Recruitment procedure for Transfrom4Europe BA Tracks 2024/2025 at the University of Silesia in Katowice

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Witness Testimony – Legal and Psychological Aspects

Details
Code W5-LA-S2-KON-WT
Organizational unit Faculty of Law and Administration
Form of studies Full-time
Level of education First cycle
Language(s) of instruction English
Admission limit 25
Duration classes will start in the summer semester
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General data

syllabus

group instructor

 dr Joanna Koczur

ECTS credit allocation

3 ECTS

Type of class

 Seminar, 20 hours

Course mode

online

Language

  English

 

Course description:

The subject has the task of acquiring knowledge, experience and competence connected with the legal and psychological aspects of witness's interview.

List of topics

1) The concept and types of witnesses.

2) Legal aspects of witness testimony.

3) Interview – preparation and strategy.

4) Interviewing witnesses – practical aspects.

5) Theoretical issues in the study of memory.

6) The impact of the factors (variables) on sincere witness testimony.

7) The influence of the interviewing witnesses on correctness their recalls – regarding script theory and disinformation. Cognitive

interview.

8) False confessions. Interpretation of verbal and non-verbal behaviour.

9) Estimating the reliability of eyewitness testimony and identification. Mistaken identification.

10) Interviewing children and the old adult witnesses – rules and strategy.

 

Required literature:

1) D. Zulawski, D. Wicklander, Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, Second Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New

York, Washington D.C. 2002.

2) E. Loftus, Eyewitness Testimony, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England, 1996.

3) T. J. Perfect, D. S. Lindsay (ed.), Applied Memory, SAGE, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington 2014.

 

 

Supplementary reading:

1) D. Walton, Witness Testimony Evidence. Argumentation, Artificial Intelligence and Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008.

2) E. Brimacombe, N. Quinton, N. Nance, L. Garrioch, Is Age Irrelevant? Perceptions of Young and Old Adult Eyewitnesses, „Law and Human Behavior” 1997, vol. 21, no. 6.

3) S. Kassin, Essentials of Psycholgy, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 2004.

 

Assessment methods and assessment criteria:

  • Practical exercises.
  • Active participation in discussion classes.
  • Final essay.
  • The final note is determined with: the score of written essay (80%) and preparing the practical exercises with active participation in
  • discussion classes (20%).
  • The final note depends on student’s knowledge and skills.