Nobody is free from bias. Someone’s knowledge and experience influence bias. In the crime investigation process, bias can have a small impact to a massive impact that can ruin someone’s life. Therefore, bias in the crime investigation process has to be reduced or minimised.
The investigation process begins with a crime scene investigation. When bias occurs in this phase, it may ruin all of the investigation processes. For example, when investigators enter a crime scene with a dead body hanging by his/her neck, they have to evaluate all of the information and evidence before concluding that it is a homicide or suicide. However, they sometimes conclude a scene without comprehensive analysis as a homicide or suicide case based on their experiences or information received. Van den Eeden et al. (2016) found that prior information given to investigators could influence crime scene interpretation. This bias is extremely dangerous because they can miss some crucial evidence to be collected at the scene.
Next, bias can occur in witness or suspect testimony. Bias can occur from the witness or suspect side and even the investigator side. From the witness or suspect side, the witness or suspect can give wrong information based on his/her previous knowledge as perception and not presenting the factual information. In other words, a witness or suspect sometimes tells his/her assumption for the incident he/she experienced. For example, someone can misinterpret the sound of a balloon explosion as a gunshot.
On the other side, bias can occur from investigator judgement as confirmation bias. Investigator’s prejudice sometimes influences his/her judgement. Moreover, investigator interviews witness or a suspect using leading questions which fits their frame (McLean & Roach, 2011). This type of questions can reshape the witness’ or suspect’s testimony.
An example case relating to bias in witness testimony is Ronald Cotton’s case in 1984, where the victim, Jennifer Thompson, misidentified the offender as Ronald Cotton. Ten years later, the offender was identified through DNA analysis as Bobby Poole (How DNA Became A Perfect Witness, n.d.). On the other hand, an example case relating to bias in suspect testimony is Thomas Quick’s case during the 1990s, who was convicted as a serial killer and sentenced for a lifetime. In 2008, he was released because he told that his confession was fabricated (Thomas Quick, 2012).
Furthermore, bias can also occur in expert testimony. As a human being, experts are not free from mistakes and biases. Nakhaeizadeh et al. (2014) found that forensic anthropology scientists’ interpretation and conclusion can be affected by cognitive bias. In addition, Curley et al. (2020) suggested that contextual bias negatively influenced the accuracy of forensic scientists’ decisions. One example of expert bias is Brandon Mayfield’s case in 2004. He was arrested because his fingerprint was matched with the fingerprint found in Madrid’s bombing scene (Spinney, 2010). Another example was DC Shirley McKie’s case in 1998. She was accused of murdering Marion Ross and then released because of the mistake of the four SCRO experts (O’Neill, 2006).
The bias sometimes can be triggered by the initial piece of information offered, known as anchoring bias (Cherry, 2020). In other words, someone’s interpretation or decision is influenced by prior information given. For example, a judge is anchored by the prosecution when sentencing a guilty person. For identical case, the sentencing can be different because the prosecutor demands shorter or longer punishment. Englich and Mussweiler (2001) concluded that prosecutor’s demand influenced judges’ sentencing decisions.
Several things can be proposed to reduce or minimise bias. Van den Eeden et al. (2016) said that adhere to standard operating procedures or detectives’ routines and policies can minimise bias in the crime scene. To minimise bias when interviewing a witness or suspect, McLean and Roach (2011) proposed the COMPACTED method (Cognitive load, Open questions, Mindset, Planning, Advisor, Co–interviewer, Temporal, Emotional and Detail). Moreover, to avoid false confessions, UK psychologists and detectives developed the PEACE model of interviewing. PEACE stands for Planning and preparation, Engage and explain, Account clarification and challenge, Closure and Evaluation (The Psychologist, n.d.). For the experts, maintaining a professional and objective manner can avoid bias (Gutheil & Simon, 2004).
In conclusion, bias can occur at every phase of the investigation process. Bias can occur in the investigator’s crime scene and interviewing process. Then, it occurs in witness, suspect, and even expert testimonies. Lastly, it also occurs in the judge’s sentencing. To reduce or minimise bias, the investigator should adhere to standard operating procedure and use the COMPACTED or PEACE model of interviewing, while an expert should maintaining a professional and objective manner.
References
Curley, L. J., Munro, J., Lages, M., MacLean, R., & Murray, J. (2020). Assessing Cognitive Bias in Forensic Decisions: A Review and Outlook. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 65(2), 354–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14220
Englich, B., & Mussweiler, T. (2001). Sentencing Under Uncertainty: Anchoring Effects in the Courtroom1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(7), 1535–1551. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb02687.x
Cherry, Kendra (2020). How Your Decisions Are Biased by the First Thing You Hear. Verywell Mind. Retrieved 29 April 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-anchoring-bias-2795029
Gutheil, T., & Simon, R. (2004). Avoiding Bias in Expert Testimony. Psychiatric Annals, 34, 260–270. https://doi.org/10.3928/0048-5713-20040401-06
How DNA Became A Perfect Witness. (n.d.). Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved 29 April 2021, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/how-dna-became-a-perfect-witness
McLean, M., & Roach, J. (2011). Cognitive bias and criminal investigations. The Investigator. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/10482/
Nakhaeizadeh, S., Dror, I. E., & Morgan, R. M. (2014). Cognitive bias in forensic anthropology: Visual assessment of skeletal remains is susceptible to confirmation bias. Science & Justice, 54(3), 208–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2013.11.003
O’Neill, E. (2006, April 17). Eamonn O’Neill on the non-infallibility of fingerprints. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/apr/18/ukcrime.features11
Spinney, L. (2010). Science in court: The fine print. Nature, 464(7287), 344–346. https://doi.org/10.1038/464344a
Thomas Quick: The Swedish serial killer who never was. (2012, October 20). The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/20/thomas-quick-bergwall-sweden-murder
United Nations may recommend PEACE approach | The Psychologist. (n.d.). Retrieved 29 April 2021, from https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-29/december-2016/united-nations-may-recommend-peace-approach
Van den Eeden, C. A. J., de Poot, C. J., & van Koppen, P. J. (2016). Forensic expectations: Investigating a crime scene with prior information. Science & Justice, 56(6), 475–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2016.08.003
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