More past seminar series

Special theme: Visual evidence

Friday, 11 June 2010
Jury Symposium - The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes

This one-day symposium on visual evidence aimed to bring together psychologists, legal professionals and expert witnesses to discuss issues concerning the presentation of scientific evidence in Court. The symposium discussed issues concerning all aspects of visual evidence (e.g. CCTV, computer animations and simulations). Of particular interest were the role of the expert witness; how visual evidence is described to a jury; what impact visual evidence has on decision-making and whether presenting certain types of evidence visually is prejudicial or facilitative.

Specific talks included:

• Juror perceptions of crime scene re-enactments
• Brain imaging and the law
• The use of video clips in sentence hearings in the US
• 3D visualisations of crime scenes
• Expert testimony and forensic facial evidence
• Surveillance footage as evidence in 1935
• The 'CSI' effect
• Multi-sensory law
• Visual evidence from a legal perspective

Speakers included: Prof Gerry Derksen, Department of Design, Winthrop University; Dr Colette Brunschwig, Department of Law, University of Zurich; Prof Burkhard Schafer, Department of Law, Edinburgh University; Prof Richard Neave, Practitioner in forensic face and body mapping; Dr Minhua Eunice Ma, School of Computing, University of Derby; Dr Rhonda Wheate, School of Law, Glasgow Caledonian University; Dr Chris Williams, Department of History, Open University; Dr Graham Pike, Department of Psychology, Open University.

Climate Change, Crimes and Conflicts

Wednesday, 25 March 2010
The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes

Speaker: Prof Nigel South

Nigel South is Professor in the Department of Sociology, a member of the Human Rights Centre, and currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Law and Management at the University of Essex, COLCHESTER, UK. He has previously taught in London and New York. His research interests include green criminology; drug use, health and crime; inequalities, crime and citizenship; and theoretical and comparative criminology. He has served on various editorial boards and continues to serve on the international editorial board of Critical Criminology and as an editor of the journal, Deviant Behaviour.

Engaging to 'Prevent': Case studies on anti-radicalisation and hate crimes

Wednesday, 25 November 2009
The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes

Speaker: Dr Joanna Adler

This was a two pronged seminar considering work on preventing violent extremism and on hate crimes. Dr Joanna R. Adler, Forensic Psychologist, from Middlesex University outlined some research in progress and previous projects. She facilitated discussion about the practicalities and ethics of engaging with government core strategies and the roles of psychology, criminology and social policy in such processes.

Policing the British Empire in the 19^th and 20^th Century

16-17 September 2009
Workshop - The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes

This was the first in the series of four workshops examining imperial policing within a European context. These workshops were held in collaboration with the GERN.