ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

A Perspective on Probability and Physical Evidence
Kingston, C
Professor of criminalistics, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY

(Received 30 September 1988; accepted 21 December 1988)

Abstract

Evaluating the significance of physical evidence often requires a consideration of the probability of chance occurrence of the evidential properties and an appropriate target population. These are used to calculate the probability of duplication of the properties within the target population, which in turn is used to evaluate the significance of the evidence. The target population chosen for consideration by the expert witness generally cannot be the same as that used by investigators or a jury. This paper discusses the choice of an appropriate target population by the expert and offers a suggestion for aiding the jury in evaluating the expert's opinion with respect to other evidence in a case.

Keywords:
forensic science, jurisprudence, physical evidence, witnesses, probability, jury, testimony

Paper ID: JFS12775J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12775J
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