Justice League members and enthusiasts:
Thanks for a great first meeting today! We will be holding regular check-in meetings every other Thursday, starting on the second Thursday in October (the 13th). They'll be twenty minutes long and we'll try to provide snacks, so feel free to pop in, grab some food, and see what's going on with CJL!
We'll provide more info as the meetings draw nearer.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
CJL Human Rights Picnic: Supermax Prisons
Criminal Justice League End of Summer Event
Human Rights Picnic: Supermax Prisons
When: Wednesday, August 24 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Van Cleve Park
Who: Hosted by the Twin Cities Student Coalition for Human Rights
What: Come participate in a potluck discussion on the phenomenon of Supermax prisons in the United States, and their effect on the prison system as a whole, its inmates, and the wider community.
We will especially be discussing the Human RightsCoalition’s extensive research on the use of isolation in prisons, and the recent hunger strikes by supermax prisoners in California. On Tuesday, one day before our discussion, legislators are meeting to address the ongoing Pelican Bay hunger strike protesting isolation, so we will be able to discuss the outcome of that meeting.
Potluck style: bring your ideas and, if you can, something yummy to share!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Social Pressure, Memory Conformity, and Witness Testimony: A Recipe for Injustice?
Science Magazine's July 1 podcast talks about the role social and group pressure has on memory.
According to a recent study, people not only conform their opinions publicly to social pressure, but passive social pressure can also change peoples' memories subconsciously. The study mapped these subconscious memory adjustments to a specific pattern of neuro-activity in the amygdala
Micah Edelson, a researcher on the study describes in an interview with Science Magazine Podcast how he showed a group of subjects a film, and afterwards asked a series of questions about it. Shortly thereafter, he again interviewed the subjects; this time, however, he provided (false) statements about the film that contradicted answers that subjects had previously answered correctly, and felt confident about. The subjects showed a strong trend towards altering their answers on all of these points.
This social and psychological phenomenon of particular interest to persons in criminal law fields because of its implications for witness testimony. As the host of the podcast points out, many involve more than one witness, and they tend to talk to each other about the people and incidents involved prior to giving testimony. Edelson's study implies that, although witnesses may not be intentionally lying on the stand or in affidavits, social influence may have actually altered even their most confident memories of events by the time they make their statement to the court.
Listen to the podcast here.
As an added bonus, though not necessarily related to Criminal Law, the rest of the podcast discusses the significance and long-term impact of NASA’s space shuttle; exploring the mathematics and applying statistics to the study of terrorist groups; why some penguins seem to be afraid of the dark; and more.
According to a recent study, people not only conform their opinions publicly to social pressure, but passive social pressure can also change peoples' memories subconsciously. The study mapped these subconscious memory adjustments to a specific pattern of neuro-activity in the amygdala
Micah Edelson, a researcher on the study describes in an interview with Science Magazine Podcast how he showed a group of subjects a film, and afterwards asked a series of questions about it. Shortly thereafter, he again interviewed the subjects; this time, however, he provided (false) statements about the film that contradicted answers that subjects had previously answered correctly, and felt confident about. The subjects showed a strong trend towards altering their answers on all of these points.
This social and psychological phenomenon of particular interest to persons in criminal law fields because of its implications for witness testimony. As the host of the podcast points out, many involve more than one witness, and they tend to talk to each other about the people and incidents involved prior to giving testimony. Edelson's study implies that, although witnesses may not be intentionally lying on the stand or in affidavits, social influence may have actually altered even their most confident memories of events by the time they make their statement to the court.
Listen to the podcast here.
As an added bonus, though not necessarily related to Criminal Law, the rest of the podcast discusses the significance and long-term impact of NASA’s space shuttle; exploring the mathematics and applying statistics to the study of terrorist groups; why some penguins seem to be afraid of the dark; and more.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Crime Novels, in Real Life
The New York Times calls it "A Revenge Plot So Intricate the Prosecutors Were Pawns."
They say it's "one of the most bizarre" cases in New York's history.
Queens district attorney, Richard A. Brown, says that "In the collective memory, no one has ever seen anything like this before."
What do you think?
Read the story of Seemona Sumasar, who says that her ex-boyfriend framed her for a rampaging series of armed robberies, to get revenge for her refusing to drop rape charges against him.
This is the stuff of legends and crime novels, kids. Only in real life, and affecting real people.
They say it's "one of the most bizarre" cases in New York's history.
Queens district attorney, Richard A. Brown, says that "In the collective memory, no one has ever seen anything like this before."
What do you think?
Read the story of Seemona Sumasar, who says that her ex-boyfriend framed her for a rampaging series of armed robberies, to get revenge for her refusing to drop rape charges against him.
This is the stuff of legends and crime novels, kids. Only in real life, and affecting real people.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Attend Federal Terrorism Case starting Monday, July 18
Judge Davis in the District Court will be hearing a terrorism case involving individuals from the group al-Shabaab starting next Monday, July 18. The trial is likely to receive national attention.
The terrorism trial in Judge Davis' courtroom will actually start next Tuesday, July 19. The motions in limine will be heard on Monday, but the opening statements will occur on Tuesday.
Judge Davis' courtroom is on the 15th floor of the Federal Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
The terrorism trial in Judge Davis' courtroom will actually start next Tuesday, July 19. The motions in limine will be heard on Monday, but the opening statements will occur on Tuesday.
Judge Davis' courtroom is on the 15th floor of the Federal Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)