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The
University of California, Hastings College of the Law,
in association with the University of California, San Francisco, presents
In legal practice, two communities of professionals share the title "forensic science." The first are professionals who primarily seek to make identifications based on trace evidence left at the scene of a crime. These individuals practice what is popularly called "forensic identification science," which involves such well known subjects of identification as DNA, fingerprints, handwriting, firearms, toolmarks, and so forth. The second community of forensic scientists are those who primarily seek to make statements about a person's behavior or mental state. These individuals practice what might be called "forensic behavioral science," which involves such well known subjects as predictions of violence, descriptions of past mental states, competency assessments, mental retardation, and so forth. Although members of these communities use the same title, forensic scientist, they are rarely thought of together. The tasks of identifying trace evidence, on the one hand, and describing or predicting behavior, on the other hand, are generally seen as disparate and non-overlapping. In fact, however, the challenges facing these two areas of forensic science are quite alike, and many of the methodological and statistical underpinnings of the two are very similar. Faces of Forensics
brings together an extraordinary group of original thinkers to consider the
similarities and dissimilarities of forensic identification and forensic
behavioral science. In addition to a world-renowned group of scholars, we
are honored to have Dr. Donald Kennedy, Editor of Science and President Emeritus
of Click here to register online for this event. The goal of the conference is to explore lessons from the study of each subject and consider how they might advance the study of the other. If forensic experts, whether their focus is identification or behavior, are to serve the law well, they must solidify the scientific foundation for the opinions they offer in court. This means employing sophisticated research methods and statistics that are appropriate for their respective subjects. It also means supporting the development of a scientifically sophisticated judiciary, the primary consumers of this research. Panelists will discuss both the theoretical foundations for the identification and behavioral sciences and the practical implementation of that knowledge. Papers produced for the Conference will be published by the Hastings Law Journal. Click here for a copy of the event brochure.
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