Introduction
[Read the CCJA publication, Expert Witnesses in Criminal Cases, to get a more sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of the role of the expert in criminal cases.] You'll find lots of web sites, some good - some not so good, with information about expert witnesses and where to find them, plus a bit about how to keep an expert's testimony understandable, e.g., (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12 - Texas prosecutors' 4-star list of prosecution and defense experts with prosecution contacts), (13), (14 - a criminal lawyer's list). In these modern times, when science and technology are in full flower, it's not surprising that many criminal trials involve the examination of expert or skilled witnesses. One cannot hope to enjoy success as a prosecutor or defender without having mastered the craft of preparing, presenting, and attacking expert testimony (1), (2), (3).
Who is an expert?
An expert may be defined as one who has specialized knowledge by education, training, experience, or skill. (Either formal training or experience will do.)
What are some of the relevant recognized fields of scientific, technical, and other specialized knowledge, and who are some of the people who testify in court as experts?
[Note: Over 400 possible resources have been placed in ( ) in this portion of the monograph on expert witnesses. Except as noted, neither the CCJA nor myself vouches for any of these resources. They are here solely to assist prosecutors and defenders in trying to locate possible expert consultants and/or witnesses. Some of these resources are experts who have been mentioned positively in anecdotal conversations amongst defenders and prosecutors. If you are a practitioner and know of a qualified expert that should be listed or dropped from the list, drop us an e-mail with the expert's name, area of specialization, and web address.] Many categories of forensic expertise (1), (2), (3), (4) are relevant to criminal cases. They include the following:
- arson (including such matters as gas/vapor flammability, fire properties, thermal stability, electrostatic properties, dust explosion hazards) (1), (2), (3), (4) , (5 - You must have this publication if you are trying an arson case or a case involving explosive; it's the Bible of the trade, the benchmark reference book - NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosions Investigations 2004 Edition, book or PDF download $48; be aware, a new edition will be released in 2008), (6 - Fire and Arson Scene Investigation 2000), (7), (8 - accelerants, (9 - pro-prosecution fire investigation experts), (10a, 10b - prosecution) , (11 - pro-prosecution), (12)
- audiology (1)
- computer forensics (recovery of lost or deleted files, theory, etc.) (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10 - articles also), (11), (12), (13), (14 - federal guidelines for seizure & search), (15), (16 - cops who seize and examine contents of computers), (17 - Deloitte's Financial Advisory Services -Analytic & Forensic Technology), (18 - headed by ex-FBI agent), (19 - tips for the forensic computer examiner on cross) , (20 - electronic crime scene investigation: 2001 law enforcement guide), (21- forensic examination of digital evidence: 2004 law enforcement guide), (22- article re cross of this expert), (23 - recent casel law under "computer forensics"), (24 - explained), (25 - article)
- blood stain (spatter) pattern analysis (1), (2), (3), (4), (5 - Association - includes list of terminology), (6 Canada), (7), (8a, 8b, 8c - prosecution), (9 at VIFSM - prosecution), (10), (11 - Okla.), (12 - Bloodstain Evidence Institute - Professor Herbert MacDowell, Corning, NY), (13 - Miami, Fla. - prosecution), (14 - Henry Lee Institute of Forensic Science), (15)
- facial recognition technology (1)
- forensic anthropology/facial reconstruction (1), (2), (3 - American Board)
- forensic odontology (now called "forensic dentistry") (1), (2- Board), (3), (4 - prosecution expert)
- forensic pathology (1) (2- shaken baby doll), (3 - Armed Forces Institute), (4), (5), (6), (7 - child abuse/computer generated graphics of injuries), (8), (9 -pathology of drug use), (10), (11 - a superb forensic pathologist and also a lawyer), (12 - web site contains some brief but useful information re the role of the forensic pathologist), (autopsy info 13, 14 -Association, 15, 16), (medical terms 17), (18 - time of death), (19 - asphyxiation), (20), (21 - Johns Hopkins info re pathology), (22 - forensic views of the body), (23 - Body Farm), (24 - shaken baby), (25), (26 - list), (27)
- forensic psychology (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16 -child abuse), (17), (18 - ABFP), (19 - ATSA), (20), (21), (22-polygraph), (23), (24 -reference), (25 - memory decay re child witness competency), (26 - National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse - has vast database of transcripts of of experts used by the defense), (27 - family psychology), (28- psychopathy indicators) , (29 - info), (30 - info)
- hypnotism
- inability to knowingly waive Miranda (1)
- luminol analysis (1)
- physics (1)