Frye and Daubert Standards Quiz: Scientific Evidence Admissibility

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of an expert witness in a criminal trial?

To act as a consultant to the prosecution or defense team

To ensure that physical evidence is properly collected and handled

To serve as a fact witness and testify about their observations

To provide testimony based on their specialized knowledge and experience that the court lacks (correct)

What is the Frye standard for the admissibility of scientific evidence?

The scientific technique or method must be generally accepted in the relevant scientific community (correct)

The scientific evidence must be the product of reliable principles and methods

The scientific evidence must meet the Daubert criteria for reliability and relevance

The scientific evidence must be the result of a properly conducted experiment

Which of the following is NOT one of the Daubert criteria for the admissibility of scientific evidence?

The theory or technique must be the product of reliable principles and methods

The theory or technique must have a known or potential error rate

The theory or technique must be testable and falsifiable

The theory or technique must be generally accepted in the relevant scientific community (correct)

Which of the following is a key difference between the Frye standard and the Daubert criteria for the admissibility of scientific evidence?

The Frye standard requires general acceptance in the relevant scientific community, while the Daubert criteria do not Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the scientific method in the analysis of physical evidence?

To validate the reliability and accuracy of the techniques used to analyze the evidence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key function of a forensic scientist in a criminal investigation?

To provide expert testimony in court about the significance of the physical evidence Signup and view all the answers

Why must an expert witness appear in person to provide testimony in court?

To allow the defense an opportunity for cross-examination Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of training evidence technicians?

To ensure all pertinent evidence is recognized and collected properly Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the special forensic science services mentioned in the text?

Forensic anthropology Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of forensic odontology?

Identifying victims using dental records Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following areas does forensic engineering NOT cover?

Ballistic analysis of firearms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of forensic computer and digital analysis?

Examining digital evidence for legal proceedings Signup and view all the answers

What was the standard for admitting scientific evidence into court prior to the Daubert case?

The Frye standard Signup and view all the answers

According to the Daubert case, who is ultimately responsible for determining the admissibility and validity of scientific evidence in court?

The trial judges Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the guidelines offered by the Supreme Court in Daubert for gauging the reliability of scientific evidence?

The cost-effectiveness of the scientific method Signup and view all the answers

In what case did the Supreme Court determine that the judge acts as a 'gatekeeper' not only for scientific testimony, but for any expert testimony?

Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. v. Carmichael Signup and view all the answers

What did the Frye standard require for scientific evidence to be admissible in court?

That the evidence be 'generally accepted' by the scientific community Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the guidelines from Daubert for evaluating scientific evidence?

The qualifications and experience of the expert witness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Crime Laboratory Units

Document examination unit provides skills for handwriting analysis, obliterations, erasures, and burnt documents
Photography unit applies specialized techniques for recording and examining physical evidence

Optional Services by Full-Service Labs

Toxicology unit examines body fluids and organs for drugs and poisons
Latent fingerprint unit processes and examines evidence for latent fingerprints
Polygraph unit conducts polygraph tests
Voiceprint analysis unit links recorded voices to suspects
Crime-scene investigation unit collects and preserves physical evidence at crime scenes

Functions of a Forensic Scientist

A forensic scientist must apply principles and techniques of physical and natural sciences to analyze evidence
Analyzing physical evidence requires using the scientific method: formulate a question, formulate a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, and validate the hypothesis
A forensic scientist may also provide expert court testimony

Expert Witness and Evidence Admissibility

An expert witness is an individual with knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average person
The expert witness evaluates evidence based on specialized training and experience
Evidence admissibility is determined by the Frye standard, which requires that an expert witness must appear in person to provide testimony

Evidence Collection Training

Crime laboratories have "evidence technicians" trained for evidence collection at crime scenes
Training ensures all pertinent evidence is recognized and collected properly

Special Forensic Science Services

Forensic psychiatry examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings
Forensic odontology uses teeth to provide information about victim identification and investigates bite marks
Forensic engineering is concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and causes of fires or explosions
Forensic computer and digital analysis involves the identification, collection, preservation, and examination of digital evidence

Evidence Admissibility: The Frye Standard and Daubert Criteria

The Frye standard requires that evidence must be "generally accepted" by the scientific community
The Daubert criteria provide guidelines for judging the reliability of scientific evidence: testability, peer review, potential rate of error, and widespread acceptance
Trial judges are ultimately responsible for determining the admissibility and validity of scientific evidence and expert testimony

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Description

Explore the origins of the Frye standard and its significance in determining the admissibility of scientific evidence in the U.S. courtroom. Learn about the 1993 Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc case and the U.S. Supreme Court's perspective on the admissibility of scientific evidence.

Frye and Daubert Standards in Scientific Evidence Admissibility

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