CRJ 7360 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Forensic Linguistics

Credit Hours: 3

This course will be divided into two primary sections, legal issues and ethical issues. First, the matter of legal issues will be discussed and how they relate to forensic linguistic analysis and the eventual formal presentation of the results of any such analysis. These concepts are of critical importance for any linguist practicing directly or indirectly in the criminal justice system. Recent and relevant U.S. court decisions will be discussed, including how they apply to an analysis, the design of a written report, and the manner in which testimony from that analysis/report may be delivered in a courtroom. Second, ethical issues, as related to forensic linguistic analysis, will be discussed in this course. Topics relating to analytical objectivity, identifying known strengths and weaknesses (and knowing when to admit them), advocacy pitfalls, and investigative and testimonial genuineness will be covered. Multiple real-case examples will be utilized in this course to prepare the student for the understanding of both of these critical concepts.