports
- Judgements
- Law Reports
Evidence
It is up to the jury to decide how valid the evidence is presented to them is. Evidence needs
to be:
- Admissible - for example, illegally obtained evidence will not be admissible in court
- Reliable - for example, is the evidence accurate and is the evidence from a
trustworthy source
- Credible - Is the evidence believable based on the circumstances the evidence was
gathered?
Eyewitness testimony
- Juries tend to take eye witness accounts seriously, though it may not always be valid.
- Many convictions based on eyewitness accounts are overturned when more reliable
evidence, such as DNA, comes to light
- Psychologists, Loftus et al, found that witness memory can be affected by factors
such as: the time the event took place, whether they discussed what they saw with
anyone, how long they saw it, and the way questions are asked to them in court.
- These factors suggest that eyewitness testimony’s lack validity
- ‘Weapon focus’ - witnesses focus on the weapon rather than factors such as what
the witness looks like
Evidence from experts
- The evidence from expert witnesses is different to ordinary witnesses.
- As they are experts on the subject they are talking about, they are allowed to give
their opinions.
, - Jurors give great weight to experts, and this can dramatically change the verdict that
they come to
- Miscarriages of justice - this can happen if the evidence given is inaccurate, as seen
in the case of Sally Clarke
Forensic Evidence
- DNA evidence can provide highly valid information as everyone’s DNA is unique
- However, forensic evidence can be contaminated, which can lead to the wrong
person being accused as seen in the case of Adam Scott
Trial transcripts
- It is a written record of everything that is said in court
- Crown court hearings are always recorded, Magistrates hearings are not
- It is evidence which a defendant can use in an appeal and can also be used by the
Parole Board to determine if someone should be released from prison
Are they valid?
- They are highly accurate and unbiased reports - they are not noted down by instead
by a digital system
- There is a slight risk that the technology could malfunction and so it would be be
recorded accurately, words could get distorted
- Circumstances within the courtroom may affect the validity, for example if the noise
levels were high
Media
Political bias
- Media outlets have different political bias’ - the Mirror is more left leaning then the
Sun, who support the Conservatives
- TV and radio have a duty to be impartial and not show a particular bias to one side or
another
Right wing papers - more likely to support police, demonise offenders
- Left wing papers - critical of institutions like the police and government
- Need to take into account these bias’ when assessing the validity of the information
Moral Panics
- Media sensationalise coverage in order to attract larger audiences and improve profit
(mods and rockers in the 1960’s)
- Exaggerated reporting does not give an accurate portrayal of the seriousness of the
crime or amount of crime which is occuring
Stereotyping
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