Language in Police Interrogations of Criminal Suspects Learn How Your Words May Hurt You Popular crime show dramas often portray police interrogations as heated and adversarial. Suspects are shown to break down and confess to crimes after long hours of brow-beating and intimidation. In the media, suspects are routinely subjected to yelling, lies and trickery. In fact, though, police interrogations are generally far subtler, and less threatening, because trained officers know that suspects generally reveal a great deal about an event simply by the way that they speak and the words that they choose to use. Seasoned interrogators will use these subtle language cues to direct their questioning and determine “guilt” based on what they learn. Suspects may be fooled
Read more →What Does Prove Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Mean? Evidence in Texas Criminal Cases If a person is charged with a crime they are “presumed innocent” and can only be convicted when the prosecution proves the crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Even though a person has been accused, arrested, jailed, or charged with a crime – a jury is not supposed to assume a person has done something wrong. One jury member may need more evidence than another jury member to be convinced “beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, a lawyer cannot tell jury members that they should require more evidence to be convinced “beyond a reasonable doubt” based on how serious a case is. The United State’s Supreme Court has decided
Read more →Register Now for 2014 Evidence Bootcamp Every lawyer needs to sharpen their tools of the trade. This evidence workshop is directed by Jerry Howeth, an Austin attorney who is recognized as an expert in Texas evidentiary law. Any criminal defense attorney will find the few days (14.75 CLE hours) valuable to their trial practice. Aside from sharpening a criminal defense attorney’s use of evidentiary maneuvers, participants will be taught Jerry’s unique method of understanding the Texas Rules of Evidence. The Evidence Bootcamp will consist of lectures and break-out sessions where attendees will apply the rules of evidence. Your level of practice will not be the same after this program! Faculty will include: Pheobe S. Smith, Houston, Texas Philip Alan Wischkaemper,
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