...While not everyone is aware, it is more than evident that psychology and the legal system are intertwined in many different ways. After having the chance to observe court case in real life, it is even more clear to me how these two fields merge into one another, creating an entirely different field of forensic psychology. I will be sharing my observations and experience of my time observing a real-life court case trial before my own eyes and how this can be related to the course information I have learned in this class this semester. I attended court on Tuesday, February 27th, at the Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo, Iowa. My observation lasted for about two hours between 2 p.m. and 4 pm. During my time, I witnessed the voir dire...
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...Are Controlled Clinical Trials Really Ethical? Case Study In 2009, two cousins, Thomas and Brandon were diagnosed with the same type of deadly skin cancer within a 2 month time frame of each other. To date, here is no cure for skin cancer and once diagnosed the average life expectancy is approximately 8 months. Current standard of care treatments are aimed at shrinking the tumors and prolonging life. Unfortunately, these standard of care treatments only work in a very small percentage of patients and are very toxic with terrible side effects. Thomas learned of a new Phase 3 clinical research trial sponsored by Roche with an unapproved yet promising drug. His doctor explained that in earlier trials, a majority of volunteer patients who took the wonder drug had seen a drastic reduction in the size of their tumors with very few side effects. The only way ill patients can get the drug is by participating in this trial. The trial is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) which means half of the volunteers will get the experimental drug while the other half will be treated with another standard of care treatment. The purpose of the standard or control arm is to allow researchers to compare the long term effects of the new drug to that of the current standard treatment and determine whether it actually shrinks tumors and prolong remissions. Participants have a 50/50 chance of being placed in either arm of the study. Arm assignments are random and cannot be changed. With limited options...
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...breath that is taken upon birth is a privilege of an enduring life. We are given the right to live as a human to the best way possible. No individual has a concession of taking a life away at their own pleasure. Despite of ones actions, under the modern practice in America one is innocent until proven guilty and to a public trial in defense under the presumption law. A fair trial consists of crucial evidence and to be proven beyond the unreasonable doubt of why an individual would be indicted. The presumption of innocence is essential in a fair trial given to an individual. Osama Bin Laden was a faulty evil leader who has only influenced and articulated individuals to wrong doing to others. Whether Osama was a murder, a corrupted politician, or a leader to those who followed him he deserved a fair trial once captured. Osama bin Laden was the mastermind and claimed responsibility of the thousands of lives lost throughout decades from various countries around the world. America lost over two thousands lives and mentally and emotionally ruined many others due to Osama’s leadership. When Osama was captured on May 1st of 2011, he was shot to death in Pakistan. His body was later given a sea burial. By him being shot to death the rights to live and the right to a fair trial was taken from him by his predators. If Osama was not equipped with a harmful weapon of any kind he should have been saved and tried for a fair trial under the international court. If Osama was equipped with a...
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...possible, for some reason you are atop a very tall building holding your new phone over a railing and smash, it is dead. Clearly this is an exaggeration of what could possibly happen, but you concede and agree to the purchase, despite the fact that you are really only preventing a small loss. Now, consider a very similar situation, where you are seated with a life insurance agent. You are presented with many numbers, from how much you will have to pay, to the likelihood that the company will end up paying out. Despite clear evidence that the gain is greater than the loss, consumers often decline to purchase life insurance, even though doing so could prevent a catastrophic loss. What is it that differentiates these two decisions? Past research would indicate many theories behind the purchasing differences in such problems, but we will first highlight the primary issues. You have not been presented with any probabilities of how likely it is that your phone will indeed come to its untimely fate, yet you decide that the price of insuring against that loss is well worth the peace of mind that it provides. Life insurance on the other hand was carefully...
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...Davis Hawkins November 17th, 2015 Recalled to Life If you were asked to recall someone to life, how would you go about it? Perhaps giving them an inspirational speech would invigorate their passions, or maybe an emotional reunion with an old friend or long-lost family member? In The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, many characters are shown to be “recalled to life”. However, one man distinctly embodies this rejuvenation three times throughout the book. Charles Darnay, with the aid of his comrades, is recalled to life while on trial for treason in three individual circumstances. When Darnay is first introduced, he is on trial in England for allegedly plotting with the French and Americans against England. The general opinion in the courtroom is in agreement with this claim, and the situation does not bode well for young Darnay. Should he be pronounced guilty, any dreams or goals for his future would be shattered, for his punishment would be certain death. However, the public judgment sways after hearing the testimony of Lucie Manette, an earlier acquaintance of the accused who vouches for his kindness and honesty. Furthermore, when the lawyer for the defense reveals that a Mr. Sidney Carton bears a striking resemblance to Darnay, the accusations against the prisoner are crushed and he is acquitted of all charges. As Jerry Cruncher so aptly puts it: “Mr. Lorry handed him a paper through the throng. “Quick! Have you got it?” “Yes, sir.” Hastily...
