instructions in the attached file
Assignment Description
you will be answering a series of prompts and questions that will require you to synthesize important aspects of the West Memphis Three case with the information covered thus far in the class, and key elements from two of the four domains of justice studies (investigations and evidence, and courts). To successfully answer the questions, you should have a solid understanding of the lecture material, readings, and primary sources of the case, and be able to connect these bodies of information in your analysis.
Assignment Requirements:
Assignment must be a minimum of 3 double spaced pages excluding the cover & reference pages, but no more than 4 double spaced pages excluding cover & reference pages. You may decide to write more for certain questions/prompts and less for others. This is perfectly fine as long as you sufficiently and thoroughly respond to each question/prompt.
Meet the following APA style requirements: 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1-inch page margins, cover page, reference pages, and in text citations as needed. You do NOT need an abstract or authors note.
Include the actual question or prompt as well as the number, and list it before your answer. The listing of questions factors into the 3 to 4 pages.
Incorporate the use of at least 3 peer reviewed and/or scholarly sources that are external to the course readings. How you integrate these sources is completely up to you.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS IS organization and coherence, use of requested scholarly sources, contribution value of content, thoroughness of responses, clarity of writing and sentence structure, demonstration of integration of important concepts discussed in the course material, effective use of in-text citations as needed, grammar/spelling, APA format and title/reference pages, page requirements, and use of required external scholarly resources.
Important Assignment Notes: Anything less than 3 double spaced pages (excluding title and reference pages but including the prompts/questions), will result in automatic point deductions. Also, just because you meet the page requirements does not mean you have responded thoroughly to the prompts. If possible, try to not go over 4 double spaced pages as it is easy to go over this limit considering the nature of the assignment. Keep in mind that writing "more" does not equate to writing "well". These page requirements are set for a reason. Page maximums help guide you to communicate clearly, succinctly, and include only relevant information. On the other hand, page minimums help guide you to respond in detail and answer questions completely.
QUESTIONS
One of the key domains of justice studies is: Investigations and Evidence. As seen in the West Memphis Three case, the primary contributing factors to the wrongful convictions happened during the Investigations and Evidence Gathering phase. Specifically, the use of faulty/incorrect eyewitnesses, and false confessions played a significant role. Please respond to the following prompts on faulty eyewitnesses and false confessions.
Explain the role of faulty eyewitness testimony in wrongful convictions. Make sure you include at least one fact, statistic or study finding in your answer.
Pick three different factors that increase the likelihood of faulty/incorrect eyewitness testimony and explain how they can lead to this increase.
Please explain the role of false confession in wrongful convictions and describe at least two factors that increase the likelihood of a false confession.
One of the key domains of justice studies is: Courts. As seen in the West Memphis Three case, a main contributing factor to the wrongful conviction was the use of flawed and unreliable expert testimony in court. Please respond to the following prompts about this type of expert testimony.
4. Explain how using unreliable and flawed expert testimony in court can contribute to wrongful convictions. Make sure you include at least one fact, statistic or study finding in your answer.
5. What is the significance of the Daubert Standard to the use of expert testimony?
Please pick one of the following factors: false confessions, flawed eyewitness testimony, or faulty expert testimony, and discuss it within the context of the case in the prompts below.
6. What was the specific role of your selected factor in the conviction of the West Memphis Three? Explain.
7. Please describe a specific example from the case as it pertain to your selected factor.
8. Had this factor not been an issue, do you think the West Memphis Three would have still been wrongfully convicted? Explain.
