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Crime Scene and Evidence Photographer's Guide
Introduction to Fingerprint Comparison
Courtroom Testimony for the Fingerprint Expert
Under the Headset: Surviving Dispatcher Stress
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Courtroom Testimony
for the Fingerprint Expert
Second Edition
ISBN 978-1-933373-03-4
Published 2007
by Gary W. Jones
Courtroom Testimony for the Fingerprint Expert was written by retired FBI Supervisory Fingerprint Specialist Gary W. Jones. This 114 page 5 ½" by 8 ½" book is a valuable text in preparing you to testify as an expert witness in court. You will refer to this text over and over to become more effective as an expert witness.
Contents Include
- CHAPTER 1 -- Preparation
- Notes
Anticipating Questions
Research
The Pre-Trial Conference Qualifying Questions
Direct Testimony
The Deposition
CHAPTER 2 -- Dress and Appearance
- Male Expert
Female Expert
Uniforms
Distractions in Personal Appearance
CHAPTER 3 -- Courtroom Demeanor
- The Witness Room
The Courtroom
Prior to Testifying
Prior to Entering the Courtroom
Taking the Oath
Presenting Testimony
Demonstrating Charted Enlargements
Courtesy
The Five Basic Rules of Testimony
CHAPTER 4 -- Defense Tactics
- Tactics and Questioning
CHAPTER 5 -- Fingerprints -- A True Science?
CHAPTER 6 -- The Fingerprint Expert's Credentials
- Certification
Resume and Curriculum Vitae
CHAPTER 7 -- Cross-Examination
- Age of a latent
Number of Fingerprint Characteristics Needed to Effect an Identification
IAI Certification
Court Exhibits
What is an Expert
Mistakes of Infallibility
Negative Testimony
Processing for Latent Prints
Lines of Questioning
- Defense Attorneys
Prosecutors
Juries
Judges
Reporters
Private Fingerprint Consultants
CHAPTER 9 -- Mock Trials
- Preparation
The Courtroom
The Trainee/Expert Witness
The Prosecutor
The Judge
The Jury
The Defense Attorney
Critiques and Evaluations
A Personal Note
Glossary of Fingerprint Terms
References
About the Author
Gary Jones has been actively engaged in fingerprint work since entering on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1964. At the time of his retirement in 1997 he was a Supervisory Fingerprint Specialist in the Latent Fingerprint Section. Currently he operates a private fingerprint consulting business, "Gary W. Jones Fingerprint Services," in Summerfield, Florida.
On numerous occasions Mr. Jones has presented fingerprint testimony in federal, state and local courts throughout the United States and has been accepted as an expert in each instance. He has instructed federal, state and local law enforcement personnel throughout the United States in all aspects of the fingerprint science, including the presentation of expert courtroom testimony.
Gary Jones has written articles relating to the fingerprint science and has been published in the International Association for Identification's (IAI) publication "The Journal of Forensic Identification." He is also the co-author of the FBI's Latent Fingerprint Training Manual. Mr. Jones is a member of the IAI, the Florida Division of the IAI, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Division of the IAI.
A Comment From the Author
The criminal trial is the final phase in an often long road of hard work by many individuals. What a waste when after all the hours of investigation, laboratory examinations, surveillance, dangerous undercover work, gathering witnesses, pre-trial conferences, legal research, etc., it all ends in disaster because an expert failed on the witness stand. When presenting testimony, it is not enough to tell the truth; the expert must also make the truth appear to be the truth. Effective courtroom testimony involves knowledge, experience, training, preparation, demeanor, and appearance. This book will attempt to address some methods and techniques that will aid the fingerprint expert in presenting the most convincing testimony possible.