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...paper, psychology in the legal arena is discussed including jury selection, juror life experiences and how it affects their biases, and the impact of the media on their decisions. Jury Selection and Its Importance Juries have the all too important task of making life altering decisions dealing with money, freedom, and many times life or death situations. Therefore, serving on a jury is a very serious and important proposition. Unfortunately, in today’s society it appears that many times juries are selected in a rather casual manner. Many individuals called to jury service, especially those with a higher education or in a higher economic echelon, can find ways to escape their civic duty, while those who are less educated and theoretically less qualified for jury service, end up serving on the jury and making critical decisions. A fairly new trend in jury selection is that of trial consulting, which gained notoriety in the mid 1990’s in the O.J. Simpson trial. The application of scientific jury selection (SJS) was first applied in 1971, and has grown tremendously in recent years for those who have the means to employ such methods. The goal of the trial consultant is to find persons to fill the jury seats who optimally will arrive at a decision that will be favorable to their client. The tools used by the trial consultant include “…community surveys, focus groups, mock trials, pretrial investigations of prospective jurors, and voir dire assistance.” (Cleary...
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...are the similarities between that trial and the one of Tom Robinson in the novel? | | E3 | In a time in which racism and segregation were substantial two lawyers each very determined to help and stand by their clients and defend them in law to the best of their abilities in the face of danger. Both the Scottsboro boy Trials and the Tom Robinson trial in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” were very similar and “To kill a Mockingbird” definitely seemed as if it were influenced by the Scottsboro boy’s trial. | Samuel Leibowits was the lawyer who defended Charles Weems, Andy Wright, Olen Montgomery, Roy Wright, Willie Robertson, Eugene Williams, Ozzie Powell, Clarence Norris and Haywood Patterson also known as the Scottsboro Boys. What happen to them was that they were on a train and they were accused of rape by Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. All nine men were convicted soon after for rape. Atticus Finch defended Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" the story revolves around the trial and the life of Finch and his family before, during and after the trial of Tom Robinson. Atticus faced loads of criticism for defending a black man. The similarities that are shared between the trials of the Scottsboro Boys and that of Tom Robinson in "To Kill a Mockingbird" are many. First of all they both take place in a racist and segregated state in the south; Alabama. Both Trials are defended by white lawyers who...
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...During World War ll, many horrific events occurred. The people that caused the events were put to trial and charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. Their trials that brought justice were called the Nuremberg trials. The Nuremberg trials were a series of thirteen trials made by the allies held between 1945-1949 (Holocaust Timeline: Aftermath). In these trials, twenty-two criminals were received their punishment for their abominable crimes (Holocaust Timeline: Aftermath). The trials had taken place in Nuremberg, Germany at the Palace of Justice because Berlin had been to war-damaged (Angela Wood, 168, Jason Skog, 28). The trials were also held in Nuremberg because it is where racial laws were passed (Angela...
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...Everyone experiences adversity at some point in their lives. Some people do not believe that adversity is needed in life, and they can travel through life without any conflict. That simply is not true. Everyone will experience it. Golda Meir once said that, "You'll never find a better sparring partner than adversity." Adversity is the best sparring partner because it strengthens character, helps develop humility, and teaches life lessons that cannot be learned in any other way. Through trials of adversity, character can be learned. Many parents enroll their children into karate lessons that include the event of sparring. They do this so their children can learn how to work hard, be tough, never give up and keep fighting. Those are all essential characteristics that a child needs to learn. In the quote from Golda Meir, he says that adversity is the best sparring partner. Just like sparring can teach children and adults many things, adversity will teach the most. It is inevitable and is the best way to learn. Often there is no escape from adversity and...
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...case taking place in Scottsboro, Alabama. The Scottsboro trials was a set of trials concerning an alleged rape. The case began on March 25, 1931 when two white, working class women stumbled off of the train claiming they had been raped by nine black men. The case went to court four times, spanning for seven years, and eighty-two years until all nine boys were pardon for the charges of rape. “The case had never presented as many tri…..” The Scottsboro trials greatly proved how partial the American government and justice system was, particularly in the south. After the civil war African Americans were free, but that did not mean they were equal. In the Constitution “All...
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...KNOW trouble is coming: phone call away, accident, etc. How then do we as Christians handle our trials and troubles? James 1:2-4 Overview of James: practical book, Proverbs of the N.T. Theme of genuine faith , inward faith leads to outward actions very first thing James addresses is trials- how we handle this is the key to the other issues speaking from experience: quick testimony, 6 cases of malaria, 1 typhoid, 2 pneumonia, 1 shingles, 1 dislocated knee, then Grady (1st 6 months) even today: no job, no home, possessions in a crate, parents divorce II Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all Why share? No expert but no stranger to trouble One beggar showing another beggar where to find bread Pure joy! v. 2 “Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds” “when” be ready! John 16:33 “in this world you will have trouble” I Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Jesus' life and ex of suffering (a servant is not above his master) Consider, evaluate – come to a whole new way of thinking This is NOT just grin and bear it world says “keep calm and carry on” motivational poster!” vs. Christianity says consider it Pure Joy! – it is pure joy as you are enduring trials It's a paradox (makes no sense) just like lead/serve, live/die, gain/give, rejoice/suffer ex....
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...culture and folklore, it is also a fine example of bildungsroman, or a coming of age story. The main character, Antonio, experiences trials, descents into darkness, heroic feats, and achievement of knew knowledge. By the end of the story he has begun to encounter the real world and grow in maturity which will one day help him grow into a man. He has also learned that not everything has to be as it was in the past and that things can be changed. The first stage of Antonio's coming of age are the trials he undergoes. These trials expose him to some form of evil, all of which teach him something about life. Most of the trials he encounters are through Tenorio,...
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...ninety-four percent of state cases end in plea bargains…” (Goode, 2012, p.1). Plea-bargaining is very useful in lowering the number of trials by jury; but it can also be used to intimidate individuals into pleading guilty for a crime they did not commit. The criminal justice system has used plea-bargaining for a long time to ensure convictions without the costliness of a trial by jury. Ever since Gideon...
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...experimental, unapproved drugs to include terminally-ill patients who have exhausted all conventional treatment methods and choose to accept the risks. Terminally-ill patients deserve the right to choose and have access to potentially life-saving drugs as the potential benefit of life justifies the potential risks when imminent death is their only alternative. After extensive testing many of these drugs go on to be approved, but this process can take years and often terminally-ill patients die long before FDA approval. By allowing dying patients the choice of participation in clinical trials, not only could life be spared, but the possible proven efficacy of these drugs could be of benefit to all humanity. A Patient's Right to Choose It is the constitutional right of the citizens of the United States of America to make an informed decision as to whether or not to use potentially life-saving drugs to prolong life when terminally ill. Federal regulations and restrictions must be lifted to accommodate access to this fundamental right. When faced with a terminal illness and all conventional treatment methods have failed, it should be the patient's choice as to whether or not unapproved, experimental drugs are used, as the potential benefit of life justifies the potential risks when imminent death is the alternative with no other options. Drug Approval Process The U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) currently evaluates and dictates...
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...The Salem Witch Trials were an example of the strict Puritan religion in the 17th century. Even though there was no actual evidence of witchcraft, the religious beliefs of the Puritans caused many men, women and children to be wrongfully accused. The Puritan’s life revolved around the church. They attended sermons twice a week, dancing was not allowed, listening of non-religious music was prohibited, holidays were not celebrated and children were not allowed to play with toys or dolls and their education revolved around the Bible. Some Puritan’s believed Satan needed permission to take over a living human body while others believed Satan could afflict anyone. The Puritan values and religious beliefs during this time led to a mass hysteria which started the accusations of witchcraft. In the Seventeenth Century it was believed that witches were a product of Satan. During this time it was unheard of to speak of a good witch in colonial Massachusetts. “A witch is a person believed to have received special powers.” (1) As life became more difficult for the Puritans they began to blame witches for the problems they faced within their community. Puritan’s believed that anyone crippled, aged, poor, deformed or sickly were possible offspring of Satan. Anyone that did not follow the Puritan religion faithfully would risk the possibility of being accused of witchcraft. People being accused of witchcraft were typically women in their middle age possibly living on their own. The woman...
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